Raising my cousinâs three kids wasnât in my five-year plan. Actually, it wasnât in any plan.
One minute Iâm a single labor and delivery nurse living a quiet life and the next, Iâm navigating guardianship hearings, meltdowns, and homework Iâm pretty sure requires a math degree. Enter Hayes Carlisle. My best friendâs older brother. Chicago Colts newest catcher. And the man I once kissed and immediately pretended I didnât. So, when the custody battle Iâve been dreading becomes a reality, I shouldnât be surprised that Hayes swoops in with a wild ideaâa fake relationship. According to him, pretending weâre together will polish his image and prove to the court Iâm not taking on an instant family alone. But pretending to be Hayesâ girlfriend is a terrible idea. Because he remembers how to make me laugh. Because he looks at me like our kiss wasnât a one-time mistake. Because the kids start asking him to read bedtime stories. Because my heart starts wanting things my life doesnât have room for. I can manage the chaos. I can fight for these kids. But pretending not to fall for Hayes Carlisle? That might be the one thing I canât do.
Raising my cousinâs three kids wasnât in my five-year plan. Actually, it wasnât in any plan.
One minute Iâm a single labor and delivery nurse living a quiet life and the next, Iâm navigating guardianship hearings, meltdowns, and homework Iâm pretty sure requires a math degree. Enter Hayes Carlisle. My best friendâs older brother. Chicago Colts newest catcher. And the man I once kissed and immediately pretended I didnât. So, when the custody battle Iâve been dreading becomes a reality, I shouldnât be surprised that Hayes swoops in with a wild ideaâa fake relationship. According to him, pretending weâre together will polish his image and prove to the court Iâm not taking on an instant family alone. But pretending to be Hayesâ girlfriend is a terrible idea. Because he remembers how to make me laugh. Because he looks at me like our kiss wasnât a one-time mistake. Because the kids start asking him to read bedtime stories. Because my heart starts wanting things my life doesnât have room for. I can manage the chaos. I can fight for these kids. But pretending not to fall for Hayes Carlisle? That might be the one thing I canât do.