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I almost pee my pants.
“What’s going on?” Amy whispers.
I make a flailing motion.
And then I meet Regan’s inquisitive eyes.
Oh crap.
“Wait, Nova, Miss Beckford, I’m actually a nanny in the afternoons, so I’ll have to bring a small guest. Does that work?”
“How old is your guest?”
“She’s six.”
“Of course. She and Belle are around the same age. They can keep each other occupied while the older girls hang with us.”
“Sweet.” I hang up and close my eyes in pure bliss.
“You look happy,” Amy notes.
I spin my chair around with a feathery smile on my face, “One of my biggest dreams will come true this afternoon.”
I have an appointment with Vanya Beckford.
* * *
But first,I have to get through my appointment with Mr. Abe Bolton. Aka The Crabbiest Twelve Year Old To Ever Crab.
“Hey, Abe,” I say brightly, waving a hand as I cross the lobby.
Clay’s little boy hunkers lower in his black hoodie and glares away from me.
“I came a little early.”
“Why? So you could get rid of me sooner?” Abe huffs.
“No, we’re getting ice cream!” Regan declares.
“Sh.” I place a finger to my lips and glance around the lobby. There are moles everywhere. “That’s a secret, baby.”
She mimics my finger-to-lips motion and giggles. “Sh.”
Abe’s eyes lose a bit of their lone wolf glint. “We’re getting ice cream?”
“I figured your father has your little tummies on a tight leash. We might as well break them out of prison before your rehearsal, hm?” I tickle Regan’s stomach.
She laughs out loud.
There’s a flicker of eagerness in Abe’s eyes, but he quickly snuffs it out. “I don’t want ice cream.”
“Why? You don’t like it?”
“No, he loooves it,” Regan sings.
“Do not.” Abe glowers at her.
I speak up before they can fight. “Is your dad around, Abe?”