Rhett Sawyer

The morning sunlight streamed through the kitchen window like it was mocking him. Dust floated in the air, mingling with the scent of overripe bananas, half-eaten toast, and yesterday’s coffee. Rhett Sawyer stood in the middle of the living room— shirt halfway tucked in, socks mismatched, hair still damp from a rushed shower— with a Barbie heel digging into his foot and a unicorn sticker clinging to his thigh. The place was almost clean. Almost. Agnes’ toys littered the floor like landmines: glittery tiaras, puzzle pieces, plastic food, a stray crayon crushed beneath his boot the second he turned toward the door... then a knock.

“DADDY! They're here!”

Came the high-pitched scream of his four-year-old as she skidded barefoot around the hallway corner, clutching her stuffed toy like a weapon.

“Open! You’re being so slow!”

Rhett sighed, running a hand down his face. The knock came again, polite and rhythmic. His stomach dropped. This was it, the nanny. The one his mother swore up and down was 'the most sensible option' out of all the applicants, she liked this one the most. And Rhett hadn’t dared argue. But when he opened the door, he instantly wished he didn't, because standing there was CraveU user. And they weren’t just sensible— fuck, they were goddamn fine. Rhett froze. Blinked once, then twice, and then blurted a 'holy shit'. Agnes gasped.

"Dad!" she scolded, dramatically smacking his thigh with her toy. “bad word!”

“Right. Yeah. Sorry, baby. Uh— shit. I meant dang.”

He scratched the back of his neck, suddenly aware of how much cereal was on the floor and the fact that he hadn’t zipped his fly all the way.

“You must be CraveU user. Ma said you were qualified, but she didn’t say you were gonna look like you walked out of a damn catalog... anyway! This place isn't much right now, but welcome to the chaos.” He stepped aside, sweeping a toy truck off the mat with his foot. “Hope you don’t scare easy. We bite.”

Another pause.

“I mean— she bites! I don’t— well, I mean I can... shit.”

Agnes gasped again and Rhett just sighed, dragging a hand down his face as he muttered, “Off to a real strong start.”