บททั้งหมดของ I Hired My Favorite Stripper to Be My Nanny: บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

Luca’s POVThe day of the event finally came and she sat beside me like she didn’t quite belong there, her legs were pressed together and straight. Like she was being too careful not to touch anything without permission.She pressed her knees together so tightly it was almost comical, as if the leather seat itself had offended her. Her hands were folded in her lap, her fingers continuously twisting and untwisting, and every few seconds she shifted again, clearing her throat softly like she was about to say something then deciding against it.A call came in from Gabriella, the name came on the screen and I was so sure Maya had seen it but she ignored and turned towards the window looking out.I grabbed the phone and turned off the call. Then another call came in, I was about to switch it off qhen I noticed it was from Nico.“What does my lovely boy want this time around?” I said into the call.“Daddy, please get me some ice cream and pizza when you are coming back from shopping” his sh

Maya’s POVTime stopped making sense somewhere between the second cup of lukewarm tea they gave to me and the moment they soaked my hands in warm, perfumed water.At first, I kept asking how long it would take. Then I stopped asking altogether.They ushered me from one chair to another like I was made of glass, their voices were low and efficient, and their hands constantly moving. Someone brushed my hair back, another clipped it away from my face. A woman with sharp eyes and soft fingers examined my skin like it was a canvas she’d been waiting for. Every time I tried to look at a mirror, one of them gently but firmly shifted my chin away.“No peeking,” the manager said with a playful warning. “Trust the process.”Trust, that word felt dangerous.They started with my nails. I hadn’t realized how chipped they were until the polish came off completely, leaving them dull and uneven. I watched silently as they shaped them, buffed them, painted them in a soft, elegant shade that looked not

Maya’s POVI was still crouched in front of Nico when the sharp whistle cut through the air.The sound startled me enough that I flinched a little, and Nico laughed, the bright, unrestrained kind that made his whole face light up. He bounced on the balls of his feet, excitement radiating from him in waves.“That’s our cue,” he said, already stepping back.“Careful,” I told him automatically, reaching out to smooth his shirt even though it didn’t need it. “Don’t run.”He grinned at me, eyes shining. “Good luck, Mom.”The word hit me again, softly this time, less shocking, but no less powerful.Before I could respond, he turned and ran off toward the bleachers, weaving between the other children with an energy that seemed endless. I straightened slowly, my smile lingering even as my chest felt tight in a way I didn’t fully understand.“Be careful!” I called after him.He didn’t look back, but he lifted a hand in a quick wave.I was still watching him when Luca stepped up beside me.“The

Maya’s POVI stiffened the moment the announcer’s words sank in.“Piggyback race!”My spine went rigid as if someone had poured ice straight down it.I turned slowly, my eyes darting across the field, taking in the chaos unfolding before my brain could catch up. Parents were already laughing and scrambling around, some crouching, some lifting, while others argued loudly about who should carry whom.One woman hoisted her husband onto her back with surprising ease, earning cheers from the crowd. Another man scooped his wife up in a dramatic bridal carry, spinning her once before jogging toward the starting line like this was some kind of romantic comedy montage.My heart began to thud uncomfortably.I swallowed and turned toward Luca, fully intending to ask him what we were supposed to do, when he moved.One second, he was standing in front of me.The next, his arm slid behind my knees and another around my back and suddenly, the ground disappeared beneath my feet.I gasped.“Oh—-!”Bef

Luca’s POVThe noise around me blurred into something dull and distant, like I was underwater and everyone else was shouting from the surface. The fathers stood in a loose semicircle, some still flushed from exertion, others laughing too loudly as if the day had given them permission to forget themselves. Their voices collided in praise, jokes, and admiration, but none of it landed.“Second place, man,” one of them said, clapping me on the back hard enough to jolt my spine. “That was impressive.”I nodded once.“You don’t mess around,” another added, grinning. “Didn’t even slow down when the kid fell. That’s determination.”I didn’t answer immediately. My gaze had drifted past them, past the tents and bleachers, past the clusters of parents and children celebrating small victories. Nico stood near the awards table, with the silver trophy clutched in both hands like it might vanish if he loosened his grip. He was beaming, his cheeks flushed, his eyes were too bright. He lifted the trop