Temporary Nanny

Chapter 8

"What are you doing?" I hover behind Michael, walking into the kitchen with Stella's bottle in hand. "Hm? Oh, just looking over these." He holds up various different papers. "And what are those?" I ask, washing out the bottle.

"Um, just, uh, just some possible nannys.." he trails off far too distracted with the words on the papers.

I really shouldn't care. I knew this was in the works. I knew this gig was only temporary. In fact, it's the very reason I took the new part time job at Mia's family's firm. I just didn't think it'd come so soon.

"You don't have to leave until later right?" His green eyes clouded as he looks up from the paper in his hand. My brow furrow in question. "To help me with these interviews." He explains.

"I'm pretty sure that's the parent's job." I hum. "Yeah but you know Stel better than anyone else." Michael states coolly, looking back and flipping through the possible candidates. "Well at least you know." I grin, shaking her formula filled bottle.

He gives an unamused face in response.

"Just to be clear, you want me to help you replace me?" I ask a hint of tease in my tone. "What? No, that's not- I'm not- you're still welcomed.. I mean.. I hope you still come.. I'd like that and Stel..but we're not- you're not being-" "Michael." I chuckle cutting into his nervous rambling.

"Relax. I was teasing. We both agreed I'd be temporary anyway." I shrug. "Yeah but like..I'm not uh- we're not replacing you..just...just your job." Michael's pale cheeks turning a shade of pink.

The whole conversation tugs at my heart strings and I bite back a smile at the adorable man in front of me. Maybe a new nanny was a good idea.

"My mom feels bad that you have to watch Stel a lot of the time since she's been busier than usual so she kind of set up these interviews I guess." He explains further, clearing his throat. "Okay." I offer a small smile. "Okay?" He asks skeptically.

"I'll help you find my job replacement." I stick my hand out to grab a few papers. He sighs a breath of relief and breaks into a soft smile.

"Who knows, maybe there's a cute boy nanny in here for me." I add as a joke, looking over the resumes. "What? You can't date my nanny." Michael quickly interjects, fixing his uneasy gaze on me. "Why not? It's not like he works for me." My words light with no real promise.

"Yeah but it's weird." He huffs. "How's it weird?" I decide to continue teasing because it seems to be getting a reaction out of him. "Because it is," he sighs. "It's a free country Clifford, who knows, maybe we'll bump into each other in the lobby and fall madly in love." I swoon jokingly.

"Then I'm not getting a boy nanny." He frowns. "You're no fun. Why are you getting in the way of true love?" "It's not true love if he doesn't exist," he deadpans.

"But that's the thing isn't it? He has to exist. Whether he's your nanny or not." I test the warmth of Stella's bottle. "Why are we even talking about this? I'm getting a female nanny and that's that." He shakes his head.

"Who knows, maybe you'll be the one who falls for the nanny." I wiggle my brows. "No one is falling in love with the new nanny." He rolls his eyes.

"Unless it's one of those things where she's a lesbian and seduces me into bed and I realize all I've been missing this whole time was actually a woman." I continue flipping through the pages while mixing the formula and water.

"That one. She's going to reel me in I can feel it." I point to a random girl. "You're so funny." Michael replies sarcastically. "Are you calling my queerness a joke? I'm offended. I quit." I hum. "That's fine you're already getting replaced anyway." He shoots back.