Chapter Ten
Trina
Friday, June 7
My phone pinged with a text from Desi.
Are we on for movie 2nite?
Yep. Will call later.
Maybe a funny movie would clear my head of whatever disasters happened with Slade today.
When I staggered into kitchen, still yawning, Mom handed me a plate of toasted waffles.
I took the plate and sat down. “Five-star cuisine. I like it.” She grinned and handed me a cup of steaming java.
“You’re a mind-reader.” The coffee tasted bitter and the waffles were burned, but I kept that to myself because I loved her, and knew she was just as tired as me.
She sat down across from me, savoring her coffee like it was a gourmet latte.
“I figured you could use the extra caffeine jolt. Third day of nannying and all. How’s it going? How’s the other nanny?”
We’d hardly seen each other all week because of her crazy schedule at the hospital. I debated how much to tell her because, one, she would totally disapprove of the secret double salary, and two, hopefully Slade would be history after today.
“It’s going okay.” I swallowed a mouthful of partially frozen waffle. “The other nanny’s all right. Just not quite as dedicated as me.”
Mom smirked. “Not many people would be.”
“Was that a compliment or an insult?”
She laughed. “Maybe both. So what’s up? Did she like all the activities you planned for the week?”
I decided I could tell her part of the truth. “He hated all the activities. He would rather play hide-and-seek all day than actually teach the kids anything enriching.”
Mom leaned forward, way too interested. “He? The other nanny is a guy?”
I couldn’t let her get any ideas about Slade and me. She always lectured me about being my own person and following my dreams and all that. But whenever a big dance rolled around, she’d look sort of wistful when I didn’t go.
“Yeah, a totally useless guy who makes my job twice as hard as it should be.”
Mom tugged at her long braid. When I first cut off all my hair, she’d been so freaked. Then she’d told me how proud she was that I wasn’t using long hair as a shield, or giving in to patriarchal standards of beauty.
Talk about mixed messages.
One day she wanted me to go to the prom in a Cinderella carriage, the next she wanted me to be like Katniss and take down the whole system. Maybe that’s what happened when you were left with only one kid to pin all your hopes and dreams on.
I squeezed my eyes shut, as if that could block out the painful memories.
“That doesn’t make sense, sweetie.” Mom sounded concerned. “Why would Max’s mom hire someone who wasn’t qualified?”
I hated lying to my mom. I shoved more cold waffle into my mouth and chewed.
“He’s…um…I guess he’s not that bad. He’s not endangering them or anything.”
Not yet, anyway.
She watched me closely, a tiny smile quirking her lips. “So maybe the issue you have is different…styles?”
I shrugged. “That’s one way to put it.”
Mom nodded and drained her mug of coffee sludge. “Do I know this boy?”
“No,” I said. “He’s going to be a senior, like me, but I don’t think you’ve ever met him.”
She stood up to stretch. “Too bad you have to work today. We could’ve hung out together.”
A twinge of guilt flickered through me. “Maybe tomorrow? Pedicures?”
Her face fell. “I wish we could, hon, but I can’t afford it this month.”
“But I can. I get paid today.”
Mom looked at me quizzically. “You’re not making that much, T. And I want you to save most of your salary for college expenses.”
I swished the last bite of waffle in the syrup. I always saved the money I earned, but once in a while I wanted to splurge, especially on my mom.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
She ruffled my hair. “I’m sorry, T. Maybe next month.”
I wondered just how much of Slade’s crap I’d be willing to put up with to earn a double salary for the rest of the summer.
Slade was just getting out of his car as I parked in front of Max’s house. Gilly expelled a dreamy sigh. Tall and tanned, his golden brown hair glinting under the bright sun—I definitely got why Gillian was lovestruck. Thank God I had more sense than a five-year-old.
“He’s so cute,” Gillian said from her booster seat. “You should be his girlfriend, Trina.” She wrapped her arms around Spike, who’d come with us for the day. He licked her face and she giggled. “Let’s go already!” Gillian unbuckled herself and reached for the car door handle, but since the child locks were on she couldn’t escape.