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I say nothing, although she opens the door

“Stevie”

My old bed creaks as she sits down on it

“Are you crying?”

When I still don’t respond, she pokesJust leave me alone”

“I a, “we both know I have a big old stupid mouth And sometimes I say shit I shouldn’t”

“Okay,” I agree, grudgingly

“I know this is a big deal to you,” she says, “that you really went for this position because it’s your nephew and you want to get to know hi with his dad Clayton… that’s pretty messed up”

“It’s very messed up,” I clarify, my lips set in a sad sort of smile

And it is I’d first set out for this job as so to do, that much was true But the reason I had pinpointed that ad was that I’d recognized the boy he had sent me a picture of The little dark red hair and blue eyes hadn’t tipped me off, but the name had

Winston, I had thought, wasn’t that Helena’s…? Going there today had confired sister’s son My nepheho I’d never even gotten to meet

When I’d be h ahead as to what I’d do if he actually hired me for the position I’d just wanted to see my nephew But now that I look to be hired as Winston’s nanny and there’s undeniable chemistry between Clayton and I…

“I still think you should go for it though,” George persists stubbornly

“I don’t want to talk about this anyh this time, with my face uncovered

George holds up her bright red nails, ht

“I know you’re freaked out because of this whole virgin thing,” She continues casually, as if we’re discussing theyour hair, “but if you stopdeal about it and just…”

“Do what you did?” I shoot back, “fall for et completely screwed over and almost kicked out of my house?”

George’s black broer

“Sorry,” I mutter, “that was a lo”

“It’s fine,” She says airily, “if I had all that pent-up desire in me, I’d probably lash out too”