With a nod, I mumbled. “Okay.” I couldn’t fail.
“I heard you met some agreeable women while you were home?” she asked. “I was at an event with the Cushings and ran across Ella Astor. You seem to have captivated her. She gushed at the party to everyone regarding you and, of course, knowing I was your nanny, she wanted to hear all about what you were like as a child.” She chuckled.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I released a soft scoff as my gut knotted. The Cushings were the family she nannied for now. Was it wrong to feel jealous of their kids? “Yeah, I met a few of Dad’s associate’s daughters. It was tedious, to say the least.” But Ella had been better than the rest.
In a low voice, she said, “So, you didn’t find Ella attractive? She’s a beautiful woman. And smart.”
With a grimace, I stood from the bed and traversed the space. How had we settled on this topic? “She wasn’t terrible, but I don’t know.” If Julie thought she was a decent woman, maybe I should give Ella a second chance.
“Well, let’s see how this year develops. You know I’m on your side, Greyson. It’s your life, and you need to live it how you see fit.” She sighed. “But you don’t want to look back and wonder what it could have been like…”
She’d been a teacher who’d attended college for pediatric nursing before she became my nanny to pay off her student loans. I’d been her first. Did she regret her path now? Tightness crawled through my chest. “Are you happy, Julie?”
“Of course, I am. I love children,” she said. “You’ll always be my favorite. Don’t you worry about that.”
A grin tugged my lips, and I kicked at the beige carpet under my sneakers. “Yeah, I know.” I strolled past my bathroom. I should get my shower in. “Hey, it was nice talking with you. I’m doing great here, and maybe I’ll give Ella a call.” Ella would never call me first. It would be up to me. That was how it was done.
“Great. I’ll speak with you soon, then. Have a great weekend.”
“Yeah, you too. And don’t work too hard.” I chuckled and combed my fingers through my bangs. “Bye now and love you.”
“Love you too. Bye.” The call ended.
Huffing a sigh, I strolled into my bathroom and turned on the shower. Tonight, I’d forget all this shit and have fun with Malik at the party. We’d have to shake Carrie and Riley, but we’d find a way.
“Here we are.”I tapped Malik’s thigh before stepping from the Uber and straightened on the sidewalk of a two-story home in a nicer track housing neighborhood. All the homes had been painted the same beige color, with reddish tiled roofs. From the appearance of these houses, I assumed only several floor plans existed, this one being the largest. Desert trees dotted the landscape, the canopies hanging over the rocks in the front yards. The soft thump of music filled the air from inside the home, and low light shone in the windows.
Malik stepped to my side. “You ready?” He inhaled deeply, his chest rising under his fitted white shirt, and his black board shorts hugged his hips.
“I am.” I slipped my phone from my pocket and checked my text messages. Carrie and Riley were already here. I tapped a message to Carrie.
Grey
We just arrived and are walking in.
As I followed Malik across the driveway, the front door flew open and the women strode out, waving at us.
“Hey!” Carrie approached me in a skimpy pink dress and strappy high heels.
As I placed a hand on her hip, I kissed her cheek. “Hey, good to see you.” Lie…How quickly could we shake them? God, I was such an ass sometimes.
With a giggle and a flutter of her lashes, she said, “You look hot as usual.” She traced her long fingernail down the front of my black shirt and bit her lip.
“Thank you.” From the corner of my eye, Malik greeted Riley similarly. “Let’s go inside.” And get a fucking drink. The conversation with Julie and especially the shit with Ella had weighed heavily on my mind all day. I needed to drink enough tonight to forget it.
“Follow us.” Hooking her arm in Malik’s, Riley led him to the front door, and they stepped inside.
As I entered the home, I scanned the front room. A ping-pong table centered it, but a group of guys were playing beer pong on it instead. Would Malik know any of these people? A group of college students definitely rented this house.
Following Malik and Riley, I went toward the rear of the room as rap music permeated the air. A staircase rose on the left with an open balcony at the top, and a couple were kissing behind the railing.
We strolled into a long kitchen with dark wood cabinets, dark granite counters and stainless-steel appliances. Not high-end, but still nice for a group of college students. The kitchen opened to a family room with mismatched leather couches and reclining chairs—some filled with people drinking and chatting. I spied a keg at the end of the kitchen and made a beeline for it, leaving Carrie behind me. “Beer?” I lifted the hose.
“Hell yes.” With a broad grin, Malik picked up a Solo cup and handed it to me. “What are you girls drinking?” He faced Riley.
“There’s wine on the counter.” Carrie touched my arm. “Let’s get another glass.” She motioned to Riley.
“Sure.” Riley walked off with Carrie.