My lips parted, and his eyes followed the subtle movement of my mouth.
“You’re not living in the south side anymore sweetheart. Cover your body the next time you’re around my family. I don’t appreciate men looking at my kid’s nanny the way they were today.”
“What about the way you were looking at it?”
“Carajo. Fuck. Did I really just say that?”
“Yeah, you did.”
I sucked in my lips, biting my tongue.
“Last I checked, I’m a grown ass man. I can look at what I pay for.”
My mouth dropped open.
He grinned, letting go of my hair and placing a finger under my chin to shut my jaw instead.
“Careful, Cami, there’s sure as hell a lot more I can do besides look at you. Unless that’s what you want?”
“I’m paid to take care of the kids not entertain you. How the hell do you go from one extreme to the next?”
“That’s what you do to me. I can’t seem to control myself around you. And I have yet to figure out if that’s a good or bad thing.”
I threw his question back at him. “What do you want from me?”
“I’ve yet to figure that out either.”
He took one last look at me and left me hanging, walking out of the nursery.
What the fuck?
In a stupor, I laid Journey down in her crib and turned on her white noise player before kissing her head and leaving her room. Gently closing the door behind me.
It was only then I heard the garage door slam shut.
“Of course he just left. That’s what he does. Stewing all Aiden like.”
Taking a deep breath, I walked into the kitchen and there on the island was a brand-new iPhone with a post-it note with the phone number scrawled on it.
You’re welcome for the upgrade. – Aiden
Considering he was the one who broke my phone, I found it funny.
“Bastard.”
But he changed my phone number? Because of Sean? I opened the box and pulled out my new phone. Turning it on while I grabbed one of my Hint waters from the fridge.
“The nerve of that man.”
I made my way outside on the patio, turning the lights on, wanting the fresh air to clear my head. Only I completely lost my mind.
“God!” I peered up at the night sky. “That just happened, right? I didn’t just imagine that encounter, did I? I don’t get it… what was that? Was he coming onto me? No, right? That’s not what happened… he was just being friendly? In a weird ‘I’m coming onto you’ sort of way?” I shook my head. “Why do I keep finding myself in these situations, God? Is it me? Am I attracting these broody, possessive men that don’t know what they want?”
I waited, nothing.
“You’re not helping!” I shouted into the air. “What am I supposed to do now? I feel like he just drew the line in the sand and I’m over here like… do I step over it? Do I wait for him to?” I talked with my hands. “Are we now going to play this cat and mouse game? Like, what the fuck? Sorry!” I winced, surrendering my hands. “I did not mean to cuss, but holy Jesus… what do I do with what just happened? Do I pretend like it didn’t happen? Is he going to start letting me in? Does that make us friends? Are we friends?” I scratched my head, confused. “Oh man, I’m so screwed…woooosaaaaahhhhh, Camila, woooosaaaaahhhhh…” I repeated Martin Lawrence’s therapist term from my favorite movie Bad Boys.
Since I was already in my bikini, I decided to swim away our heated conversation, and cool off instead of continuing to talk to myself like a crazy person.
Once I made sure I could still hear and see Journey through her monitor, I threw off my shorts, tank top, and dived into the pool. Almost losing my bikini top in the process. Letting the water take me under before I resurfaced. Relieved I was alone, and no one was home other than a sleeping baby.
While swimming laps around their Olympic-sized pool that looked as if it was made for a hotel and not a privately-owned residence, the silence was deafening. I got out and turned the music on my phone.
Dancing.
Dancing always helped me forget.
I quickly downloaded the Spotify app and logged into my account then pressed play. “Bum Bum Tam Tam” by MC Fioti reggaetón beat began to blare from the speakers.
Setting my phone down on the lounger where my clothes were spread out, I started