Cole

It's been three weeks since Jasmine became Gracie's nanny. In the beginning, it was a little rough for all of us to adjust and it's still a little weird. I was surprised she stayed this long and all the more astonished at Gracie's behavior. It was amazing how Jasmine had gotten her to change. I'm not saying Gracie is the world's most respectful kid. Sure, she still has her attitudes, temper tantrums, and refuses to eat a vegetable, but we're making progress.

The only problem was me. I was having weird feelings towards Jasmine that I haven't had since-well, in a long time. I've only known her for three weeks and already want to get to know her more. I needed to convince myself it was just a small crush and that it would go away. I needed a distraction. I needed to distance myself. If I could just dig a little deeper about her. All these mushy feelings will disappear.

What? You want to distract yourself from her, yet you're going to stalk her? Come on, cole, think a little.

''Gracie! Breakfast!" Jasmine called, interrupting my thoughts.

A few seconds later, Gracie came running down the stairs and joined us in the kitchen. She and Jasmine were wearing matching outfits. Light pink top and jeans. Even in that simplest outfit, I wanted Jasmine. I needed to get out of here, fast.

''Hey, sweetheart,'' I greeted Gracie as she grabbed her plate from Jasmine.

Just as she was about to respond, I got a message.

Cooper (aka Jackass): You ready? Your dad said it's practice today.

Me: What? How come nobody told me that?

Cooper (aka Jackass): Since when don't we have practice on a Monday dumb ass?

Me: I'll be there in twenty.

''Is everything alright?'' Jasmine asked as I jumped up from the seat.

''Yeah, everything's fine. I just gotta go to practice.'' After grabbing my bags and kissing Gracie goodbye, I rushed out the door.

Jasmine

Four days. Four freaking days since Cole started avoiding me. I wasn't the clingy type, but I was beginning to get mad. Since Monday, he hasn't said a word to me besides the usual, "I'm going to practice, I'll be back." It started when we didn't have our usual talking session in the living room. Since he walked in on me sleeping on the couch, he sits down next to me after getting home, and we would talk. Every night we talked about Gracie, his day, pretty much everything. We never got too deep. But now, he comes home and goes straight to his room. It was frustrating, not knowing whether I had done something or not. The suspense was killing me.

Deciding to push those thoughts away for now, I went up to check on Gracie. When I walked in, she was playing with her dolls. After she saw me, her face lit up, ''Jasmine!'' she cheered, getting up. ''Can we watch Monster High, please?''

I was proud of how much her behavior was changing towards me. She was nicer. Well, at least when she wanted something; she was still giving me sass, but I don't think that will ever change. That's just the way Gracie was. A redhead, sassy little girl. I also noticed she was picking up some of my ways. Last week after I had finished showering, when I walked into her room, she started to hype me up on my outfit. I usually did that every time she would change clothes, even though most of the time she would just roll her eyes. Then I noticed her do the same to me. It was adorable.

''Hmm, Monster high... I don't think I've seen that one yet. What's it about?'' I asked as I walked out of the room, with her trailing behind.

''Seriously? You don't know what Monster High is? Even daddy knows what that is.''

Well, excuse me.

''No, I wasn't really into all that stuff, I guess. Growing up with my brothers, the only thing I watched that was close to that stuff was probably Power Rangers.''

As we made it down the last step, Gracie looked up at me confused, ''Power Rangers? Who's that?''

''Girl, you don't know who Power Rangers are? Oh, yeah, we got a lot of things to learn. But that's for later. Where do you want to watch it? The theatre or one of the TVs? Never thought I'd ask that question.

''Theatre!" she shouted as we walked into the kitchen.

''Theatre it is. But first, let's get some food into that stomach of yours.''

She sat down at the table and started kicking her legs like she usually did when she ate. ''Kay. What are you mak-"

''Hold that thought, sweetie.'' I walked to the door after hearing the doorbell rings and look through the peephole to see who it is. He didn't look like anyone I knew, but I was sure it was someone who knew Gracie because the security guards wouldn't let anyone pass the gate unless they knew Cole or Gracie. I learned that the hard way. On my first day, one of the security guards had to call up Cole before I could even get through the gate, and he had to come down for that.

''Are you the nanny?'' the visitor asked as I opened the door.

''Um, yes. And you are?''

He didn't answer me, instead he walked in and headed for the kitchen.

Is this normal for them? People just walking in their house?

I'm on his heels as he strode into the house, ignoring my incessant questions as to who he was and what the hell did he want. In the kitchen, he places his blue cap on Gracie's head, earning a growl from the child. He finally pauses, looking over at me.

"You're almost as good looking as me," he comments. The compliment was average, and he still hadn't answered any of my questions.

By his posture and attitude, I could tell he had a way with ladies. Blond hair, tall, arrogant. He was practically screaming playboy.

''Thank you. Do you mind telling me your name now?''

''You can just call me best man for now. Hey, sugar plum,'' he greeted Gracie and pinched her cheek.

She swats his hand away. ''You look like a dolphin, Uncle Cooper. ''

Uncle? I thought Cole didn't have any siblings. I'll have to ask him later.

''And you have soap on your chin. I'm just here to drop this off. He should be on his way soon.''

''Already? He usually comes around nine or ten. It's only five."

''Yeah, practice ended early. '' He placed a brown file with a name, and address printed on the front on the counter and walked back to the entrance. ''Tell him he owes me,'' he said before walking out. I followed him out to close the door.

Walking back in the kitchen, I saw Gracie had left, and I knew exactly what she was doing. ''Gracie! Your dad is home!''

That's another thing she liked to do. Randomly hide. My back is in pain from all the hours I've spent searching for her. Not to mention how big this house was. It made it impossible to find her.

''Daddy!'' she shouted, running into the kitchen. She had her arms out but immediately dropped them when she saw me grinning. ''Sneaky roach,'' mumbled Gracie before sitting back in her seat.

''Works every time.''

''What are you making? Not pancakes again, I hope.''

She manages to remind me of that embarrassing moment at least once a week.

''Very funny, Gracie. But remember you're only five and very small. I can throw you like a frisbee.''

''You're right, but I can kill you without getting arrested for it so haha,'' she snapped and stuck out her tongue.

Smart little girl.

Just then I heard the door open, ''Your dad's here,'' I stated and passed her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

She rolled her eyes before answering, ''Not falling for that one again.''

''I'm home!"

Gracie's eyes lit, and she ran into the living room, ''Daddy!" They came into the kitchen, Gracie in his arms and him holding the mail.

I refuse to be ignored for the 4th day in a row.

''Some guy claiming to be Gracie's uncle dropped off a file.''

''Go play, sweetie'' he said, putting her down, and she ran off. ''That's Cooper. He's my best friend. Not actually her uncle. What was the file?'' he asked, still not making eye contact.

''I'll go get it.'' I walked to the counter and tried to pick it up but accidentally dropped the papers that were in it.

Shit.

I was about to put them back, but I saw one with my name on it, then looking closer saw all of them with my name on it and all my information. Birthday, parents, address, even old boyfriends. It was almost as though he was spying on me. My hands were sweating, my mind was going ninety miles per hour. It wasn't about the spying itself, it was mainly about how he could have just asked me. I thought we at least had some level of trust. I mean, I was with his daughter all the time.

''Did you find it?"

Oh, I found it alright.

Stomping in the kitchen with the file, I stood behind him, arms crossed.

''Jasmine, did you...Woah. You are right behind me.''

''What the hell is this?'' I asked, shoving the file into his hand.

''I don't know. I thought that was what you were doing-" He opened the file and went silent. His face dropped, and he looked nervous. His hands were fidgety, and he rubbed the back of his neck before responding, ''Look Jasmine, I can explain.''

''Really? How do you explain that you were spying on me?''

That seemed to get his attention because his gaze shot up from the ground, and he looked at me, confused. ''Spying on you? Baby, I wasn't spying on you. I know what I did was wrong, but I didn't spy on you.''

Even though I was furious, my insides got a little mushy when he called me that. But it immediately stopped when I thought about how he probably called thousands of women that.

You're doing it again, jasmine. Crushing on a man who couldn't possibly want you. Get a grip.

This brought me back to reality. ''How do you explain why nothing but my information is all over that file. How did you manage to find all of my boyfriends without spying on me? Unless you have like some private agent working for you or something. Is that what Best Man was doing? He was spying on me for you?''

''Who is Best Man?''

''Your best friend or Gracie's fake uncle. That's what you told me, or were you lying about that too?''

He rubbed between his eyes and I heard a chuckle come out of him as well. ''So you think this is funny? You are spying on me, and you think it's funny?''

''No. His name is Cooper and as I already told you. And I'm not spying on you. I just wanted to know you a little better. I should have asked you, and I'm sorry, Jasmine.'' He genuinely looked like he felt bad.

I breathed in, ''Whatever. I guess you have a good reason to check. But you could have asked me. I would have told you everything you needed to know.''

''I know, and I promise I'll come to you from now on. Forgiven?''

''Yes. You are forgiven.''

''Thank you. Seriously, I thought you were going to quit. But are we cool?''

That depends on if you're going to go and ignore me like you have for the past four days. ''Yeah, we're cool,'' I said, shaking his hand, and went to Gracie's room.

''What about that movie?'' I asked, holding my hand out for her to take.

''Kay! We're definitely using the theater tv,'' she answered and grabbed my hand as we both started walking back downstairs.

''Definitely.''

''What are we doing tomorrow?''

''Well, we aren't doing anything. I have to go to a family function tomorrow.''

''What's that?''

''It's like a thing where a family gets together. Just to hang out, there's never actually a reason. My family and I do it every year.''

''Oh, Can I go? Please?'' she asked as we made it downstairs.

''I don't know, sweetie. You have to ask your dad.''

''Okay! Come on,'' she dragged me with her into the kitchen where Cole was still standing.

''Daddy, can we go to Jasmine's family function? Please!''

He looked up from his phone and stared at Gracie and then at me, then back and forth, then stared at me again. I just shrugged.

''I don't know, baby. Jasmine might want to have her off day alone.''

When he said this, they both looked at me. I hated being put on the spot like that. All my other off days working here I just spent in my room relaxing, in the gym and painting in my room.

The function is not meant for adults only. Half of my siblings weren't even adults yet, so it wouldn't be like she'd be in an inappropriate environment.

I smiled. ''I don't mind. I guess you guys can tag along.''

''Yay!'' shouted Gracie, and ran over to hug me. I looked over at Cole, and he was smiling at Gracie. Then, as I turned back to Gracie, I saw him smile at me from the corner of my eye.

Well, this should be interesting.