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I have FOMO. I should have gone with them. Missing out on days like this shouldn’t happen. I should have been there. I’m a grown man; I could have put my lust for his nanny aside for a day. This is not working. Maybe I could ask them to swap for the other woman, but Nova hated her. He is so happy since Sienna is here. I can’t do that to him. It wouldn’t be fair.
I’m pacing up and down when a timid-looking guy knocks at the door. “You wanted someone from legal?” They sent me the mouse, great. I wave for him to come in and speak.
“Sit.” He nervously hovers on the edge of the chair. “I want you to go over this contract and see if there is a way to protect the employee’s job should they become involved with the employer.” I hand it to him, and he gives it right back.
“There’s not,” he says. “Our firm represents the agency, and I know that contact is iron clad. They take shit, I mean stuff, very seriously over there. I have seen more than a few dismissals over illicit affairs from them.” I stare at him with the papers in my hand. In a limbo of rage and disappointment.
“I challenge you to find a way,” I shove it back in his face. “If you do, I will make sure you’re promoted. Even moved with me to New York.” His eyes shine, and he takes the papers back. The legal team are outsourced from a large national firm. Many of their staff would love to be in the Big Apple, but they have another team there. There is no need for them to move.
“I will be creative,” he says. “And get back to you as soon as I can.” The mouse scurries out of the office, and I feel slightly less anxious than I have all day. Already having missed the day out, I want to get home to Nova and hear all about it, so I pack up my desk and leave. I am tired, I had a bad night, and it’s felt like the longest day ever.
I’ll be home way before dinner, giving him and me some one-on-one time together. I’ll take him out for a walk or something while Sienna cooks. I miss having time… just him and I. We used to do more together. I guess I have gotten used to her being there to help me.
* * *
The elevator doors open, and I am immediately confronted by chaos and noise. Laughter, shrill screams, and the clatter of nerf bullets flying through the house assault my senses. I consider stepping back, closing the doors, and going back downstairs, but Nova sees me and yells.
“Dad,” with so much glee, “My friends are here. We are having a nerf war.” I can see the war. There’s evidence of it all over the place. He’s gone again in a blink. I have to duck flying bullets, and dodge running boys to wind my way into the house and put my things down. This is not what I needed after today. I wanted some peace. A bit of time with my son and to get away from the house. But I know better than to think I can ruin the fun that is happening because I want to go out with him. He has friends, something he has needed, and I can’t get in the way of that.
They are running riot through the house, and right behind them is Sienna joining in the game with them. She keeps up somehow, ducking and diving and wailing when they hit her. Only when she sees me does she stand up and call a stop.
“Quick time out. Everyone collect your bullets and reload,” she says, and the boys magically listen to her and start picking up the orange foam bullets that are strewn all over. “You’re early,” she says, checking the time. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were coming home.” She’s out of breath and flushed from the rough play.
“It’s fine,” I say, slightly annoyed that my idea of how the day would go is ruined. “They are having fun.” That should be enough.
“You’re annoyed,” she says. “Sorry, he asked if they could stay. I didn’t think it was a problem.” It shouldn’t be one. This is a good thing. I am just frustrated. It’s not her fault or Nova’s.
“It’s not,” I say. “I am happy he is having fun.” I am jealous he’s having all his fun with her and am painfully aware of how stupid that is. I glance around the kitchen and see she hasn’t started cooking yet.
“I will order pizza for them and us.” I offer. “You don’t need to start cooking now. You can get back in the game.” She smiles and hands me the gun she’s holding onto.
“You go join them. I will clean up a bit,” she says with a flirty smile. “There’s another one. I’ll come join you guys in a minute. I am undefeated so far, but they keep making new rules.” She shrugs, and Nova sees me holding the gun.
“Dad, you are a boy. You are on our team against Sienna.” I smile, and they call a team meeting so we can come up with a strategy. I am almost certain they don’t know what that means, but it gives me time to order the dinner before they ambush her.
Before I know it, my bad mood is forgotten. I am sucked into their game and the three boys and I are hunting poor Sienna around the house. She laughs and dives out of sight. Playing along with them, and I am even more enamored.
We somehow both end up on the floor behind the sofa to catch our breath—because we are adults and not eight. “
“You are good at this,” I say to her, and she smiles.
“At hiding behind the sofa or at dodging bullets?” She chuckles, and it makes my cock hard hearing her raspy voice. Without thinking, I slide my hand up her bare thigh stopping at the edge of her cut off denim shorts. She looks into my eyes, her lips slightly parted and all I want to kiss them again right now. Her hand is on top of mine, stopping me from going further.
“Lance,” she whispers my name.
“Found them.” I hear one of the boy’s yell, and I pull my hand away quickly. This can’t happen, not now that there are kids here.
TWELVE
SIENNA
Ever since the kiss, and the playdate where he touched my leg, and we almost made a huge mistake in front of all the kids, Lance has been scarce around the house. When he is here, there is this light, flirty banter, but it’s not the same—there was an intensity that’s gone now. I am not sure what it is, but I feel him actively avoiding me. Nova and I have had fun together, and he and the two boys from downstairs are thick as thieves.
In fact, they have invited him and Lance to join them for a weekend away at Lake Mead and Nova is dying to go. We just have to ask Lance and find a way to convince him. I think Nova will be devastated if he says no, which he probably will. His mood has been filthy the last few days, and he spent two nights in New York, which made him even more grumpy than usual.
“Let me talk to your dad first,” I say to Nova, who is helping me cook dinner. “Let me explain, so you don’t get disappointed and bombard him as he gets home. He has had a long day today and might be tired.”
“He is always tired these days. It is like moving to New York made him old or something,” Nova comments. I know what he means. Lance hasn’t been himself, especially in the last week. There’s an enormous amount of pressure on him, and I get the distinct feeling his staff are not supportive of the move and are making things harder than they need to be.
