All Stars Fall (Seaside Pictures #3.5)(14)

Ugh I missed her so much.

Me: I may be working for Trevor Wood as a part time nanny before his kids start school and I may have said yes without thinking and now I’m staring at my phone like I’m more than the hired help and I’m one day in.

Fallon: Trevor Wood. The Trevor Wood? Hottest drummer alive? Six pack for days? That Trevor Wood?

Me: Yes, focus! We texted a bit last night and, he was flirty, I was flirty…

Fallon: Aw, did he pass you a note in biology too? Maybe you guys can play MASH later!

I rolled my eyes and smiled down at the house, car, and vacation emoji.

Me: Very funny. I need you to virtually slap me so I stop overthinking this. I’m the nanny. That’s it.

Fallon: Consider yourself slapped, you’re the nanny but that doesn’t mean you can’t still be open to something more…adventurous. I mean that is why you abandoned us, isn’t it? You needed a change of scenery and God in his mysterious ways gave you Trevor Wood! Bitch.

I laughed out loud.

Me: So…just roll with it?

Fallon: I want notes at the end of every day. Or I’m killing you.

Me: I miss you.

Fallon: I miss you too. Facetime later?

Me: Yes please.

Fallon: Preferably when you’re at work, I wouldn’t be mad.

Me: Signed an NDA so not a word!

Fallon: My lips are sealed. Love you.

Me: You too.

I set my phone down and sighed. This was ridiculous. And I knew better than to even be tempted by him.

After all, famous people were a big no in my family. I saw what Dani had to sacrifice just to have a normal life, and all I’d ever really wanted was an adventure, to settle down, not suddenly crush on a rock star and his three kids.

If only he wasn’t so sexy.

Or good with his kids.

His hands.

Ugh, I was torturing myself, wasn’t I? I’d even started playing the band’s last album while I got ready that morning. I almost tripped and face planted against the toilet when one of the songs came on that he sang.

His voice was like velvet and rasp all mixed up with perfect pitch.

Not that I was an expert, but I’d always loved the way he sang, as if all that mattered was him and the song, nothing else.

Jennifer had left a note that she was going to be out running errands, and the day had started off pretty busy, which again was surprising for a small town like Seaside.

I had about an hour before I needed to be at Trevor’s house when the bell chimed.

“Be right with—” I gawked. “DANI!”

“HEY!” She rushed toward me. Lincoln, her husband, stood behind her with a giant grin on his face. The guy had a hat on and sunglasses, but any idiot could tell it was Lincoln Greene, A-list actor. He was too good looking to go unnoticed, and people knew he had a beach house here along with every other friggin’ celebrity, it seemed.

“I thought you guys were staying in LA for a while.” I loved Dani so much, she was just good, one of those people you want to be around, like she couldn’t help but be the kindest person you’ve ever met.

“About that.” She bit down on her lower lip and then burst out, “I’m pregnant!”

“WHAT?!” I shrieked. “That’s amazing!”

She was young, like really young in my mind. She and Lincoln had fallen for each other a little over a year ago, and at eighteen, she had decided that he was it, and they were going to get married.

The rest was history.

But when you know, you know.

“I know!” She winked back at Lincoln. “It wasn’t really in the plan yet, but I’m super excited. We wanted to lay low and celebrate where we first met, so we invited the gang to hang out for the next two weeks starting with an insane barbecue tonight! Can you make it?”

“Um…” Did I tell her about the new job? Technically, I got off in time to actually go, right? “Yeah, that should work.”

“Your eyes are shifty.” She leaned in. “And you look guilty, like when you got caught behind the bleachers after homecoming.”

“Okay, first off, you’re the little snitch that was visiting and told my parents I was making out with Pete.” I glared. “And second, aren’t I older than you?”

“Semantics.” Dani’s eyes narrowed. “Did you meet someone?”

“In Seaside?” I countered, crossing my arms.

“Please, it’s like the best place to meet someone. Linc didn’t even stand a chance.”

“It’s amazing how much she talks now, all things considered,” he teased with a wink in my direction. After her parents died, Dani had become a selective mute. Nobody knew how or why, and it had taken Linc to pull her out of it. He smiled at me again. Damn, she needed to keep the guy on a leash. He was almost as sexy as Trevor.

And there it was.

“What was that?” Dani pointed at my face. “You’re thinking of someone.”

“Huh?” I touched my cheeks with both hands. “Nope, sorry just, had a rush of heat. You know how it is when you get older.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re like twenty-eight.”

“Twenty-seven,” I corrected. “Can’t I have hot flashes at twenty-seven? Is that not a real thing?” I moved toward the espresso machine, putting objects between us before she figured out what was going on. “So the barbecue sounds fun.”