Guess Who's Back [ GREY ]

[Grey Lawe]

Grey was immensely grateful that he didn’t need to go out and find a brand new nanny for this summer. He’d had to do that for the first three summers, and he didn’t think it was beneficial for the children. Not only had Kinsley Mason been the best yet, but she was coming back again. It was a far cry from normal, and Grey knew that, but it was something.

The bachelor cleaned his pad before she came over. When she nannies for the summer she did an immaculate job of making food for the kids and keeping the house clean. Grey didn’t want her coming over and regretting her decision to commit to another summer.

He’d just finished sweeping the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. In the midst of his eagerness he faltered and dropped the dust pan, it’s contents spilling back onto the floor. He hissed an expletive and slapped the broom around the scatter what had fallen.

“Coming!” He called. He never had people over to his house. True to his words, ten seconds later he was at the door. He was in a white t-shirt and brown work pants with boots, as if he were about to sling on a flannel and go to the tractor store.

“Kins, hey,” he was out of breath a little. His eyes flickered down her person unconsciously, as anyone might look over an individual they were engaging with. “Come in, come in.” He moved out of her way, staying at the door so he could close it behind her.

[Grey Lawe]

Grey closed his door behind her and followed her in, bringing his hands together and rubbing them, eyes scanning the space to make sure he hadn’t forgotten to put something away. The worst he might accidentally leave laying around was a gun. He had a few of those and liked to take them out to clean them.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” He felt it was his fault they didn’t see each other. He wasn’t in need of art or tattoos, and apparently she didn’t want to get a(nother?) degree.

“Iris and Blue are...much the same.” He said weakly. We knew them well. Iris was a difficult girl who bosses everyone around and didn’t take no for an answer. In contrast, Blue was an angel child.

[Grey Lawe]

It was true, they had become like a little family...but that wasn't something that made Grey comfortable. In fact, it made him pretty uncomfortable. Because they weren't family. So then, where did Kinsley fit in? An older daughter to him? A wife? Certainly not the latter. But sometimes, when she was serving up dinner and they were listening to Iris' latest antics, and they shared a smile, Grey could see it. He could see a life with her, odd as that was to say. In fact--it was very odd because she was a young woman and he was an aged man.

He realized he was smiling back at her, and remembered himself.

"Uh," he breathed out in quiet laughter, "no. Well, yes. Kinda. I hinted at it. They were beside themselves at the thought." He shut his mouth and smiled at her again. "You really mean the world to them."

[Grey Lawe]

Grey decided to follow her lead. It would be odd if she was getting more and more comfortable on the couch as he stood by awkwardly. Clearly she didn't intend to leave anytime soon. He was glad for that. Living alone got lonely. Casual conversation with someone he trusted was more than welcome.

"I've started grocery runs, but I'll text you if I need anything more." He assured her. It was true. During the summer she basically became the woman of the house. It was a luxury. Granted, he paid for that luxury, but still...

"An aquarium?" He settled in the recliner nearby, the one that had taken form around his bottom. It was where he sat to clean his guns. There was a little table to the side that was empty for exactly that reason. "I think the kids will love that. Let's definitely plan on it." He was glad she was thinking ahead. The days could grow boring for her, he was sure.

"I do want to talk about pay. I think you should make more this summer since you're coming back. Does five extra dollars a day sound fair to you?"

[Grey Lawe]

Grey's smile grew and he raised a brow at her counter offer. It was true, during the summer he took full advantage of having Kinsley around. Truth be told--though he would not admit it--going from being alone to having his kids around was hard. It was good at first, but then it felt stuffy. The house felt small. They were always loud. He grew irritable...it was best for them to have Kinsley. It was best for Grey to still have the freedom to come home later. So then, this proposition, while perhaps a little unattractive, was sensible.

"How about we keep the pay increase and I throw coming home to make dinner once a week in as a bonus?"

[Grey Lawe]

Grey didn't like that look she was giving him. He didn't like it because he liked it. Grey let his eyes find something else to look at for a moment. They returned to her at her questions.

"Uh, end of next week." He then proceeded to lie to her, and he didn't want to appear incompetent or lazy, "Thanks Kens, but I've eaten." One glance at his kitchen would tell her that either he was lying or he'd cleaned up already. Ahem.