The Boss Baby Daddy (A Secret Baby Romance)

by Claire Adams

  “I know. I wanted to thank you for pushing me to get a job. I know it’s only been a week, but I really am starting to feel a little better,” I told her, as I took a bite of my croissant.

  “That’s great news, Rach. I’m so glad to hear it. I knew it would happen if you just took a baby step. That’s why I pushed you so much. How is the job?” Sadie was looking at me, studying my face, and I knew she was trying to read me. She had always done that, and I wasn’t normally bothered by it because I knew she was just trying to be a good friend.

  I cleared my throat. “It’s going pretty good actually. I’m the assistant to the owner. So, I do everything from booking appointments, responding to comments on the website, answering the phone, things like that. But his nanny just had a family emergency, and she had to leave so, I’ve been watching his daughter Nell when she gets out of school in the afternoon.”

  Sadie gave me a funny look, “Watching his daughter?”

  “Yes. I love it she’s such a sweet little girl,” I smiled.

  My smiles even seemed a lot more genuine these days. They weren’t as fake and forced as they had been. I knew I had been only working for a week, but it had been the best week I’d had in over a year now.

  “Well, how is he?” Sadie asked.

  I bit down on my lip; it was a nervous habit of mine. I wasn’t really sure how to describe James. I hadn’t really had a chance to get to know him or talk to him really. Honestly, I had spent more time with Nell than with him so far.

  “Hmmm. I’m not really sure how to answer that,” I said, with a shrug.

  “What does that mean?” Sadie asked, just as another customer walked in. She looked at me, then at the customer and then back at me. “I’ll be right back.”

  Sadie got up from her chair and walked over to the counter greeting the customer. I watched as she took the customer’s order, filled it, took the money, and gave them their change. She did it so flawlessly, as if it was second nature to her. I had always wanted to be that way, but it just seemed so hard, and I felt awkward. Especially, after everything that had happened.

  Sadie walked back over and sat back down, “Now, where were we?”

  “You were asking me about my new boss.” I didn’t really want to talk about him, but that’s mostly because I didn’t really know what to say. I thought about how he had acted towards me all week, like a little standoffish. “To be honest, he’s a little cold.”

  Sadie gave me a funny look. “What do you mean by that?”

  “I’m not really sure myself. He’s just a little standoffish. Like he doesn’t really want to let anyone in. But I did learn something from Nell.” I wasn’t sure if I should continue talking or not. It wasn’t really Sadie’s business to know about James.

  But I could tell Sadie wanted to know more; she didn’t even have to open her mouth. Without her even saying anything at all, I knew that she wanted more details. Maybe I wasn’t too bad at reading people either.

  A customer came over and asked for a refill on her coffee. Sadie said, “You bet,” as she jumped up, quickly went around the other side of the counter, and grabbed the carafe. She brought it over and refilled the lady’s coffee. Then she went around to the other occupied tables, to see if they needed anything and refilling coffee cups.

  When she sat back down, I still wasn’t sure if I should tell her about his wife or not. But the look on her face told me she wasn’t letting go until I told her something good. I shook my head.

  “So, I learned from Nell that his wife passed away two years ago. Nell was only three. I don’t know if she really remembers her mom much, she didn’t say anything about that. But it kind of explained why James seems a little awkward,” I said. I felt a little bad for letting his secret out-of-the-box like that to someone he didn’t even know, but I knew I could trust Sadie.

  “So, it looks like James is packing around some baggage, too,” Sadie said like it was some sort of sign.

  I rolled my eyes at my best friend and finished off my croissant.

  Sadie was looking at me, staring at me. It was like she was examining me, or maybe just trying to choose her next words very carefully. I hated when she did this, when she acted like she had all the wisdom in the world. I loved Sadie to death and knew that she meant well, though, so I always put up with it.

  “Rachel,” she said to me. “I want you to really think about what’s going on, and I don’t want you to get too attached to these people. I can already tell that you are. Don’t step in there like you’re her mom.”

  I cocked my head to the side, “What you mean by that?”

  “I just don’t want you to get too attached to this little girl and try to play mommy. You don’t know them that well, and you could end up causing problems,” Sadie said.

  Frowning, I tried to figure out where she was coming from, and I didn’t really know how to take it. But I knew it was coming from a place of concern, and I didn’t want to piss her off. She had stood by me through some bad times, and I didn’t want to lose her as my friend. I didn’t need that kind of hurt in my life.

  “It’s not like that at all, Sadie. I’m just doing my job, and part of my job is keeping an eye on her after school. Just until the nanny gets back. I’ll make sure not to play mommy. Those are not my intentions. You were the one that told me to get a job, remember that?”

  Sadie clasped her hands together. It was something she often did when she was feeling frustrated. I didn’t understand why she was frustrated now though. This was all true, and the things I was pointing out to her were facts. She was the one who’d pushed me to get a job. Now that I’d found one she was lecturing me on how to do it.

  “Yes, I do remember that. But, what I don’t remember is telling you to get a job babysitting someone’s child. I don’t remember telling you to do something that could end up potentially hurting you,” she said.

  Leaning back in my seat, I stared at her, flummoxed. I didn’t really know what to say or think. Sometimes, it just felt like a never-ending battle with her, and I just didn’t know how to please her. It seemed like no matter what I tried, she would always nitpick at something.

  There was a moment of silence, and I started debating on whether I should just leave or stay here and try to keep talking to her. I was torn. I didn’t like fighting with my friend. Especially, not now, just when I was starting to feel better. Just when I was about to decide, she cleared her throat.

  “I do have to admit that it is really good to see how lively you’ve become. You seem so much happier, and you know that makes me happy. You’re my best friend, Rachel. I really just don’t want to see you get hurt. You’ve already been through so much, and you’re just now starting to feel better. At least, it seems like you have,” she said. “I can’t remember the last time you popped in like this.”

  “I do feel better, and I’ve been doing more around the house too. Like laundry and stuff like that.”

  “That is awesome. So pace yourself a bit. I just want you to be careful. I don’t ever want to watch you fall back into that deep hole again.” She picked up a napkin and wiped some crumbs up off the table.

  She had a point, and I really didn’t feel like fighting with her. I gave her a bright smile.

  “I know, and I promise you that I’ll watch what I’m doing. I won’t push myself too much, and I’m not gonna let myself get involved in the way you think I’m going to. I know how to protect myself.”

  She returned my smile, “I love you, Rach.”

  “Love you too, Sadie.”

  After getting up to help another customer, she came back and sat down next to me. We talked for a little while longer, changing the subject. She told me how well her business was doing, so much that she would be opening a second shop on the other side of town. I congratulated her, of course, and told her that we should go out for drinks to celebrate later on.

  I left shortly after that. She needed to get back to work, and I needed to go get some things done around my apa
rtment. Suddenly hungry despite the croissant, I thought I should pick up some groceries, too. But I thought about what she said, and I was feeling a lot livelier. Even to myself, I seemed healthier and happier. This job was good for me, I was sure of it.

  Chapter Eleven

  James

  I loaded up the car with Nell’s bags and helped her into her booster seat. Then I got in, started the car and backed away from our house. I headed on down the road towards the home of Nell’s friend. I had gotten the address when we’d confirmed the sleepover.

  It was all a little bittersweet for me. First kindergarten, and already now her first sleepover. I wasn’t sure I was going to get used to it. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if she was going to either. It was hard to predict if she would be able to make it through the night or would want to come home. This was a brand-new friend, so she didn’t even know the girl’s mom. But Nell was a very outgoing girl who never really felt like she had to rely on me a lot. She was really independent, so I trusted that she would be all right through the night.

  It might have seemed weird to others, but I didn’t trust daycares due to the high amount of awful things reported at them. The workers were only there for a paycheck and did not care about the children. I had heard far too many horror stories. At the same time, leaving her in the care of someone’s parents was a little nerve wrecking. But if for some reason, I felt off about them upon meeting them, I wouldn’t allow my daughter to stay with them. Which is why I insisted on meeting them instead of just dropping her off and leaving.

  Soon, we pulled up outside of her friend’s house. Nell got out, and I grabbed her bag. We walked together to the porch where Nell excitedly pushed the doorbell. A few seconds later, a lady in her early thirties opened the door. I assumed this was the mom. A second later, a man appeared behind her, followed by a little girl. Nell’s friend and her father, I assumed.

  “Hello. I’m Maggie, Kassondra’s mom. This is my husband, William. And this is Kassondra,” the lady said.

  I held my hand out and shook both of their hands. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m James.”

  Maggie nodded her head, “Is there anything she is allergic to or maybe something I should know about?”

  I shook my head, “Not that I know of, and she’s tried just about everything,” I said with a chuckle.

  Kassondra stepped forward and hugged Nell as the parents moved back to let the girls inside. I was a little hurt, but at the last minute, Nell turned around came back.

  “I love you, Daddy,” she said, as she wrapped her arms tightly around my waist.

  I positioned myself on the ground so I could wrap my arms around her and we could hug a little better. Seeing her friend’s parents together like this made me miss her mom even more, and the fact that she was leaving for the night, well, that didn’t help things either.

  With a picture of Whitney in my mind, I tried to think of what she would have said to Maggie. Maybe they would’ve been friends. That would’ve been so nice for her. But I just didn’t think I could be friends with Kassondra’s parents. It was too hard. Because I was by myself, and they had each other. I didn’t know how to handle this whole thing. I know how this worked, and that I was still trying to figure out the parenting thing. But I had to do it alone; I didn’t have a partner anymore, and that’s what hurt the most.

  “I love you, baby,” I said and squeezed Nell tightly.

  She let go of me and happily followed her friend back inside. I put the father’s number in my phone since I had already had the mother’s number, just in case something happened and Maggie wasn’t around. Then I told them goodbye and waved to my little girl.

  Back inside my car, I turned on the ignition and drove away. Picking up my phone, I called Derek.

  He answered on the first ring.

  “Hey man, what’s going on?” he asked.

  “Hey. I just dropped Nell off at a friend’s house for a sleepover. Can I come over?” I needed to spend some time with my good friend. I didn’t think sitting around the house thinking about Nell being gone was going to be very good for me.

  “Sure man. Come on over. I’m just hanging out,” he said.

  “Alright, I’ll be there soon.” I hung up my phone and tossed it on the seat next to me, then drove on over to Derek’s house.

  I didn’t even bother with knocking on the front door when I arrived because Derek and I had been friends for so long. Nell even referred to him as Uncle Derek. I thought it was sweet of her to do that, and Derek just adored her.

  “Hey, man. Thanks for stopping by; been awhile,” Derek said from the couch.

  I looked over the couch and sat down next to him. “Yeah, you’re welcome. I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “Nell’s first sleepover, huh?” he asked, not taking his eyes off the TV. It looked like a college football game was on. I didn’t have time for sports these days. I hadn’t had time for really anything since Whitney’s passing.

  “Yeah. I don’t really know what to think about that. When I dropped her off at kindergarten on Monday, she pretty much told me to leave,” I said.

  He laughed, “She’s always been really independent.”

  “Just like her mom,” we both said at the same time.

  I was glad to be there with Derek and eventually started to relax a bit. I knew I could really use some time with him and a few laughs since I’d been feeling so down.

  Derek looked at me. “So, you gonna tell me what’s going on?” He picked up the TV remote from the arm of the couch next to him and pointed it at the TV, shutting it off.

  He’d always been really good at picking up on cues. Whenever Whitney and I were fighting and Derek was around either one of us, he knew right away, and he was always the one that told us we were being silly. He was the one that helped us out when we experienced a rough patch.

  I cleared my throat, “It’s just tough, you know? I just saw the parents of Nell’s friend, together there as a family, and it made me miss Whitney more than ever,” I said.

  “You know what, man?” he asked me.

  “What’s that?”

  “I think that tonight is the perfect time for us to go out and get some drinks. We haven’t been able to do that in a long time. Nell’s at a friend’s house, so she is taken care of, and you can crash here at my place. We can call a cab, so need to worry about a designated driver. What do you say, man?”

  I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to go out or not. There were other useful things I could be doing with my time. But, he had a point. We hadn’t really done anything together in quite a long time. I missed hanging out with him, and I knew I could use a break. It might help me relieve some of my stress, take my mind off things, and hey, I might even get some sleep.

  “All right, man. Let’s do it,” I said.

  That night, a couple hours later, we called a cab and headed out to the local bar. I was a little nervous since I literally hadn’t been there in two years. That was quite a long time, considering I used to go there all the time with Derek.

  We went inside and found a couple vacant bar stools, then both ordered a Jack and Coke. It was Whitney’s signature drink. If we are watching a football game or something, we’d drink a beer together. But when we went out, we almost always got Jack and Coke.

  The bartender set my drink down in front of me. I took a sip and cringed, not used to the hard alcohol. I hadn’t had a real drink in a long time.

  “I know you miss her, man. Believe it or not, I miss her too,” Derek said, and it took me by surprise. Up until that point, I hadn’t ever heard him say anything like that.

  “Thanks, man. It means a lot to hear you say that,” I said, and finished up my drink.

  The bartender walked over.

  “Can I get you another one?” he asked.

  “Sure thing,” I said back to him.

  A couple minutes later, there was a fresh drink sitting in front of me, but it didn’t stay there very long. I downed the drink right in f
ront of the bartender. I nodded, letting him know that I did want another one. I didn’t really care if I was going to get drunk. Maybe I was even trying to.

  We started talking about Derek and his life, just catching up on things. The next thing we knew, two women approached us. They both looked to be in their late twenties. Both of them showed signs of plastic surgery. One sat by Derek, the other by me, and the four of us started talking.

  It wasn’t so bad at first but quickly started to feel awkward. While the two girls were fairly attractive, and I might have been interested had this been before I met Whitney, but something just didn’t feel right. I felt too old. Here we were sitting at a bar, and hitting on girls. Well, Derek was hitting on girls; I really wasn’t.

  That just wasn’t me; it wasn’t the person I was, and hadn’t been in a really long time. I didn’t think I was ever going to be that person again.

  “Hey, man,” I said to Derek, and he turned and looked at me. “I think I want to take off. Thanks for the drink, and the talk. It really means a lot.”

  Derek gave me a funny look, “Are you sure?”

  I nodded my head, “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  Derek stood up, “Alright, man. Get home safe, huh?” He held his hand out to me, and I took it, then we grasped each other in a bro hug.

  “Sorry, ladies, but I’m going to head out. It was nice to meet you,” I said.

  “It was nice to meet you too,” said the girl who sat next to me. I didn’t even remember her name at this point, and it wasn’t because I was drunk. It was because I didn’t care.

  I said goodbye one more time, then I headed outside and called a cab to take me home. When I got there, I went to bed, but I didn’t go to sleep. I laid in my bed and thought about Nell. I hoped she was doing okay at her friend’s house, but realized that I was probably struggling with it more than she was.