Page 82 of Taking Sides

She waves off my concern. “No, it’s fine. I was a nanny for the Wallace family until his mother decided to retire and move down here.”

“You were a nanny,” I say, perfectly able to picture it. She has a certain something about her that I bet kids adore.

“It’s surprising how similar it is to being a personal assistant.”

I let out a small laugh.

“Don’t tell your brother I said that.”

“Definitely not,” I promise.

“Anyway, I didn’t mean to interrupt your visit. I won’t be here long. I’m dropping off your brother’s dry cleaning and checking that there’s enough food for the weekend. Is the guest room okay?”

“That was you.” I feel stupid for not putting it together sooner. All of it was too nice for Victor. Satin pillows, come on. He would never. “And the airport. You’re why he didn’t send a driver.”

She turns from me, busying herself with feeding Bella and checking the water bowl.

“I only told him that if it were me, I’d want my brother to pick me up himself,” she says like it’s no big deal.

“I’m impressed.”

“Really?” she asks, genuine question in her expression.

I nod. “My brother is . . . particular.”

A small laugh slips out as she smiles at me. We both know particular means asshole.

“I’m the oldest of five. Victor is cake compared to my fourteen-year-old sister.”

“Really?” I muse. “I always wanted a younger sister.”

“I’ll let you borrow mine for an afternoon and you’ll change your mind. Victor will seem like a teddy bear.”

I like Alexis, despite only knowing her for a few minutes. She’s sweet, but I see hints of the total boss behind her angelic face and voice. Victor might have finally met his match. I can’t imagine her letting him, or anyone else, boss her around.

By Saturday afternoon, I’ve spent more time with Bella than anyone in my family. My dad has been completely MIA, except for a quick text this morning to let me know the restaurant where we’re having dinner has a dress code.

“I’m headed to the rink,” Victor says, adjusting the cuffs of his dress shirt as he comes down the stairs.

“Good luck,” I say, smiling at him from my spot on the couch. Bella’s lying beside me, head flopped onto my knee, using it as a pillow.

“Thanks.” He glances up as he reaches the bottom step and aims a crooked smile at me and his dog. “Comfortable?”

“Yes, very.”

He huffs a short laugh and opens his mouth like he’s about to say something, but before he does, his stare moves to the open laptop on the coffee table in front of me.

Heat spreads through me and I sit forward to close the screen. Victor is faster.

He picks up my laptop and sneers at the screen. “Why are you looking at Conrad Shepard’s stats?”

I had been staring at his roster photo, but somehow, I think admitting that might be worse.

“Give me that.” I stand and reach for my computer. Bella whines at my departure and the loss of her perfect sleep spot.

Victor holds it higher, still glaring. “What the hell, Whitney?”

“I was checking yesterday’s game scores, and I went down a weird rabbit hole,” I say, because it’s the first logical excuse I can come up with.