DRAMA NOVEL ONLINE Skate the Line: Chapter 5
I take a sip of my latte and stare out the window of my new-for-now home. I’m smack-dab in the middle of the busy Chicago city with skyscrapers as my neighbors. Last week I was surrounded by easygoing SoCal people and salty air. Today, I’m watching business men storm to and from a sleek building with too many windows to count.
“How’s the view?” Ruby asks through our video call. She’s wearing a princess crown and has purple eyeshadow up to her forehead.
I roll my lips to suppress my laughter while I watch a tiny hand move in the frame as it applies bright-pink blush to Ruby’s cheeks. Ruby is completely unbothered by the fact that she looks like a clown.
“The view is as beautiful as the makeup Marybella is applying to your face. Good job, Mary!” I say.
Ruby flutters her eyelashes. “So beautiful.”
We both laugh and continue on with our conversation while Marybella adds sparkles.
“Have you looked him up yet?” Ruby asks.
I glance out the window again. Chicago is busier than anywhere else I’ve lived before, but if what Ruby says is true about Rhodes Volkova, then I think I can manage the bustling city for a little while—at least until I get on my feet.
Rhodes Volkova isn’t your typical pro hockey player. He has the stats of a veteran, but every article states that he’s gruff, standoffish, and fully immersed in the game of hockey. One article noted him having a daughter and being a single father but nothing specific about what happened to her mother. His life is private, which could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it. Another article focused on how attractive he is and labeled him as the most desirable bachelor in the league. However, considering how private he is, who’s to say he isn’t in a relationship?
I take another sip of my latte and nod at Ruby.
“And?”
I shrug. “You were right. He’s…private.”
“You mean, he’s not an arrogant man who parades women—”
My eyes widen. I shake my head, mouthing for her to shut up. Ruby slams her lips together and glances above the screen of the phone. “You know what, Marybella? I bet I would look fabulous with some jewelry. Why don’t you go find some to match my crown?”
Marybella gasps. “You wight! I be wight back!”
“I’ll be right here waiting!” she calls out.
Ruby, with her face covered in makeup, pops back into the frame and continues on with our conversation. “He’s clearly not a manwhore, right? He’s rarely seen with a woman, and word has it that he’s desperate for a nanny that won’t pull any puck bunny bullshit with him.”
I give her a look. “Where did you hear that from?”
“Jason and Kelly.”
“You’re getting your gossip from Marybella’s parents? I thought it was Jillian!” Oh god.
“Relax!” Ruby retorts. “It’s both. Jillian told me that Rhodes specifically asked for someone who wouldn’t crawl into his bed and ask him to…”—she lowers her voice—“fuck them.”
My latte flies from my mouth. I cough and sputter so hard Ruby asks if she should call 911.
“Sorry.” I cough again. “I just wasn’t expecting you to say that.”
Marybella is back with what looks like twenty necklaces. In between her placing them over Ruby’s head, she keeps talking. “I know, but the first person that came to Jillian’s mind was you, and I couldn’t agree more. It’s the perfect job for you. A grumpy single dad who openly admits he doesn’t want a…”—she takes a pause—“relationship.”
I nibble on my lip. It seems Rhodes Volkova and I have that in common.
Ruby keeps selling me on the idea, hence why I’m in Chicago.
“I also heard that he can’t keep a nanny for more than a couple of weeks because they…. Well…” I can tell she is contemplating her choice of words. “Let’s just say he has to fire them for not respecting his wishes.”
Interesting.
“And…”
The plot thickens. “And what?”
“And I was told that he’s so grumpy with some of the nannies that they just end up not coming back.”
“Grumpy,” I repeat.
Grumpy I can deal with. It’s the charming ones you have to watch out for.
A shaky breath clambers from my mouth as I reach for my laptop. “It all sounds too good to be true.” I exit out of the website for The Chicago Art Institute and type The Nanny Roster.
Ruby shrugs. “Maybe he’s gay.”
“What does that mean?” Marybella asks.
Ruby freezes. “That’s out of my paygrade. Ask your parents.”
I stuff down a laugh, and Ruby moves on quickly.
“Anyway, where is my optimistic Sunny at? I’m the pessimistic friend in this friendship. You’re the optimistic one.”
My lips lift into a smile while I continue searching the nanny website. My finger hovers over one of the potential nannies listed.
“Ruby.” My tone lowers. “Did you put me on the website?!”
Her eyes grow so big I can hardly see the sparkles that Marybella applied.
“Ruby!” I shout. “This is just like that stupid dating app you put me on!” I slam the laptop shut and glare at her through the phone. “We both know how well that worked out!”
“Oh, look at the time. I gotta go!”
I cover my face with my hands. “I’m trying to stay on the down-low! Remember?”
“I didn’t put your picture up! Not to mention, why would anyone from Washington be looking on The Nanny Roster’s website? They don’t even know it exists.”
I groan. “I’m hanging up so I can panic in peace.”
Before she hangs up the phone, she says, “If Jillian calls you, answer! Or else you’ll be in Chicago without a job.”
I remove my hands to roll my eyes at her, but she’s already hung up.
As if on cue, my phone rings, and Jillian’s name flashes on the screen.
Fate? Is that you?
If so, fuck off.