“So, pretty much I’m your only option,” I say dryly, and Nick chuckles.
“What? No!” Olivia shakes her head.
“Liv, he’s joking,” Nick says. “I’m going to set out some snacks and a drink for when Reed wakes up, and then we’ll go.” He gives her a kiss on her forehead before he heads into the kitchen.
“We’ll only be gone a couple hours. We have to meet with the party planner to finalize all the details for the charity event. She called and said she needed to reschedule last minute.”
“No problem. I would’ve just been hanging out at home anyway.”
“I saw you’re bringing a date.” Olivia grins. “Is it the woman you were spotted with at the movie premiere?”
“No, she was nice, but we didn’t really have much in common,” I say, cursing my sister-in-law for setting me up with a woman who’s recently divorced and still in the ‘I hate all men because my ex-husband cheated on me’ stage of mourning.
“Oh, that’s too bad. Giselle seems to have the same problem. The woman dates more than anyone I know, which is the complete opposite of how she used to be, yet she seems to find flaws in every guy she’s with.” Olivia shrugs.
“How did she used to be?” I ask in an even voice, hoping I sound nonchalant.
“For the entire six years we lived together in Paris, she maybe went on a handful of dates. The only thing I can think of is that she was pining for Christian the entire time. But then we moved back here, they got together and he turned out to be a cheating asshole.” She scrunches up her nose in disgust. “Maybe she’s just done pining. I don’t really know.” She shakes her head. “Giselle doesn’t really talk to me anymore.” The corners of her lips turn down into a frown. She’s obviously worried about Giselle.
“All right,” Nick says as he walks out of the kitchen. “Snacks are on the counter. Juice is in the fridge. Here’s his monitor so you can hear him.” He hands me a walkie-talkie looking thing. “I appreciate you coming over to Liv’s place last minute. Waking Reed up early from a nap is the equivalent of poking a bear in hibernation.”
What’s up with this guy and comparing everyone to animals? “You’ve poked a bear?” I ask with a laugh.
“No, but I can imagine what it’s like. Scary as fuck and has you running the other way in fear for your life.”
“Bro, he’s only a year old.” I laugh harder.
“It doesn’t matter.” Nick shakes his head then glances over to Olivia. “Brown-Eyes, tell him.”
Olivia nods in agreement. “Yep, scary.”
When I give them a doubtful look, unable to imagine Reed as anything other than adorable, Olivia adds, “Trust me, you don’t want to find out.”
“No worries,” I tell them. “I’m just going to watch some TV while he sleeps. Take your time. We’ll be here. It’s all good.”
Olivia and Nick head out, and I throw myself onto the couch, flipping through the channels. Practice today was brutal and I’m exhausted, but it was a damn good practice. I’m confident that if we play the way we practiced today, we’ll have a good shot at beating New England this weekend. And if we do, we’re in the Super Bowl. I stretch my legs and flinch at how sore I am. I don’t know how Nick does it. He comes home from a grueling practice and jumps right into family-mode.
I feel my eyes begin to droop, so I stand and head into the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee. The last thing I need is to fall asleep while babysitting. Olivia would come home and murder me in my sleep. Reed waking up early would be the least of my concerns. The coffee is brewing, when I hear the door open, and a few seconds later Giselle is standing in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” She has her hands on her hips.
“Babysitting.”
Her brows furrow in confusion. “Where’s Olivia?”
“She had a last minute meeting with the event planner for the charity event.”
She scoffs. “So she asked you instead of me?”
“Apparently you’re too busy working your way down the most recent Forbes list of the wealthiest bachelors, so Olivia called me.”
Giselle’s lips purse together and she shoots me a glare. “You know what, fuck you,” she hisses. “You don’t know shit about me.”
“I’ve seen enough to know you’re a gold-digger.” I shrug.
“Wow! You just love to throw that label around. First Celeste, now me.”
“If the shoe fits…What are you doing exactly? Trying to figure out who your best option is, so you’re prepared once your best friend finally puts herself before you and moves in with her fiancé?”
Grabbing my cup of coffee, I pour some milk into it and stir, then head back into the living room to sit down. Giselle, of course, follows behind, her heels click-clacking against the hardwood floor.