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“Everything okay with Topher?” I asked.

She nodded, her fingers twirling a loose strand of hair around them as she focused down on her notebook. “He has a million toys on his bed, and his truck fell off.”

“He’s still asleep though?”

“Yes, that boy could sleep through anything,” she replied with an indulgent smile. The expression dropped as she focused on me though. “Should we get back to the assignment?”

“Sure.”

Our interviews were far less interesting after that. Teagan barely looked at me when she responded to my questions, and her questions to me were asked in a quick and colorless way. I almost felt like I’d crossed some kind of invisible line with her earlier, and I couldn’t understand what I’d done wrong. Why was she shutting down on me all of a sudden? Why wasn’t she opening up to me like she’d done so easily before?

When Topher woke up from his nap, Teagan declared that our interviews were over, and I got the distinct impression she meant it was time for me to leave. I would have happily stayed and hung out with her and Topher all day, but I also didn’t want to overstay my welcome.

“Please don’t go, Dino!” Topher begged as he held tightly onto my leg.

I glanced in Teagan’s direction and could see her nervously watching the interaction. She looked ready to butt in, but I didn’t want to make her the bad guy.

“I have to go, pal,” I said, crouching down to his level. “The rest of the gang is going on an adventure, and they need my help.”

His eyes grew wide with excitement. “Can I come?”

I quickly shook my head. “Gang members only for this adventure. But maybe, you could come next time.”

“Really?” He was jumping up and down with excitement.

“Of course.”

He barreled into my arms for a hug before quickly turning to Teagan. “I get to go on the next adventure!”

“I know,” she said. “It’s very exciting.”

“We’ll need a treasure map!” He ran toward his crayons and started drawing what I guessed was the map.

“Well, that’s my cue to leave,” I said, pulling my bag onto my shoulder.

Teagan gave me a tight smile and started to walk me toward the door. “Have you got everything you need?” she asked.

I nodded. I had everything I needed for the assignment though not everything I wanted from her. I felt like there were so many layers to Teagan that I could spend a lifetime trying to unravel them all.

“And you’ve got enough material from me to work with?” I asked in reply.

“I think so.”

“Give me your phone,” I said, holding out an expectant hand toward her.

She frowned down at my hand like it had turned into a poisonous snake but pulled her phone out of her pocket and passed it to me. “What do you want it for?”

“I’m putting my number in here so you can call me if you think of anything else you want to ask.”

Her eyes lifted to meet mine. “You’re giving me your phone number? Isn’t that like the first thing they teach you not to do inHow to be a Superstar 101?”

I chuckled. “I must have missed that class, but I think I can trust you with it.”

I quickly called my own phone first, so I had her number too, before I passed her phone back to her. I wasn’t sure if I’d be brave enough to call her, but it made me happy to know I could.

I opened the front door to leave but paused when I saw my car parked out on the street. “I drove you here.” I faced her once more. “Are you going to get home okay when you’re done babysitting?”

Teagan nodded, a smile coming to her lips. “Yes, of course. I’ll get my mom to come get me.”