Page 96 of A Little Twist
“No.” I shake my head.
“I didn’t tell anyone but you and Britt,” Cass explains. “It was such a long-shot.”
“It was not a long shot,” her friend argues. “Dr. Bayer couldn’t write his recommendation letter fast enough. You’re amazing with kids.”
The old elementary-school principal has known us all our lives. “I’m sure he knows how good you’ll be.”
“Thank you, Alex.” She still looks guilty, so I lift my glass, toasting her again.
An acoustic band starts up with “Hotel California” in the style of The Gypsy Kings, and Piper and Adam drift closer to listen. Cass and I linger at the bar.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” She stabs her straw in her margarita. “I really didn’t know what to expect.”
“You don’t have to apologize.” My stomach cramps at the thought of her leaving Eureka, and while I’m happy for her, now I really feel like I’m losing her. “Where are you going to school?”
“It’s a community college in Ridgeland. I’ll commute, so no big deal.”
“That’s kind of far for a commute. Is it very expensive?”
“Dr. Bayer helped me get a tuition waiver. Apparently there’s a teacher shortage in our area.”
Nodding, I think about all this information. “I need to pay you. You’ll need the money for books and supplies.”
“You don’t have to pay me.” She smiles, shaking her head, and it’s so Cass.
“I hired you to help me with my daughter. I’m going to pay you for your work.”
She inhales, and discomfort lines her face. “I can’t take money from you for that. We were…together. It wouldn’t feel right.”
Frustration tightens my lungs. “I’m able to separate what we did in the bedroom from what you did with my daughter. You didn’t have to be her nanny, but you were. Your time has value.”
“I love being with Pinky. I was glad to spend time with her.” Placing the drink on the bar, she pulls away. “I don’t charge the people I care about.”
It’s what I’ve been waiting to hear from her, but she’s gone before I can say what I need to say.
Without a word, she plunges into the crowd, weaving through the bodies until she’s out of the restaurant.
Turning quickly, I fish out my wallet, removing two tens and signaling the bartender we’re leaving. He takes the cash, and I fight through the growing crowd, doing my best to get to the door before she’s too far ahead of me.
The rain has started to fall when I step out into the night, and I see her jogging up ahead. I don’t have a jacket either, so I duck and run, doing my best to catch up to her.
We’re both soaked by the time I meet her outside the door to her building. She’s entering the code, but I stop her, holding her hand.
“Why are you running from me?” My voice is rough.
“I don’t want your money, Alex,” she cries through the rain. “I want you to leave me alone.”
We’re both breathing hard, and the rain is beating down on us. “I can’t leave you alone.”
Her wet dress is transparent, and I can see the dark circles of her areoles rising and falling beneath the fabric. It’s fire to my burning need. Palming her breast, I step closer, ready to take this to the next level when I notice her eyes are pink and misty.
My hand moves from her body to her face, sliding my thumb across the wetness on her cheek. “Why are you crying?” She tries to turn away, but I pull her back. “Answer me.”
She hiccups, stretching out of my grasp. “You hurt me, Alex.”
It’s a punch in the stomach. We’re on the landing, water dripping from my hair onto my cheeks, and all the frustration twisting inside me rises to the surface.
“I’m sorry.” It’s more of a growl. “I always have a plan, and when Jessica showed up, I was fucking blindsided. All I could think about was protecting my daughter, and I guess I thought you were strong enough to wait.”