Temporary Nanny

Chapter 7

It becomes a sort of personal mission to start pushing Michael back into the dating world. At first I wasn't really sure why I was doing it. Why I seemed to point out any good looking woman that crossed our paths but now.

Now I get.

Now that Daryl - Michael's dad - made some lighthearted comment a few days ago about how Michael, Stella and I were practically a family.

My heart had stopped in my chest and I spent all night repeating the tease until eventually giving in to sleep.

I get now that if Michael doesn't start dating soon I'll never get over this embarrassing school girl crush I seem to have developed on him the last couple of months.

I'll never be able to go out and find someone for myself and I'll continue to swoon and lust over the single dad I'll admit I spend far too much time with.

So, I decide to help Karen out and start nudging him toward girls. If not for his sake then for my own.

"She's cute." I glance over at Michael as I set Stella in her booster seat. "Who?" He blinks, dark brows pulled together. "The cashier who hasn't stopped swooning over you since we walked in." I reply obviously.

"What? That Kendall girl? I guess." Michael's cheeks flush a light shade of pink. I take a seat across from him grinning amusingly. "Ooh Kendall, you know her name." I tease. "It says it on her name tag," he rolls his eyes.

"Still." I hum, grabbing Stella's bag. "I'm sorry, I didn't know we were in middle school." Michael bites sarcastically.

"Alright, don't get feisty. I was only teasing. You're like twice her age." I snort. "How old do you think I am?!" He draws back offended. "Old." I shrug. "I can't believe this. You're fired." He shoots back lightly. "I was gonna quit after this free meal anyway." I retort smartly.

"What is this?" I pull out the only flavor of Stella's baby food he seems to have packed. "Stel's food?" He answer questioningly. "Prune. You brought prune flavor?" "Yeah? What's wrong with that?" He sniffs.

"Well for starters, Stel hates this one." "She doesn't care, it's food. She'll eat it." Michael says dismissively. "Right and when she s-h-i-t's everywhere, I'm not cleaning it up." I huff.

"She's not going to shi- ow!" I give him a light kick under the table.

He sighs. "She isn't going to s-h-i-t everywhere. Give her some credit Charlie." "I'm not saying she does it on purpose, it upsets her stomach and she'll be fussy and poopy all day." I state.

"What do you suggest we do then because she needs to eat something and I didn't bring any formula." He continues to argue but his eyes hold a lightness to them - a fondness of some sort. I can't stare too long or I'm sure to get lost in it.

"I know!" I quickly look away, going into my own bag. "What's that?" Michael questions, leaning forward to try to catch a glimpse.

I pull out a box of baby biscuits I bought the other day and forgot to leave at their house the last time I was there.

"When did you buy those?" He asks as I get the box open. "The other day." I reply absentmindedly. "There you go tiny." I smile softly, handing Stella one. She smiles and grunts her thanks.

When I sit back and catch Michael's eye he's biting back a smile, eyes watching intently.

"What?" I ask exasperatedly. "Nothing." He shrugs with a lopsided smile. I offer up a strange look, feeling slightly skeptical.

However, the food comes then, clearing the air of any lingering bit of the conversation. I went for a mac and cheese in a bread bowl, Michael opting for a flat bread sandwich instead.