He murmurs, “Night Blooming Jasmine will remind me of you from now on, Slugger.”
I smile into his eyes, hooked.
Bucky pulls at the leash and we glance over to see a family of raccoons sneaking across the sidewalk. Four babies and two adults, one in front, one the caboose. They’re guiding their little ones to the safety of a thick, grey-barked tree draped in Spanish moss. My dog barks, kicking the nocturnal creatures into high gear. As they rush, the adults cast several worried glances our way.
I call over, “It’s alright! We won’t let him get you!”
Nicholas teases me, “They totally speak English.”
“They can’t speak it but they can understand it.”
“Then why haven’t they slowed down?”
“They think I’m a liar,” I shrug, eyes on where they disappeared to. “So cute.”
We continue our walk, fingers comfortably laced again.
Nicholas glances around, gives me an approving, “This is a nice neighborhood,” then grins, “Look!”
Six pairs of eyes are peering out from a wide branch, the street’s lamplight illuminating them just enough. The raccoons remain frozen, curious, until Bucky spots them and barks again. They scurry up the branch and disappear.
When we’re almost to the park, Nicholas asks me, “You like living here?”
I nod, biting my lip as an uninvited pang of worry returns.
“Why the frown? Don’t like it?”
“I love my place,” I insist but my voice is quieter. After a few silent moments, he’s waiting for more. Finally I admit, “I need to get a new job so I can stay. I’m trying not to think about that tonight. The problem will still be there tomorrow.”
“Money’s tight.”
“Yes, but Denise said she can get me a job where she works.”
“You don’t sound excited.”
“It’s women’s clothing. Overpriced. Not my thing.”
“You want to work with children again.”
Nodding, I keep my eyes on the dark road ahead, and the unintentional metaphor not lost on me. Everything feels hopeless whenever I think of this subject. It’s what kept me hidden under my pillow for too long.
“I loved my job,” I confess on an exhale. “Loved it so much I didn’t speak up the first time he made a move on me. It was just this weird kiss. Did Denise tell you?” He shakes his head, eyes darkened. “It was nothing big. Inappropriate, yes! But it didn’t go anywhere, so I wrote it off. Maybe he was having a hard time, searching for affection in a very wrong place. His wife is cold, and I’ve seen no love there, so I guess I felt a little sorry for the pig. I had already guessed he was having affairs, because of all the reasons you guess something like that. So when I made it clear I wasn’t interested, I thought it was a dead issue. I’d come so far with the kids—Skylar and Kyle—and I knew it would break their hearts if I quit. Sure, I was uncomfortable around him. Who wouldn’t be? But I thought it wouldn’t ever happen again. I was wrong. But Nicholas, it’s all I’ve ever wanted. I took a lot of classes that bored the hell out of me until I found Child Psychology and Parenting. Then everything fell into place. Those courses excited me! Enrolled in everything I could find. Found private classes like Behavioral Correction Through Kindness, ones like that, and just absolutely fell in love with all of it.”
Nicholas lets go of my hand to check his phone. He reads a few alerts, but none seem to interest him. He glances to me, and I can see the subject pissed him off. My instinct is he checked his calls just so he wouldn’t punch a tree.
“Sorry,” he mutters, shoving the phone in his pocket. “I’m expecting a call from my grandmother.”
“Oh no! Everything alright?”
“What? She’s fine. Everyone’s okay, yeah.” He drags his fingers through his hair, staring off before blurting, “Who’s your management company?”
“My what?”
The streetlamp beside him traces half of his handsome, troubled face. “It’s a big, modern building. Probably has a company, right? Who are they? What’s their name?”
I blink in confusion, then realize what he’s thinking of doing. “No.”
“No, what?”
“You’re not paying my rent.”
His eyes widen as he rocks back on his heels, but I can tell his surprise is fake. “I wasn’t asking for that!”
Cocking my head I give him a look. “Yes you were. I could practically see the wheels turning in your mind.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Ha!” Stepping closer to him, I insist, “I don’t want you doing that.”
Nicholas stares at me, and finally loses the charade. “You can pay me back.”
“No.”
“You can take it as a gift.”
“No way!”
“I could leave it under your door and force you to take it.”
“Over to my bank? Or back to your apartment? Because that’s where I would—”
“—Madison.”
“Nicholas! You’re very sweet, and I appreciate it. But there is no way I’m letting you do that for me.”
A smile flashes and he drags a hand over his head. “Jeezus.”
“I’m sorry, and thank you, but no.”
“I guess I’d be surprised if you’d have let me.”
Lightly hitting his chest I laugh, “How would you feel if I’d said yes?”
“Like a stud.”
I shake my head. “I bet.”
“But it might have been too much too soon.”
“Okay, you can pay my rent.”
His eyebrows lift. “Really?”
“No!”
He laughs, takes my hand, and Bucky is happy to be moving again. My dog is panting with anticipation for the adventure he is absolutely sure we’re having. And I guess we are.
“So, what are you going to do, Maddie?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll ask them to give me an extension. I’ve never been late. I’m a good tenant. No big parties, blah blah blah. And even though I don’t think Denise’s shop is a good fit, I’ll show up and do my best. Least I can do since they’re bailing me out of this—even though they don’t know that. This is, of course, on the contingency that they’ll actually hire me. But
