AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not every day, but most of the time. Today was a hard day. Besides, soon I won’t even be here to rope into stuff, anyway.”
Mom huffs out a sigh. “It’d be so much cheaper if you lived at home.”
“I have to up my game. I can barely concentrate here when everyone’s screaming all the time.”
And I mean everyone. Mom and Dad are just as bad as my brothers, always yelling across the house at each other or yelling at my brothers. I want my own space.
“I get it. I know you think I just want you to stay to babysit, but I am going to miss you.”
My lips curve up just enough so she knows she’s forgiven for taking advantage of my stellar babysitting skills. “I’ll miss you too. But I won’t miss the noise.”
She laughs. “I think I might be a little jealous about that.”
As soon as I’m in my room, my mood sours again. It’s like Jax wants me gone. Like he can’t wait for me to leave.
I snort because even in my own mind, that sounds stupid. He’s being selfless. He wants me to move forward with my plans. After all, if I delay college, that means staying here and being at my family’s beck and call. No, thank you.
Still, I’ll miss Hannah… and Jax.
He hasn’t lived here long, but when he moved in, he created quite the stir. All the housewives had their noses pressed to the front windows when he started jogging down the street in nothing but a pair of athletic shorts.
And when he brought Hannah home, every female heart in a ten-mile radius melted right along with their panties. We all know that even though his sister left Hannah to him, he didn’t have to take her. But he did.
I almost died when I found out that Dad told Jax that I might be willing to help him out with the baby. I think I had to turn back home three times because I sweated through my shirt as I walked over to his house.
When he answered the door without a shirt of his own, my palms were wet and my mouth was dry. He apologized, told me Hannah had spit up on him — again — and begged for my help. He told me he’d match the salary of whatever summer job I had lined up.
And that’s how the best two months of my life started. I should be thanking my dad, or maybe cursing him. Since now it’s over even though I don’t want it to end.
I’m sure he had no idea I’d develop an unhealthy obsession with Jax. He suggested I help Jax because I help Mom so much, and have since the boys were little. There are eight years between me and my ten-year-old brother, Bobby.
So since I was eight, I’ve been helping mom change diapers and warm bottles and sanitize pacifiers. At first, I loved it. My parents called me Mamacita — little mama.
By the time Alex came along two years ago, I was an expert. I’ve also been making bank as a babysitter in the neighborhood since I was fourteen. Though Jax has paid me more this summer as a full time nanny than I’ve made the last four summers combined. And I made a lot over the last four summers.
As the boys got older, and started talking about boogers and farts and poop, they didn’t seem quite as cute. Maybe Hannah will be the same, but probably only if she hangs around my brothers.
I shake that thought away as I look around my room. Most of my things are already packed. As the only girl, I was lucky enough to always have my own room. My brothers have to share, the older two in one room and the youngest two in the room near my parents.
I sit at my desk and look down at the resumes spread over it. Jax wants someone else. I get that he wants me to go forward with my plans, but sometimes priorities change. He and Hannah have become a priority.
I guess that’s the problem. I’ve spent all summer fantasizing and pretending we’re a little family. Jax has probably spent the whole time wondering how fast he can get rid of me. I’m pretty sure my crush is totally obvious. Especially with me refusing to find a replacement and offering to put my entire life on hold so I can spend more time drooling over him.
Still… I bite my lip as I look over the resumes. I’m going to recommend Gloria. She’s older than my parents, but has plenty of experience.
She used to run a daycare, but says she now prefers looking after one child at a time. With four brothers, I totally get that. She can be a pseudo-grandmother for Hannah.
With that decision made, I spin in my desk chair and think about what else I need to pack. But like every other time I think about moving out, my thoughts turn back to Jax.
He hasn’t asked me to stay late or watch Hannah on many weekend days, so I don’t think he’s dating much. The bitchy voice in the back of my head reminds me that he could easily be hooking up with someone during the day.
With a growl of frustration, pull open my nightstand drawers and start throwing everything inside them into a box.
ChapterThree
Jax
Hannah had a hard time going back to sleep after her midnight snack, so I turn off my alarm and decide to sleep in. If I’m late to the job site, Dean will cover for me. He knows that I’m still adjusting to being a single father.
