Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 41725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 209(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 209(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
“Full-time childcare specialist,” I mused, my mind already shying away from contemplating a time when Brody wouldn’t live here.
Instead, a new thought occurred to me. A solution to both of our problems. And I was steadfastly ignoring all the warning bells going off in my head as to why it was an absolutely terrible idea.
Brody laughed. “Nah. The new person won’t get to call themselves that until I’ve given my stamp of approval,” he teased. But his smile fell away quickly. “Anyway, all of that is to say I don’t think I can be a solution to this problem—”
“But you could,” I disagreed quickly. “I… I have an idea that might work, if you agree to it.”
He frowned. “I’m listening.”
“What if…” I began. Then I hesitated.
This setup was all wrong. He was standing too far away, and our positions reminded me of the day I’d hired him, four years ago. He’d stepped into this very office that day wearing a fitted button-down and ripped jeans that made him look so damn young—and light-years less qualified than the professional nannies I’d already interviewed for the position—that if he hadn’t been so eager and convincing, I never would have hired him.
But Brody wasn’t a job candidate now. In a strange way, I was.
I stood up again and came around the desk, herding him toward the small sofa opposite the window.
“Okay, you’re scaring me a little. What’s your idea?” he demanded when he’d taken a seat beside me.
I turned toward him. My knee brushed his, and I pretended I couldn’t feel the heat of him through two layers of fabric… and that it wasn’t eliciting a predictable biological response in certain already overstimulated areas of my body. “What if I supported you so you could start your own company?”
His sharp green gaze ping-ponged around my face. “Supported me.”
“Yes!” I tugged at my shirt collar. Be convincing, Grant. “After you graduate, you could start your company here and work from home while the girls are at school. I could continue to pay your salary. You could keep volunteering and managing their activities like you do now. You could save up money since you won’t have tuition to pay or room and board. Everything could stay the same.” I swallowed nervously before adding, “We could even get married for real. O-on paper, I mean. Then you’d qualify for benefits on my plan at work.”
Brody stared at me. I could feel the excitement and nerves jangling in the air between us. This was either the stupidest idea I’d ever had or the most brilliant.
“I, ah…” He opened his mouth, then shut it again.
“Yes?” I leaned forward eagerly.
“I’m concerned that, um…”
“Go on.”
“You… you do realize I’m a man,” he blurted.
I blinked at him. Of all the things I’d expected him to say, all the many objections I’d expected him to come up with, that one hadn’t entered my mind. But he seemed… agitated about it, for some reason, so I kept my face neutral. “That hadn’t escaped my notice,” I said gravely.
Brody huffed. “I mean, if you married a man, people would assume you’re gay.”
“Right.” I still wasn’t sure what the problem was, and I felt a little foolish. I needed Gwen here to help me see what emotional context I was missing. Hell, I needed Brody himself. “The dean already thinks that since she assumed you were my husband,” I pointed out.
“And that’s not a problem for you?”
“Uh. Well. No? Since I am gay—”
“You’re gay?” Brody jumped up and began pacing again. His voice was so comically high-pitched I almost laughed, but something told me he wouldn’t appreciate that. “Why haven’t you ever said so? Not that you needed to tell me or anyone, obviously, but… why didn’t you tell me?”
“I suppose because, um…” I swallowed. I hadn’t told him for the same reason I’d never encouraged him to talk about men he dated. Because it would make it that much harder for me to keep things professional. “…it never came up?”
Brody shook his head wordlessly.
“I didn’t fully realize it until a few years ago,” I offered, leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees and keeping my gaze trained on the carpet. “When I was younger, I was focused on school and didn’t actually want to date anyone. And then Liza and I met in college, and after that, things just sort of… happened, I guess. She got pregnant with Jacey, so we got married. I was busy with medical school, then building my career, while Liza seemed happy doing part-time photography and being with the kids. Looking back, it was easier for both of us to just keep going with the flow without thinking too hard. But then Liza finally admitted she wasn’t happy, and we saw a marriage counselor who encouraged us to explore our passions individually.” I shrugged. “It turned out Liza had never wanted… this.” I waved a hand to indicate my big house in its tree-lined subdivision, as well as the three children tucked in their beds… and myself. “And that I was more attracted to men… and maybe always had been.”