Page 121 of The Rules of Dating

She blinked several times. “Okay, Billie.”

I hugged her tightly. “Thank you so much, pumpkin. I’ll come back in as soon as I can.”

I realized telling her to stay in her room was not ideal. But all I needed was for the investigator to start questioning her. Or Saylor to innocently offer him information. Then what? It would all be over.

I have to warn Colby.

Before I left the room, I shot out a text. My hands shook as I typed.

Billie: There’s an investigator here.

The dots moved as he responded.

Colby: OMG. What?

Billie: I told him I was babysitting.

Colby: Fuck! I thought they didn’t do drop-ins until after the hearing!

Billie: Apparently, they do.

Colby: He’s not talking to Saylor, is he?

Billie: I made up a story that she wasn’t feeling well and asked her to do me a big favor and stay in her room. I explained that I needed to talk to the man about grown-up stuff. I’m texting you from her room. I feel sick right now.

Colby: You did the right thing.

Billie: He asked if he could hang out here until you got back. I was afraid to send him away because this might be a good opportunity to deal with it head on, since I’m able to warn you. One less visit where you’re unprepared. If you can get back here with Maya…it might work out.

In what universe was I actually asking him to bring that bitch back here?

Colby: Good thinking. I’m gonna try to track her down.

Billie: If not, don’t come back here at all because he thinks you’re out together. You’d better get your stories straight about where you went, too. I need to go back out there. Just get here if you can.

I put the phone in my pocket and headed back out to where the man was still standing by the door.

“Sorry… She wanted me to read her a story,” I said.

He crossed his arms. “So, how long have you worked here?”

“I don’t recall exactly when I started, but it’s been a while now.”

“Years or…”

“Months,” I answered.

His eyes wandered down to my chest and back up. Lovely. A perv in disguise.

He cleared his throat. “Do you mind if I ask you some questions about the household?”

If I refused, would that only add suspicion to the whole situation? “Sure…” I forced a smile.

“What’s it like to work here?”

“Oh, I love it. Saylor is the sweetest. And Colby and Maya are great parents. They mainly call me over when they need a break. I’m not the main nanny or anything. Just an occasional babysitter.”

“What do you know about their relationship?”