Mia
IT WAS OBVIOUS NOWwhy we were all whispering while I got ready. I applied the lipstick that matched the fuchsia dress and let Olive work some cream into my hair. “It’s not what you guys think,” I whisper-yelled.
“You’re in here every night, which means you’re listening to anything andeverythingthat happens in that office, Mia,” Rosy pointed out, her tone accusatory but also sympathetic.
“Oh, what happens in there?” Pink inquired, and I held up a finger.
“Don’t say it, Rosy.”
She obviously didn’t care to censor herself. “Valerie and Jameson bang every time she comes over!”
“Oh my God,” Olive said louder than she should have, and we all shushed her. “And you listen?!”
“It’s not like that!” I whined, but it totally was. I groaned. “At first it was a fun little outlet, okay?”
“Fun? I’d probably rip my own ears off, but to each their own,” Rosy said and completely meant it. I wanted to hug her.
“And now?” Olive inquired.
“Well, now … and before … it’s a complete invasion ofprivacy, and I’m stopping,” I concluded, lifting my chin. They didn’t need to know I was turning into a jealous shell of a woman when I didn’t even have a relationship with him.
“Bull,” Pink spit out. “Now, you’re going to make him stop that shit because no one likes her.Hedoesn’t even like her. That man can’t take his eyes off you. I saw it in the basement. She probably is shaking in her boots that you’re here. She wants that Knight name after hers.”
“Well, she can have it.” I applied some blush to my tan cheeks and then started with a heavy eyeliner. I probably went a little overboard since jealousy had started to creep into my veins. I didn’t want to be the professional, nice, darling teacher now. I wanted to send a statement that I wasn’t—that I wasn’t on the job, that I was something more than just a nanny.
And that I was available. Just like he was. He could fuck someone else, and so could I. No strings had been attached to our little rendezvous.
Olive scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. Can you imagine her as Franny’s stepmom?”
I’d hardly spoken to the woman, but … “No one’s good enough to be Franny’s mom,” I said, and meant every word.
Rosy laughed. “You need extra shots tonight. We can stay out way late so you don’t have to be here to listen.”
“I really don’t listen every time.” I blushed.
“Oh please. I would listen too. It wouldn’t be fun though. I’d be enraged.”
“Yeah.” Glancing at these three women, I saw actual compassion on their faces and realized I could be real with them, so I admitted, “I might be at that point, unfortunately. I’ve been staring at that vent all day, dreading it. You think she’s coming even with your husbands here?” It was a hopeful whisper that sounded stupid and desperate.
Rosy patted my shoulder in pity, because who was I kidding?These women knew something was happening between Jameson and I even if I denied it.
“She’s already here with Mrs. Knight,” Olive said softly.
I sighed as I stood and took one last look in the mirror. My hair cascaded in soft waves down my back and over my bare shoulders. The sweetheart cut and tight, short dress had me feeling exposed but also single and available.
Like I was.
Very exposed and very available.
I nodded once and murmured, “Let’s go.”
Pink smiled and threw an arm around my shoulder like she’d be there to prop me up. I hoped so. I needed girlfriends, needed an outlet, need a distraction from the fact that Valerie and Mrs. Knight were here, that Valerie had his mother’s attention and was bound to have his later that night.
This was the normal sequence of events every Friday. I knew it was happening. And I’d actually had fun with it before.
Before the basement.
Before talking with Jameson.
