Vague might work.
“I know I seem overprotective.” I slowed as we came to a stop sign. “And it’s nothing personal. I swear. I just…” I paused when the light changed to green. This was it. I had to tell her. “Something happened last spring,” I said slowly. “I’m not supposed to go into details, but it was actually the reason I moved here.”
For the first time since getting in the truck, she peeked at me, her green eyes wide under wet lashes. As if I didn’t feel bad enough already. “Is that why you’re trying to get me fired?”
Dang, she was smart. Or maybe I was just that obvious. I rubbed my neck. “How about this? Jade likes you, and you obviously do know a lot about her…more than I thought. What if we call it a truce and do this together?”
“You mean,” she said slowly, “take care of her together all summer?”
I wasn’t about to fold and hand over my sister to be alone with a stranger all summer. But for some reason, I realized in that moment that I did want Jessie Nickleby’s trust. Or at least, I wanted her not to think I was really as awful as I’d been carrying on. If she truly was as dedicated to her work as she seemed, she deserved better than that.
“My parents won’t dock your pay if that’s what you’re worried about. They’re just happy when their schedule goes without a hitch.” I came to another stoplight and gathered the courage to look at her again. “And I promise, I’m really not as much of a jerk as I was this week. At least, I try not to be.” I did my best to give her a repentant smile. “Deal?”
She studied me warily for a moment from behind one of her light brown curls, and I couldn’t help thinking how she looked a lot like a suspicious little cat. Determined to redeem myself, though, I held her gaze.Just forgive me and let us move on,I wanted to say. Anything to make her stop looking at me like I was a Class A villain. Finally, she nodded, and I let myself take a deep breath. This was going to be a long summer.
10
Games
Jessie
Ifelt as though someone had put me through a wringer by the time we pulled into the gravel lot in front of the equine center. My conversation with Madison from the night before, as well as the feeling of defeat from my mother’s newest doctor appointment, were weighing me down like a ton of rocks. If I had to handle one more thing, my brain might actually explode.
And here he was, promising to take a step back. Could I trust him to really do that, though? I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that after five whole days, this war had to come to an end. I pulled out my phone.
Remind me again. How much do I want this degree?
Sam’s response was lightning fast, and threatened to make me smile.
Jess, you daily have battles of the will with six-year-olds. You can beat this guy. Show him that messing around with Jessie Nickleby is a mistake.
Thanks,I typed back.I needed that.
I got a smiley face back.Anytime.
But when we got to the center, I didn’t have to show him. Because true to his word, Derrick didn’t make a fuss when I climbed out of the truck and moved to the backseat to wake Jade up and pull her out of her car seat.
“I’m going inside to sign her in,” he called over his shoulder as he headed into the one-story brick building. I nodded and continued unbuckling Jade. Breathing was easier as soon as he was in the building. A storm of emotions was already swirling around in my head faster than I could count them.
After a night of restless sleep as the doctor’s voice mail and Madison’s words had gone round and round in my head, I had awakened in a mood no better than it had been the night before. Then breakfast had been a royal disaster. Jade’s cereal box was empty when I got there, and Derrick hadn’t bothered telling me that Jade didn’t like the cereal I picked until after I’d poured it out, added milk, and stuck it in front of her. Jade had refused to take a single bite, and when I’d tried bringing a spoonful of it to her lips, she’d thrown the bowl at me. Thankfully, she’d missed, though I’d gotten more than my share of milk in my hair.
Anger and frustration welled up inside me as I recalled the way his blue eyes had laughed while I stood there in shock, milk dripping from my ear. I was also exhausted from arguing with him and fighting with Jade. But if I was honest with myself, I couldn’t deny that I also had an inkling of respect for the way he wanted to protect his sister. What had happened to make him so obsessed, and why wasn’t he allowed to talk about it?
“I don’t want to!” Jade grumbled as I took her hand and we walked toward the building.
“You like horses, don’t you?” I gave Jade a smile. “I know you do because you put them on your mommy’s Christmas card.”
Jade didn’t answer, and I smiled to myself. Jade didn’t like being wrong. It seemed to run in the family.
We walked into a little reception room that smelled like earth and animals. But the smell wasn’t overpowering. Actually, it seemed perfectly fitting, considering we were surrounded by fields of green with horses dotting the pastures.
“Who’s this with Jade?” The receptionist peered over the counter at me. The sign in front of her said Mrs. Robinson in big, scripty letters. Her brown eyes moved up and down my figure before a sly smile lit her face. Then she glanced back at Derrick, who was signing a clipboard. “She’s sure pretty, whoever she is. Is this your mystery girlfriend?” Then she laughed, as though she’d just told a funny joke. My cheeks heated, but before I could introduce myself, Derrick spoke up.
“That is Jade’s new nanny.” He kept his eyes on the sign-in sheet. “Amy is still in Colorado.”
“Hm-hm.” Mrs. Robinson leaned back and flipped through a file from her desk with her long, acrylic nails. “And I’m the next Miss Arkansas.”
“Hi, I’m Jessie, Jade’s teacher from school.” I leaned over to shake Mrs. Robinson’s hand before any more assumptions or insinuations could be made.
