Playing the Player(49)

“I want pink hair!” she declared, looking up at me. “Can your magic do that?”

“I’ve never tried,” I told her. “Besides, your hair is almost pink.”

She tugged at her red braids. “No it’s not.”

“I think Trina’s magic is only for special occasions,” Slade said from behind us. I glanced over my shoulder. He and Max sat next to each other, with Max holding the penguin flag he’d bought in the gift shop, watching it flutter in the breeze.

“True,” I agreed, daring myself to keep my eyes locked onto Slade’s. He didn’t look away.

We rounded a corner of the track. The conductor blew the train whistle and every kid on the train cheered, including me.

We disembarked and I adjusted my shorts, hoping Slade wasn’t watching.

He was.



After we took the kids home and chatted with each mom, Slade insisted on driving me to my apartment, even though I tried to take the bus.

We pulled into the parking lot, and he slowed the car. “Which building are you in?”

I sucked in my breath. “Just drop me here.”

He stared at me. “I can at least drop you at your building.”

“No,” I said. “This is fine.”

He sighed. “You’re stubborn. Anyone ever tell you that?”

“Occasionally,” I said. “What’s on the agenda for Friday?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Um, I have a couple of ideas. Maybe I can call you later?”

“Sure.”

He looked relieved. “Today was fun,” he said. “Was this the first day one of them didn’t freak out?”

“Nobody freaked out Monday at the park.”

He grimaced. “Except me,” he said.

Before I realized what I was doing, I’d reached out to touch his arm. “It’s okay. No one’s perfect.” Not even you.

We stared at each other, and before I knew it, words spilled out of me in a rush, like a waterfall of confession.

“I can’t swim because my brother drowned. When he was five. I was six.” I took a jagged breath. “My mom totally lost it. She wouldn’t let me near the water.” I twisted my hands, staring at my chipped nail polish. “But I decided this summer…” I inhaled deeply, then more words spilled out. “I’m tired of not knowing how. Of always being scared. Feeling left out.” I raised my gaze to his and caught my breath at the darkening color of his topaz eyes. “So that’s why…anyway….” My voice trailed away.

His eyes never left mine. “Trina. I’m so sorry.” His voice sounded almost choked. “I’m sorry for asking.”

“It’s okay. You didn’t know.” I swallowed, willing away the lump rising in my throat. “Not many people do, since it happened before we moved to Colorado.”

He nodded. “Thank you. For telling me.”

I opened the car door, needing to get away. I could feel the sympathy oozing out of him, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

“I’ll see you Friday. Let me know your plan.” I forced a smile. “No alligator wrestling.”

His answering smile was brief, fading quickly. I saw a million questions in his eyes, but I was grateful he didn’t ask them.



Nanny notes: Zoo

CONS: My crush on the other nanny. Telling him my deepest secret.

PROS: My crush on the other nanny. Telling him my deepest secret.

CONS: Me being stupid enough to give into this crush. Because we all know it’s going nowhere.

PROS: But it feels so good.





Chapter Twenty-Eight


Trina


June 20, Thursday

I sat on a couch, reading to five little kids, all of them riveted by the story of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Slade’s favorite book.

Sharon appeared in the doorway, rubbing her forehead.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“I’ve got to rearrange the rooms. Move beds into that room I’ve been using for storage. We’re getting a mom with three kids, day after tomorrow.” She sighed. “It’ll be tight, but I want them to come here. They’ve been on the street far too long.”

“Can I help?”

She tilted her head and gave me a tiny smile. “If only your biceps were as big as your heart, sweetie. That’s the problem. Glen’s out of town, so I don’t have my strong man around. I don’t think you and I can do it ourselves.”

“So you need a Superman?” I pictured Slade’s well-defined muscles as he climbed out of the pool on that swim lesson day from hell. This was kind of an emergency. “Um, I might be able to get someone.”

Sharon raised an eyebrow. “Boyfriend? You’ve been holding out on me, girl.”

I blushed. “Just a friend. My nanny partner that I told you about.”

Sharon’s mouth quirked. “Well, if you think he can do it, great. He’s probably going to need a friend to move the heavy stuff. You and I can manage the smaller items.”

I bit my lip. Would he help me out? We’d had a good day at the zoo yesterday.

I remembered the way his expression softened when I’d told him about Brian. Would he feel obligated to help me, out of pity for the girl with the dead brother? I shook my head to clear away those stupid thoughts. This wasn’t about me. It was about getting a family into a safe place.