Playing the Player(12)

He shrugged, leaning back against the bench. “Maybe,” he said, “maybe not.” He took a bite of his sandwich and swallowed. “You still have to take Gillian to the gift shop. Max and I are headed to the IMAX movie.”

I glanced at my watch. He was right; the movie started in ten minutes. No way could I drag Gillian in and out of the gift store that quickly.

Gillian jumped up. “Gift shop! Gift shop!” she chanted, spinning in a circle.

I snuck a peek at Slade, who looked so smug I wanted to stab him with my fork.

“Ready for the movie, Max-man?” Slade rose from the bench and swished his trash three-pointer-style into a receptacle several feet away.

Max jumped up, obediently stuffing his dinosaurs into his backpack.

Meanwhile, Gillian had made herself so dizzy with the gift shop dance that she collapsed on the ground, giggling hysterically.

Slade shot me a sideways smirk, and I knew he was thinking what a pathetic nanny I was. This was so unfair. Gillian never gave me this much attitude when I babysat her at home.

“Meet you at the car after the movie.” Slade grabbed Max’s hand, and they disappeared into the museum. I stared at their retreating backs, shocked that he’d actually bailed on me.

Gillian lay on the ground, staring up at me with wild eyes. She banged her feet on the ground. “Nooo!” she howled. “Gift shop! Gift shop!” She tugged her T-shirt over her head and pulled at her shorts, trying to strip down to her bathing suit.

“Gillian, please,” I begged, sinking to my knees next to her. “Let’s go to the movie with Max. We’ll head to the gift shop after.”

Why had I taken this job? I could have gotten a job at the mall with Desi, at a gas station, anything but this. This shouldn’t be happening. I didn’t fail. Ever.

“It’s a space movie,” I pleaded. “You’ll love it.” I pulled her shirt down over her swimsuit. I was dying to sit in the air-conditioned IMAX theater and get a break from her energy.

Her hair splayed on the ground like a tangled mess of red snakes, reminding me of Medusa. She’d have turned me to stone if she had the power.

“Mommy said I could go to the gift shop. She gave you money.”

“I know she did. But we can do it after the movie.”

My phone pinged with a text message from Slade.

Saving you two seats.

I frowned at my phone, confused. Didn’t he just abandon us?

“Come on, Gillian. Slade’s saving us seats. You can sit next to him,” I said, hating myself as I said the persuasive words.

She hopped to her feet. “Hurry, Trina!”

We rushed to the theater, arriving just as the usher closed the door. “Sorry,” he said. “You’re too late for this showing. There’s another one at three fifteen, though.”

Gillian’s face crumpled.

“Please?” I gave him a pleading look. “We’re meeting friends. They’re saving seats for us.”

He shrugged, his pimply face a mask of total boredom. “Sorry. No late entries.”

I grabbed Gillian’s hand. “Come on. Gift shop. We’ll see Slade and Max after the movie.”

“But I want to sit next to Slade!” Her wail made the usher take a step back from us.

“Gillian, come on.” I tugged her behind me like a stubborn dog on a leash. “They have lots of space toys in the gift shop. And candy.” All of my rules were flying out the window and the day wasn’t even over.

While Gillian hovered in the space toy aisle, I sat on the floor, exhausted. I thought I’d sail through today, dragging Slade along on as he watched and learned from me. Instead he and Max were the ones sailing, while Gillian and I flailed around like frantic survivors of a capsized boat.

I pulled out my phone and texted Desi: Day from hell. Even worse than I predicted.

Except as soon I hit send, I realized I’d texted Slade, not Desi.

Crap. Why hadn’t the stupid phone people invented a way to recall texts?

And it’s not over yet. Where r u? he answered.

I bit my lip as I pondered my reply. Hopefully he thought my hell reference was about the kids, not him.

Gift shop. Usher locked door.

His reply came a few seconds later. Want us 2 leave and meet u?

Huh. That was sort of…nice. I considered his offer. We could leave early and try to get the kids to nap. Gillian perched on the floor, a stack of toys next to her. She looked content, finally.

No just meet us here after.

OK.

I leaned against the store wall with my eyes closed, grateful I could hide unnoticed. So far, Slade’s first day report was not looking good, since he kept bailing on Gillian and me. It was going to be so easy to get him fired by the end of the week. As soon as the week was over and I was flying solo, the kids and I would get into a groove and there wouldn’t be any more tantrums or meltdowns.

“That bad, huh?”

My eyes flew open at the sound of Slade’s voice. He towered over me, his arms folded across his chest. Max had found Gillian and settled next to her on the floor, helping her choose a toy.

Slade tilted his head, looking embarrassed, but I told myself that I didn’t buy his remorseful act. Or notice his dimple.

“Sorry about the movie. It was a strategy, when we left you outside. I thought Gillian would come chasing after Max.”