Her voice was just so cheery, and I was about to ruin everything. It wasn’t easy to disappoint her.

“Where’s the letter? You’re a terrible wrapper. I’ll wrap it so it looks nice.” She walked over to my desk where it had been sitting facedown the last three days. “Where’d it go?”

When I didn’t answer, she looked back at me and realized something was off. “Hollis, where’s the letter?”

I stared at the floor. I just couldn’t get the words out.

“Hollis? Did you lose it or something?”

I shook my head.

“So then, where is it?”

My eyes lifted and met hers. Her big brown eyes were filled with excitement and happiness. Still unable to get the words out, I looked over at the wastepaper basket next to my bed. The crumpled-up letter sat all alone at the bottom.

Anna and I weren’t just a couple. We’d been best friends since kindergarten; she knew me better than anyone. She followed my line of sight, and then her face fell.

“What happened?” she whispered.

I shook my head. “The doctor called with her PET scan results.”Chapter 10* * *ElodieHailey’s school had reserved a section of the park for the picnic event. It was a beautiful, unseasonably cool day. With a cotton candy station, fried dough, and a full barbecue, the school had definitely gone all out. There was an inflatable bouncy house set up, along with other games.

Speaking of games, those were going to start soon, and Hollis wasn’t here yet. Late wasn’t his style. It was more like mine. I looked at my watch, and Hailey noticed.

“Do you think Uncle Hollsy forgot?”

I offered a sympathetic smile. “I’m not sure.”

“Well, I don’t want to wait for him forever to eat. They’re putting out the burgers and dogs. Can I go get one? I’m hungry.”

I looked around one last time. “Yeah. Why don’t you go get in line?”

“You’re not gonna eat?”

“No, not right now.”

“Oh, I forgot about your Keto.” She rolled her eyes.

“I can still have the burger. Just not the bun.”

“The bun is the best part! And the ketchup.”

“I’ll survive.”

While Hailey took off for the food table, I stretched my neck to see if by some chance Hollis had arrived and I’d missed him. Still no sign of him.

Seriously, Hollis? You couldn’t ditch work for one damn afternoon?

A deep voice registered just behind my ear.

“Hi.”

I turned to find a decently handsome man who looked to be in his mid-thirties standing there.

“Hi,” I said.

“I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Lawrence Higgins’s dad.” He held out his hand. “James Higgins.”

“Oh. Nice to meet you. I’m Elodie Atlier, Hailey LaCroix’s nanny.”

“I thought you might be…a nanny.”

I raised my brow and activated my scum-bucket detector. “Oh?”

“Well, no offense to anyone else…” He lowered his voice. “But the moms aren’t usually as attractive as you.”

So, that’s what this exchange is all about? Can’t even escape this shit at a middle school picnic.

“Thank you,” I said.

“You’re welcome.” He sipped his water. “How long have you been a nanny?”

“Actually, not long. Only a couple of weeks.”

Hailey appeared, interrupting our conversation. “You like wieners, right?”

Her question made my juvenile spirit chuckle. “Only if they’re all beef, which that one probably is not.”

She turned toward the man. “Who’s this?”

“This is Mr. Higgins, Lawrence’s dad.”

Her expression dampened. “Your son is an asshole.”

I cringed.

His smile faded. “I’m sorry?”

Placing my hands on her shoulders, I said, “If you’ll excuse us.” I then pulled her away and asked, “Why would you say that to him?”

Hailey took a bite of her hamburger and let out a deep sigh. “That kid is the worst. I thought his dad should know.”

“Well, maybe next time use a more polite word to convey that?”

“He’s the one who started making fun of my boobs, calling me Cyclops Tit—because he thinks one is bigger than the other.”

I nodded, remembering when she told me that story. “Oh, that jerk?”

“Yes.”

I looked back at the man briefly. “Okay. Well, screw him and his dad, then.”

“That’s what his dad probably wanted….to screw you.”

“Where did you learn that term?”

“I know a lot of things about sex.”

Shit. “Oh, you do, do you? What exactly do you think you know?”

She handed me her plate before sticking her index finger inside a hole formed by her other hand and simulating the act of intercourse.

Add to mental to-do list: speak to Hollis about a birds-and-bees talk with Hailey.

Before I could explore this subject further, my eyes landed on a very flustered-looking Hollis in the distance. He looked like he’d just run a marathon and somehow landed in the Twilight Zone. I handed Hailey back her plate and watched him for a bit.

He’d changed out of his suit and wore a navy polo that hugged his muscles. God, he looked super hot dressed casually. I mean, he was super hot no matter how you cut it, but this was a particularly good look for him. I loved everything about it—from the snug sleeves around his thick biceps to the chunky watch he wore, and the dark jeans I was dying to see molded to his ass.