“What should we do?” Kieran inquired when I hung up.
“Can you check on her and see how she’s doing?”
“For sure. I’ll call and try to see her in person this weekend.”
I pulled him into a hug. “Thanks for doing this. If I could, I would do it myself, but—”
“I know,” he said softly, patting my back. “But you have to promise me something.”
“What is it?”
“If we’re just paranoid and Kiyah is flourishing, will you let this go? Will you let her be happy with someone else?”
Never.
“Of course,” I lied.
He squeezed me tighter and said, “You’re a dirty fucking liar.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Kiyah
I shifted in my seat, trying to get comfortable with a clingy toddler lying on my chest. I was hot and irritated from the lack of sleep due to our hectic schedule and constant jet lag.
It’d been two weeks since I accepted the nanny position, and I’d been living out of my suitcase ever since. We’d only been in Austin for two nights—the night I moved in and a brief pitstop last night after flying in from Houston before we had to jump on a late charter flight to Chicago.
I officially have a countdown calendar to the election. Once everything is over, I’m going on a two-week relaxing island getaway.
Hectic work schedule aside, I truly loved being Pete’s nanny. He was such a happy, expressive child, and I hadn’t noticed any of the behavioral issues that Todd had mentioned. When our presence wasn’t required, Pete and I hung out in our hotel room and participated in age-appropriate play. And when we became too restless, we would round up the team of security guards and make a break for the nearest park or local attraction. I’d yet to plan a “field trip” due to our jam-packed schedule, but Todd promised we would have downtime during our three-night stay in Chicago.
I felt myself finally drifting off to sleep when I heard the faint ring of my cell phone. Lazily, without opening my eyes, I reached for my phone, which should’ve been resting in the cupholder. I cracked an eye open and was dumbfounded when I didn’t find it, and I thought I was seeing things when Todd answered my phone and spoke in hushed tones.
“What are you doing?” I mumbled, sitting up in my seat. He placed his hand over the speaker and addressed me.
“I’m sorry, Kiyah. I didn’t want to wake you, and since it’s so early in the morning, I thought it might be an emergency.”
“Please give me my phone.” He frowned briefly before handing me my phone. “Don’t answer my phone again,” I snapped unintentionally.
Because why are you getting so comfortable?
“Hello?” I whispered, suddenly remembering that I was holding a dozing toddler.
“Kiyah?”
I froze when I heard him say my name—low and gravelly—like he was barely keeping himself together.
I was still processing the split and hadn’t expected to speak to him so soon. I hoped I’d be healed, happy, and healthy the next time we conversed, not cranky, depressed, and sleep-deprived.
“Grant? Are you okay?”
“What is he doing answering your phone?” he hissed. I pulled the phone away and checked the time.
Too damn early to deal with a jealous ex-husband.
“Grant, it’s 4:10 in the morning; I don’t have the energy to argue with you. Are you doing okay?”
“No, I’m not okay. Kieran and I have been trying to call you all day, but we keep getting sent to voicemail. I finally gave up and called from the phone in the common area.”