Page 56 of Not On Your Life

“Oh, hey, um hi.” I tuck my hair behind my ear and step in front of Crew to hide him. Introducing my best friend’s son to the devil is something I probably shouldn’t do.

“Hey,” he says again, rocking on his heels. He’s wearing a fitted green shirt today, and it’s making his eyes decidedly green, like the leaves of a palm tree. I suddenly have the desire to be somewhere tropical. He rubs a hand through his dirty blond hair, but a thick lock bounces back onto his forehead, reminding me of a child.

A child. Right. That’s what he is. Not a man I’m checking out. If I am checking him out, it’s only because we were stuck together for four hours, and the shock of the unfortunate ordeal is still wearing off.

“Hi,” I repeat.

Gah, this is awkward.

His eyes flash, and my heart picks up tempo. Why the heck is it doing that?

He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Do you think we could skip the training tonight and talk?”

My mouth goes dry. Talk? About the things that may or may not have happened in the closet? I thought we agreed we wouldn’t discuss it, a sort of “what happens in the closet stays in the closet kind of thing,“ so that means he wants to talk about theotherthing. The worst day of my life. And I’m not sure I’m ready to open up that wound.

“Talking’s boring,” Crew pipes up from behind me.

The kid has impeccable timing. “Agreed. No time to talk.”

Connor peers around me. “Who’s this?”

Too late. The time has come. I can’t protect Crew forever. I sigh and step to the side. “This is Crew. I’m babysitting him today.” I ruffle Crew’s hair. “Crew, meet the devil.”

Connor snorts and Crew studies him. “Do you have horns?”

Connor rubs his head, searching. His brows furrow. “Huh, I must have grown out of them.”

Now it’s my turn to snort.

“Pleased to meet you, sir.” Crew sticks out one hand, and I eye him like he’s a little circus monkey. Ward, or rather, Ward’s very proper and regal mother, must have taught him that.

Connor shakes his hand with an amused expression. “You as well.”

“Do you have another name?” Crew asks before using the same hand to pick his nose. He should have done that first.

“Most people call me Connor.” He shoots me a wink.

Crew’s eyes go wide. “I have a Connor in my school! He lost two teeth when he crashed on his bike. But I haven’t lost any.”

“Your time will come.” Connor pats his head.

Psh.What does he know?

Crew ditches my side in favor of Connor. “I’m five. But my birthday is in twenty-four, or is it twenty-three days? Then I’ll be six.”

“That’s awesome,” Connor says.

“You can come to my party,” Crew says.

“Okay, come on. No more talking.” I grab Crew’s hand and pull him away from Connor. I don’t need him inviting Connor places he isn’t wanted. Especially not around Lyndi. She’d try to lock us in a closet again.

I lead them to the farthest corner of the gym. There’s absolutely nothing back here, which also means there isn’t anyone else around.

I text Ward and tell him where we are then turn to my client. Clients. One I enjoy teaching, the other unteachable.

“Okay Crew, can you show Connor how to do a jumping jack?” In a moment I’ll give him my phone, but what’s the point of having a kid at work if I can’t have fun?

“Sure!” Crew takes off his shoes and lays his toys by them. Then he jumps up and down, his arms and legs in complete opposition, and to my surprise, Connor copies what he’s doing.