Choosing Us (Pierced Hearts Duet #1)(15)

“Oh my God, Sky! Just back off! We don’t want or need you here! Go home and raise your own damn kids!”

“Jackson! Don’t you walk away from me! You come back here right now!”

“Screw you, Sky! I’m so sick of your shit!”

I jerked back from hearing the disrespect spewing out of this boy’s mouth from the hallway.

“You’re just as big of a pain in the ass as your niece! But at least I can make Harley go away! Wish I could say the same for you!”

“Jackson! I get it! You’re angry! We’re all angry! Do you think this is easy on any of us?”

“You don’t know anything! Especially, how I’m feeling!”

“Jackson, I’m just trying to help!”

“Nobody wants your help! When are you gonna get that?”

“You need my help, your dad needs—”

“My dad?” he scoffed out with pure disgust I could feel through the walls. “You’re seriously going to play that card? Oh, come on, Sky! That’s a joke, and you know it!”

“That’s not fair. Your dad needs you now more than ever, and you being a little shit doesn’t help any!”

“Where’s my dad, Sky?! Huh? Tell me! Where’s the man who needs me! Because I haven’t seen him in months! But why would he come home when you’re always here taking care of his responsibilities!”

I should’ve stayed out of it.

It was none of my business.

I should’ve stopped myself from walking toward that door…

From standing in that hallway…

From opening my mouth when he shouted, “How many times do I have to tell you, you’re not my mother?! So just turn your ass around and go home for once! Nobody wants you here!”

“Jackson Pierce, you do not talk to her that way!”

Instantly, everyone’s heated glares shifted toward me. My eyes widening when I realized what I had just done.

Jackson narrowed his eyes at me, scanning me up and down with a demeaning stare. “Who the hell are you?”

“Jackson,” Skyler snarled, bringing his attention back to her. “I’m interviewing her to possibly be your new nanny.”

His mouth dropped open, snapping, “Are you fuc—”

“Boy, you finish that sentence, and I swear I will wash your mouth out with soap. Do you understand me?” I warned, interrupting him.

“Oh … this is bulls—”

The expression on my face was enough to render him silent.

He scowled, shaking his head as he backed away. “Whatever.” Eyeing only me. “At least Mary Poppins is hot. Maybe her ass will make my dad leave the hospital and come home for once.”

I jerked back, and Skyler seethed, “Jackson Pierce! You apologize! Right now!”

He rolled his eyes, snidely smiling. “You’re the one who hired her, right?” He shrugged. “Should have thought of that before you decided we needed a babysitter. I am a growing boy, after all. So now what? Should we call you Mommy?”

“Oh my God, Jackson,” she bellowed, her face turning bright red from embarrassment.

Mirroring mine, I was sure.

Before either of us could say another word, he abruptly spun around and stomped into what I assumed was his bedroom. Slamming the door so hard behind him, it vibrated the walls down the long hall.

Skyler sighed deeply with humiliation clearly written across her face. “Wow … that is not how I thought this would go down. I’m so sorry, Camila. I completely understand if you no longer want the position. I truly apologize for wasting your time.” She spun and walked away. “I’ll see you out.”

I peered from her, to Jackson’s door, to the other boy Jagger, who I’d just noticed was standing behind the wall where Skyler was arguing with Jackson. His face looked as thrown off by the whole encounter as we were.

Both sons were spitting images of their father with brown hair and piercing blue eyes.

“I have to ask,” Skyler stated, interrupting my train of thought. Once again staring at me. “That song … the song you were singing to Journey. Why that song?”

“The Annie song?” I replied, caught off guard. Realizing she was still holding the baby monitor in her hand.

“Yeah. Out of all the songs you could sing to her, why that one?”

“Oh … um… I used to sing it to my siblings all the time. They loved it. I mean, my sisters must have watched the original movie a thousand times.”

“You never saw the remake?”

“No. Why?”

“You really don’t know who I am, do you, Camila?”

I arched an eyebrow, taking her in from her head to her toes. “I’m sorry, I don’t know—”

“Please don’t apologize. When I first promised Bailey I’d be here for her family, I was terrified I wouldn’t find the right woman to help me take this on. I had this nagging fear the women I interviewed would be here for the wrong reasons. For who I am and not for the kids. I didn’t want to mess it up, you know?”

I nodded, perceiving she was trying to tell me something deeper and more meaningful.

“Bailey’s my best friend. She’s the older sister I always wanted. When we first met, she didn’t know who I was either, and because of that I loved her instantly. To go from my world, to one where no one knows who I am, was something I prayed for every night. I used to be a celebrity, an actress, and singer. It was a hard life, and if you Googled my name you’d know why. So, to finally find that in her… well, it meant… everything. I guess I’m just trying to say that,” she breathed out, shaking her head. “I don’t know what I’m trying to say.”