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Why hadn’t he ever admired it during high school? He had a feeling if he’d really paid attention to Callie, he’d have made a complete and total fool of himself. Instead, he’d been more interested in girls who’d wanted him, and who were willing to go to bed with him. He’d been fickle.
Walking into Meghan’s room, he saw his little girl already close to sleep.
“You weren’t going to wait for me?”
“I’m really tired today. I wanted to go to bed.”
“Are you okay?” He touched her head, no fever.
“Yes. We went to the park. That horrible mean boy was there. I showed him I could swing from the monkey bars and climb just as high. I’m tired now.”
His hackles rose. He’d asked Callie not to take her to the park.
You bullied her. She’s strong.
“Do you like going to the park?
“Yes. I love it.” Meghan snuggled in. “No story tonight, Daddy. I’m sleepy.”
Even as she spoke the last words, it looked like she’d already fallen asleep. He smiled, watching her. Running his fingers through her hair, she didn’t even stir to tell him off. “You’re one of the best things that has ever happened to me.” He leaned forward, kissing her head.
He took a quick shower and made his way downstairs.
Callie was in the dining room. “I know what you’re going to say. She begged to go to the park and she even told me no horrible boy was going to stop her from enjoying it. She stood up for herself. She’s a real fierce warrior.”
He tilted Callie’s head back and brushed his lips against hers. “I missed you.”
“You’re not going to scream at me?”
“For what?”
“For taking her to the park and having a run-in with that boy.”
“I was going to but she looked happy. Sleepy, but happy.”
“Oh, good.”
“I’m not a monster. Besides, I can hardly judge the way you handled it. You dealt with me, and look at us now. For all I know, that boy could be Meghan’s first love.”
She rolled her eyes. “How was your day at work?”
“Uneventful. Same old, same old.” He shrugged. “Callum said my parents want us to visit for Sunday dinner.”
“This week?”
He nodded. “I’m going to try and get out of it.”
“How come?”
“My parents and I haven’t really gotten along since Tilly. They said a bunch of stuff that I didn’t realize at the time was in fact true. They were right about everything.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, there’s no reason to be sorry. It happened, you know.”
“I do. You don’t want to go.”
“I don’t want to take you with me.”
“Oh.”
“Not like that. Damn it, I don’t want them to destroy what we’ve built. What we’ve started.”
“Do you think I’ll say something?”
“No, no, nothing like that. My parents are very judgmental.”
“Do you want me to pretend to still be a nanny?”
“No. I’m not going to go into this lying to them.”
She took his hand, linking their fingers together. “If you want to go, then I’ll go. No hesitation. You shouldn’t keep apart from your family.”
“Yours are in Europe?”
“Yes. They said if I needed them, they’d be home in a heartbeat. They love me. I know that. I’m more than happy to go with you to meet your parents.” She leaned over and kissed his lips. “Now eat and stop stressing so much.”
****
Callie really shouldn’t have told him to stop stressing so much.
She’d met a lot of parents in her career. Admittedly, all under the guise of being the nanny. People were happy to be around her. She posed no real threat. She kept kids in line and happy, but that was it.
This was different. She’d baked a pie. This was how nervous she was.
She wasn’t going as Drew’s nanny. Nope, she was going to go as Drew’s girlfriend? She wasn’t sure what title to call herself. Love? Mistress? He wasn’t divorced, so it had to be a mistress. Wow, that thought was so depressing.
As she climbed into Drew’s car, she let Meghan hold the pie for them.
“I thought you told me not to stress,” Drew said.
“I did and you shouldn’t.”
“Why do I feel you’re stressing enough for the both of us?”
“Because that is totally what’s happening. You should know that about me.”
“My parents won’t bite.”
“Oh, I know. They’re completely harmless but … ugh, I’m not really happy right now.” She took a deep breath. “I should be happy though, shouldn’t I? What if they hate me? I’ve met a lot of parents and pie is good, but do I look like I’m trying too hard?”
“You look fine. My mom is a good cook. You’re already going to be on her good side. She always said she’d be happy with any woman who can cook for her boys.”
She nodded. “Right, that sounds totally reasonable. A little sexist maybe, but all good.”
Drew laughed. He held her hand as much as possible while he drove over to his parents’.
