because they were made for each other, but I do miss our daily contact.
Roommates since graduating, best friends, it’s hard to put a label on our friendship, but I’d be lost without her. I still can’t believe it’s been three years since we graduated college.
She smiles at me softly, her brown eyes studying me. “You know you do a lot for kids too, right?”
I huff out a frustrated breath of air. “Not anymore, no.”
She crosses her legs to get comfortable, grabbing one of the throw pillows for her lap. “But you will again, I have no doubt about it. I still want to go after your sleazeball ex-boss and rip off his balls for firing you at that kids’ show.”
That’s why she’ll always be my best friend. She gets so worked up and offended in my honor.
Her hand flies in the air as she shakes it. “Downsizing, my ass. He made a move on you that you didn’t reciprocate, it’s as easy as that. But of course, his ego couldn’t take that. Asshole. But, Millie, you’re special. So very special. I don’t think you see how talented you are with kids. They absolutely adore you.”
“Yeah?” Familiar unease whenever my “job” is brought up washes through me, and even though I know Nicole is nothing like my family, I’m still waiting for the criticism, for the words that voice disapproval for my occupation—or as other people like to call it, my childish attempt at embarrassing my family.
Because apparently, I live for that. At least, according to the people who are supposed to be my biggest supporters.
As if Nicole can sense the path my thoughts have taken me, she continues, “I haven’t seen a kid whose smile couldn’t light up the whole damn planet if it was possible. Your old boss will figure out soon enough that you were the biggest part of that show. He’s going to lose his mind when he hears that your dream show came knocking on your door.”
I snort. “Please tell me how you really feel.”
She pokes my side. “I mean it. I just know they’ll invite you to audition, and you’ll nail it. Even if I have to listen to you sing your nursery rhymes all day long.”
This time I chuckle, knowing exactly how much she likes to pretend to hate those. But I’ve overheard her humming them when she thinks she’s alone. “Thanks, Nic.”
Her phone beeps again, and after giving my knee a pat, she picks it up. “Alrighty, sister from another mister, let’s get back to real jobs.”
“If I have to.”
She fixes me with a glare and points her finger at me. “Listen, I know you don’t really want to do any more nanny jobs after the drama with the last family, but I told my grandma you were looking for a job and she knows someone who’s looking for a nanny tout de suite.”
“Ugh.” I close my laptop and grab my gummy bears from the nightstand. “Does she have any more info?”
“It’s the son of one of her aqua aerobics friends, so it’s a legit job offer.”
“Legit, huh?”
The corners of her mouth twitch. “Her words, not mine.”
We both crack up. Nicole’s grandma is hilarious and tries to stay trendy, and hip, as she likes to call it. “Do we have any more info? A possible jealous wife I need to know about?”
“I hope not, but I can ask her.” She taps on her phone a few times before looking at me. “You sure?”
I let out an exaggerated breath that portrays how I feel about the possibility of taking on a nanny job. “Yeah.”
The mom of the last family I nannied for slapped me after accusing me of sleeping with her husband. Apparently, the jerk conveniently failed to mention that his affair was with his assistant, not me. The mom apologized, but at that point, it didn’t really matter anymore. The damage was done.
“If everything goes according to plan, you can quit in a few months when the people over at Kinder Street realize you’re the most perfect addition to their successful kids’ TV show.” Her smile is radiant and filled with promise.
It also makes me giggle. “You sound like one of their spokespeople.”
“What can I say? You’ve talked me into watching it enough times that I can see the appeal. To kids of course. Even though I’ll miss you like crazy.”
“I know. I hate the thought of moving away too, but at least it’s in California.” I bite the head off a green