Betty shakes her head. “Now that I’m old with no children or husband, you’re the only one coming to visit me. I treated you so badly and yet you’re still here. You’re a sweetheart, Riley. Better than I ever was.”
“That’s not true.”
“Itistrue. I’m going to spoil you as much as I can.”
“You don’t have to do that, Betty. If we start comparing, then I’ll have to spoil you so much more. You’re the one who recommended me for promotions and you spoke highly of me in every room. You’re the one who helped me study for the certification exams. You stayed up night after night, going over every detail with me. When it comes to my career, I owe so much to you.”
I owe her everything.
It’s why I was willing to give up everything for her too.
“Enough sentimental talk.” Betty pouts. “It makes me itchy. Put on that jacket and come over here by the sofa.”
She picks up her tea and navigates to an orange sofa that faces a small TV.
It’s hot in the studio, but I dutifully zip up and flounce onto the sofa. “Whatever we’re watching can’t be long, I only have thirty minutes for lunch and then I have to get back to the bay.”
“It won’t take long. The music video is only three minutes.”
I choke on the tea. “Music video?”
“Seo Min Jae has an amazing dance solo. He does these hip thrusts…” Betty bites her bottom lip which is smeared red. “Oh, if I were a few decades younger, I’d fly to Korea and nab that young man for myself.Otto-kay-yo!”
It feels like someone else is inhabiting Betty’s body. I have never seen my mentor this exuberant and I can’t tell if it’s her true self finally unmasked away from the pressure of airplane maintenance or if it’s the condition that put her here, loosening its grip just enough to let something lighter through.
Either way, I watch a very stylish Korean boy band dance—yes, hip thrusts included—for the remainder of my lunch and then I bid Betty goodbye and let the door click lightly shut behind me.
“Excuse me,” a nurse calls as I’m sprinting to the door. “You’re Miss Betty Kalinsky’s guardian, right?”
I do an about face. “Is something wrong with Betty?”
“No, no. Not at all. She’s settling in fine. She’s a tough cookie that one. Won’t let anyone cheat during bingo.”
I nod. That sounds like her.
“I just like to get to know all the guardians. Betty talks about you often and I wondered when we’d get a chance to meet you.”
I duck my head guiltily. “I haven’t had time to visit as often as I’d like, but I’ll try to make it more.”
“I’m sure she’d like that.”
I check my watch and wince. Lunch is officially over and I need to get back to the garage. I doubt Jimmy, Carlos and Blade will be there—people don’t change overnight after all and thosethree are notoriously late. However, I need to set the example and be there on time.
I back away from the nurse, on the verge of exchanging a polite goodbye when a tall, thin woman breezes past me.
“Excuse me.Haiii! How are you?” She steps ahead of me and gets the nurse’s attention. Despite the cheerful, upward inflection at the end of every sentence, I immediately catalogue her as rude. “I’m looking for Mr. Brooks, but I’m not sure where to find him.”
The fighter inside me wants to confront the woman for butting in so obnoxiously; however, I remind myself that I’m late and this is the perfect excuse to make my exit.
Giving the nurse a nod goodbye, I turn stiffly.
And my body freezes in utter shock when I see the woman’s face.
Standing before me, wearing a daring halter top, tight checkered pants and enough rings to call every jewelry thief in a three-mile radius is Layla.
Nathan’s ex-girlfriend.
Chapter Twenty
