Page 63 of Falling Back to You

“Fine,” I grumbled. I expected him to laugh, but instead a wave of concern crossed his face.

“You must be tired if you didn’t put up more of a fight.”

I shrugged and poked my potatoes, fatigue rolling over me. The idea of lifting my fork to my mouth felt like too much work. If he wanted to wash the dishes, all the more power to him.

“Do you want dessert or are you on a diet?” I teased after we cleared the table. Or rather Cal and Khia cleared the table. Cal had very bossily instructed me not to move from my chair. Yes, sir. This take-charge nature was a new side of Cal, and I’d be lying to say I hated it.

Because I didn’t. Not. At. All.

“I’ll never say no to your cookies.” He winked, swishing water in the pot he was rinsing.

“Pick one of mine!” Khia begged as he perused the tray of decorated sugar cookies. “This one!” She pointed to a reindeer cookie with a bullseye drawn in icing on its side.

I loved her sense of humour.

Cal chuckled. “Looks great, sweetie. Let’s finish up and we can eat them.”

Once the dishes were stacked to dry in a neat pile and the hum of the dishwasher murmured through the house, we took our cookies and hot chocolate to the porch. The night air was crisp but not uncomfortable, and the twilight darkness was magical beyond the reach of the porch lights. Khia brought her colouring book, and Cal and I fell into easy conversation. He talked about leaving for another away game at the end of the week. I mentioned the boxes I was nearly finished with and the meeting with my dad. We rehashed dinner with his family, laughing over our favourite anecdotes. Then we sat in silence. The comfortable kind that didn’t demand to be filled. A lone owl hooted, and the cool breeze danced through the quiet night.

“Thanks for today,” Cal said, sipping his drink.

“Not a problem. You’ve got a special girl.”

His eyes softened as he glanced at his daughter. Was he remembering the past like I was? How different things could have been if I hadn’t left?

He cleared his throat. “So . . . you lost your job?”

I stiffened at the abrupt change of topic. “That’s all you took away from that conversation at the photo shoot?”

“No, but forgive me for losing all reason for a minute when I was smacked in the face at seeing my former fiancée.” He considered me. “I need a full-time nanny for Khia. Would you be interested?”

“What are you doing?” I whispered, gripping my mug.

Cal sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “Honestly? Not a clue. Except I need a nanny because Mama can’t keep up with a precocious four-year-old with her ankle, and there’s no one I trust enough who’s applied.”

He trusts me? “I think we burned the bridge of trust between us years ago,” I pointed out.

“Perhaps.” He stared out into the darkness, jaw working thoughtfully. “But against every shred of reason, I still trust you, Holiday.” He lifted the cup to his lips and took a long sip, his throat bobbing. “I know you. You haven’t changed—not that much.” He held my gaze in the dim porch light. “When I look at you, I still see a friend, and I trust you with my little girl. For all your faults—and there are many—you won’t hurt a kid.”

“It’s been over ten years, Cal. People do change.” I’d changed.

“You telling me I shouldn’t trust you? Last I heard you were a nurse.”

My teeth clicked with the force as I shut my mouth. Were. The word still hurt.

“If you aren’t up for it, I understand. Truly. I just . . .” He glanced at Khia, twirling a cat toy for Mrs. Pickles. “She likes you. Talks about you all the time.”

“I’ll do it.” The words flew out without giving me the chance to overthink my choice. And I would overthink it—later.

Cal’s lips curved in a half smile. “We have a deal then?”

Wordlessly, I offered my hand and our palms touched, tingles dancing up my arm. I had a job. Thank you, Lord.

Then why did I feel like I’d made a deal with the devil?

We discussed the boring things like payment—he would be my boss after all—and my availability.

“You’re welcome to the spare room on nights I’m out of town, or she can do a sleepover with you here,” Cal offered.