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My penthouse takes up the top two floors of the building, so it’s the only door option in this hallway. But while Crew’s visits have been rare, this is the first time Scarlett haseverbeen here. I wasn’t even sure she knew where I lived.
“You included me on the approved list,” she states, shoving both hands into the pockets of her down jacket. Scarlett is dressed more casually than I’m used to seeing her, in black leggings and snow boots. “I thought I’d have to bribe my way up here.”
“I’ll take somerougeclothes.”
One dark eyebrow arches. “For…”
“What do you think?” The demand for Scarlett’s designs is now infamous; what her brand is most associated with. When a woman learns my last name, I’ve grown accustomed to the first question being asked is if I can get her offrouge’s waiting list.
“We’re sold out. You’ll have to manage to get laid some other way.” Scarlett smiles, but it fades fast. “Is Crew here?”
I step aside and tilt my chin toward the left. “Living room.”
“Thanks.” Rather than walk inside like I’m expecting, Scarlett reaches to the left. The next thing I know, a baby stroller and a golden retriever are filling what was once a clean, empty space.
Teddy’s tail starts wagging as soon as he sees me, recognizing me from my second, occasional job as a pet sitter. Whenever they’ve both been out of town, Scarlett and Crew have asked me to watch their dog. I like animals, but considering I basically only come home to sleep, it doesn’t seem fair to have one.
Scarlett scoops Lili out of the stroller while Teddy weaves around my legs, covering my once-pristine suit with golden hair.
“She woke up in the elevator,” Scarlett says, holding her daughter out to me. Lili’s blue eyes—identical to Crew’s—blink at me.
“Scarlett…” I’d take Crew showing up—alone—a hundred times over this. Teddy is one thing. But I’ve never babysat. I’m shocked Scarlett is even willing to entrust me with Lili.
“Five minutes.”
Reluctantly, I take the toddler. Lili squirms in my arms, then grabs my tie and yanks. For a one-year-old, she’s awfully strong.
“If she starts crying, feed her a banana,” Scarlett tells me, then heads into the living room.
“Unbelievable,” I mutter, looking down at my niece.
She pulls on my tie again.
I carry Lili into the kitchen, Teddy padding after us. He walks right over to the corner where I put his food bowl, sniffing around before curling up on the floor. Shifting Lili to one hip and hoping she can’t reach my tie from this angle, I head into the pantry, sifting through boxes of pasta and cereal for the dog treats I bought last time Teddy stayed here. Finally finding them, I grab the treats before returning to the kitchen.
The first floor of the penthouse has an open layout. I can see Scarlett sitting on the couch next to Crew. Watch as she takes his hand and says something to him. Crew turns toward Scarlett and replies with something that has her leaning into him. He pulls her close, kisses her forehead, and I feel like a voyeur in my own space, witnessing a moment not meant for anyone except the two of them.
Teddy happily munches on the treat I toss him. Lili won’t stop squirming, so I grab a banana out of the bowl and take a seat on one of the stools. I’m scared to set her down.
“Bnana.” I glance down as Lili waves a little hand around, trying to grab at the yellow fruit.
“Wow, you can talk now, huh?”
Her reply is garbled nonsense before she shoves the first bite of banana in her mouth. Within a minute, she’s eaten the entire thing.
Saving me from the dilemma of figuring out what to do next, Crew appears. He still looks tired but less stressed.
“Dada!” Lili calls as soon as she sees him.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Crew takes Lili from me, wincing as she grabs at his hair. I guess I should be grateful all she got in her grip was my tie. “You talked Uncle Oliver into a banana after bedtime?”
“I didn’t know shecouldtalk,” I say, standing and shoving my sticky hands into my pockets.
“She has a few words in her vocabulary now,” Crew says, smiling proudly at his daughter. “She hasn’t said Mama yet though, so Scarlett pretends it’s all still gibberish.”
“I heard that.” Scarlett walks into the kitchen holding a red leash. Teddy stands and lumbers over to her, waiting patiently for her to clip it to his collar. “Thanks for watching her, Oliver.”
“Yeah, thanks for…thanks,” Crew adds. Our uncertainty about what to say to each other is mostly mutual.
