Temporary Nanny

Chapter 2

A knock at the door wakes me from my peaceful slumber. Slowly but surely my eyelids flutter open, the clock reading half past six in the morning.

The knocking comes a few more times and I think maybe I can get away with pretending I wasn't home. Maybe whoever it is will leave and let me finish sleeping. I groan, turning over and pulling the blanket up to my chin.

The knocking stops and I can feel myself slowly start to slip back into a dream state.

That is until the door bell rings. With a huff I shove the blankets away, my feet padding against the cold hardwood floor as I all but march to the front door.

It's Michael.

Well, Michael and Stella.

"No. You said it was only one day. Do you know what time it is? I can't watch a baby right now, I'm still half asleep. Call your mom, call your nanny, call anyone else, leave her with the damn doorman just not me." I sigh, rubbing the sleep from my eye.

Stella seems to light up at my voice, giggling and babbling like we were two girlfriends catching up on the latest gossip.

And even in my sleep-deprived, cranky state I still can't help but find the chubby-cheeked baby adorable.

"Relax, I don't need a sitter." Michael says easily, a small smile playing at his incredibly pink lips. Why hadn't I noticed that yesterday?

"Then why are you at my door at six in the morning?" My brows furrow, head shaking away any fuzziness his distracting lips brought. "I wanted to come say thank you, and sorry.. for my mum and all. I don't know what she said to you but I swear whatever it was it was all towards me."

"She was pretty upset with you." I state casually, crossing my arms with a yawn. "Yeah, turns out mums aren't really keen on their sons leaving their grandchildren with strangers." He replies lightly. I crack a smile.

"Hm, imagine that." I tease. "Who would've thought." Michael grins. "So, you came over at the crack of dawn to thank me?" I ask now that my brains starting to wake with the rest of my body.

Stella suddenly reaches out, nearly falling out of Michael's arms.

I note that seems to be a habit of hers - throwing herself forward to get to whatever she's trying to get to. I suppose it's normal. Then again, what do I know about babies?

"Jesus Stel, you can't go throwing yourself like that." I quickly reach my hands out to catch and steady the baby luckily still in Michael's arms. "Guess she likes you." He offers a soft smile, gesturing for me to grab ahold of the baby still reaching out.

I take her reluctantly, noticing her onesie for the day. "Iron Maiden huh? Wow Stel, you're more hardcore than me." I give her side a little tickle for good measure, the little one bursting with giggles.

"Oh yeah, she's the worst. Always blasting that loud music at all hours of the night." Michael jokes. "Knew it. Seems the type." I sigh exasperatedly. "Yeah, she's a real asshole." Michael hums with an amused grin.

"Michael!" I blink, slightly baffled. His grin only grows wider. "I'm no professional but I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to call your kid an asshole." I chuckle. "Huh, are you not?" He smirks. "What else am I supposed to call her then?"

"Ha ha." I deadpan, letting Stella take hold of my finger.

"I'm only joking, she can't even understand me." He shrugs. "Yeah now but pretty soon she's going to be going around calling everyone assholes." I counter lightheartedly. "Yeah I guess you're right." He shoves his hands in his pockets and shifts on his feet.