“Brooke.”
“Miranda.” She shifts to face me fully. “As long as you’re not sleeping with someone for money, I don’t care what it is. Do you understand me? Kozlov’s people have been quiet, but that’s not going to last. You know that. I know that. So whatever it is, you figure it out.” She pauses and then lifts her hands to show me air quotes. “Hypothetically speaking, what is it?”
“I’m not entirely sure of the details yet,” I lean back on my palms. “But I think it might involve looking after a kid.”
Her eyebrows go up. “A babysitter?”
“Kind of. I genuinely don’t know the full terms.”
“Then get the full terms before you decide anything.” She reaches over and squeezes my hand hard. “But Miranda, listen to me. If there is a legitimate way out of this, your pride has no place in that conversation. None.”
I throw myself back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “I know you’re right.”
“It would be life-changing, Miranda.”
I think of the way Grayson had me pressed against the locker, his mouth on my ear, and heat spreads through me. “I don’t know if I will survive it.”
My voice is low, meant only for my ears.
I usually find the man annoying, but sometimes he gets a little endearing, especially when he’s with his son. If I could just hate him outright, life would be so much easier.
Brooke lies down next to me, her head on my arm. “I wish I could fix it. If I had tons of money, I’d just give it to you, and then you’d be debt-free.”
“You being here fixes enough.” I touch my head to hers.
We stay like this for a moment before I look toward the wall clock. “Okay. It’s almost five. I need to actually get ready.”
She watches me sit up. “Isn’t he picking you up?”
“He wanted to.” I get to my feet, picking up the dress.
“And?”
“And I said no.” I step toward my dresser, reaching for my mascara. “If he drives me home, he’s going to want to come up, and I am not inviting anyone inside.”
Brooke laughs. “You know, I heard his apartment is really nice.”
I point at her without turning around. “I am not sleeping with him.”
“I didn’t say sleep. I said his apartment is nice.” She’s grinning. I can hear it. “Could be a fun after-dinner option.”
I reach back and hit her on the arm.
“Ow.”
“It’s a first date. We’re going to eat, he’s going to be charming, I’m going to be pleasant, and then I’m taking the bus home alone.”
“Try to sound a little bit excited.”
I open my mouth to say something clever and close it again.
I get ready by six, and Brooke fixes my hair.
“I forgot what it feels like to get dressed up.” I twirl around, amazed by how different I look in this moment.
Brooke grins. “You’re pretty. Start wearing makeup again, and maybe you’ll get more dates.”
She picks up the remaining dresses, and I say quickly, “I’ll wash this and send it to you in a few days.”
