Hip Check (New York Blades) by Deirdre Martin

running here and there,” Esa replied with a hangdog expression.
    “You really need to spend more time with her,” Michelle admonished softly. “I know your schedule is nuts, but you do have
some
free time.” She paused. “She starts school a week from Monday.”
    Esa once again checked his iPhone, then looked up at Michelle with what could only be described as a “stunningly gorgeous” smile. “I can take her.”
    “Oh, she’s going to be so thrilled!”
    “You’re coming too, right?”
    Technically, there was no reason for her to go if Esa was taking her.
    “That’s up to Nell. She might like you all to herself.”
    “But you’re the one who went with Nell to tour the school, met with Nell’s teachers, dealt with the paperwork, got Nell all the supplies she needed, including her uniform. Of course you have to be there.”
    Michelle looked at him inquisitively. “Are you afraid of taking her on your own?”
    “Of course I’m not,” Esa scoffed. “I just thought it might ease her nerves even more if we were both there.”
    “I see. I’ll talk to her and get back to you. Anything else you want me for?”
    For some weird reason, the question didn’t sound the way it was meant to, as it just hung there in the air for a few seconds.
    “I’m fine.” Esa stood. “I’ll let you get back to what you were doing. Thank you for accommodating me.”
    Sounds sexual
, said the Marcus in her head, in a formal, Finnish kind of way.
    “That’s my job.”
    Now you sound like his escort, honey
.
    “I have practice early tomorrow, but I’ll leave Nell a note on the kitchen table, okay?”
    Michelle smiled. “She’ll like that.”
    “Good.” Esa took a small sip of wine. “Well, good night.”
    “Good night,” said Michelle, hoping he didn’t escort her back to her bedroom. Thankfully, he didn’t. She was glad to see her ice cream hadn’t melted into a creamy puddle as she hopped atop her bed with the bowl in her lap. It didn’t matter, though; she’d lost her appetite.

10

    Esa wanted Nell
to have the best education money could buy, and judging by the tuition for Philips-Jackson, she was going to have it. The fees were astronomical, but according to Michelle, it was worth it. There were girls from all over the world there, so she wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb. In addition, the academics were tough and Nell was smart. The headmaster had promised Michelle that Nell would be “challenged, but not overwhelmed.” Esa had been impressed when Michelle showed him the list of extracurricular activities the school boasted. There would be more than enough for Nell to get involved in if she wanted.
    The first day of school arrived, along with Indian summer. It was sunny and hot, steamy as only a day in Manhattan could be. He and Michelle would be walking her to school. Leaving the apartment and hitting the street, Michelle had reached for Nell’s hand, but she warned her off with a glare that reminded Esa of his sister. “I’m not a baby, you know.”
    “Got it,” Michelle replied. Esa shot her a look over Nell’s head. Michelle just shrugged.
    “Are you nervous?” Esa asked his niece. Dumbass. Of course she was.
    “Not really,” Nell replied nonchalantly.
    “Well, that’s good. I mean, it’s okay to be nervous.”
    Nell looked at him. “I
know
that.”
    Esa nodded his head stupidly; at least it felt stupid to him.
See? You can’t even connect with her on the simplest level. Even the easiest question sounds forced. You should have said good-bye to her at the apartment. You should have left this to Michelle.
    He wanted to tell her how much she looked like her mother, but at least he was smart enough to know that was a dumb idea. Talk about screwing a kid’s head up on the first day of school. He knew it would “take time,” but he hoped a day would come when she would ask him questions about Danika and what she was like as a little girl. He hated to admit it, but he didn’t want to