Penny chuckled a bit before finishing the last of her wine. “It’s a crazy plot twist. That I can guarantee you.”
Were we ready for a plot twist?
After therapy with Penny,I did some laundry and packed for my trip to San Francisco to meet with Thaddeus for a new fitting. Cage texted every chance he got to see how I was feeling. It was sweet and a little unnerving at the same time. Could I handle nine months of constant checking up on me?
There was a soft knock at my door. I checked the peephole, blinking several times before seeing the pint-sized figure with pigtails.
“Shayna! Hi sweetie, where’s—” As soon as Jamie appeared at Everson’s door I squinted my eyes. “Playing cops and robbers?” I inspected his bandana-covered face, kitchen goggles, and vinyl gloves. “Or did you clog the toilet?”
“Have you had chicken pox?” he asked.
“Um … yeah. Why?”
Shayna pulled up her shirt, exposing her torso dotted with red, blistered spots. “I didn’t eat chicken.”
I smiled. “Of course you didn’t.”
“I haven’t had them. Haven’t had the vaccine either,” Jamie mumbled behind the bandana.
“A nanny who hasn’t had the chicken pox. That’s crazy.”
He shrugged. “Most kids are vaccinated. Flu vaccines are the most common request for my job.”
“It’s quite possible you’ve already been exposed.”
“I fear that too.” He sighed.
“I’m leaving for San Francisco in the morning.”
“I messaged Everson. He hasn’t had them either.”
“What? Jeez, were you both raised in sterile homes?”
“I can check with Penny.”
“Lake…” Shayna gave me her puppy-dog eyes and pouty lip “…I need you. I have a feeder.”
“You mean a fever?”
She nodded.
“I’ll owe you,” Jamie added.
“You always owe me. Everson always owes me. Something tells me I’m never going to get paid.”
“Hey, I’m keeping your secret safe.”
“What secret?” My brow furrowed.
“Your I-hate-football secret.”
“I don’t h?—”
“You hate football?” Shayna asked.
He was blowing it out of proportion. Cage knew I didn’t “follow” football, but saying I hated it was just not good.
Jamie didn’t have to worry about chicken pox; I was ready to kill him on the spot.
