Page 121 of Learn Your Lesson

Grandma rolled a shoulder noncommittally, almost like she didn’t really care. But the way she peered over her glasses at me told me otherwise.

“Well? Is he?” Mom probed.

I sighed. “Just like I told you two when I first moved in, Mr. Perry is a professional. He is respectful of me in every way.”

Except when he has me on my knees gagging for him, but they didn’t need to know that.

“And this opportunity has been life changing.”

In more ways than you two will ever know or need to know.

“Life changing.” Grandma snorted. “How so?”

Wordlessly, I slipped one hand into the cross-body bag I’d sewed from scrap fabric and retrieved a check. I set it right in the middle of the table.

Mom snatched it before Grandma had the chance, and her eyes nearly bulged out of her head. “Chloe May,” she breathed. “What have you done?”

Grandma took the check from her hands and gasped. Her eyes snapped to me in a narrowed accusation. “What is this? Is he making you sell drugs?” Her face went ashen. “Oh, God. Are you… are you hiswhore?”

I choked on my lemonade, wiping my mouth with the back of my wrist as I gaped at her. “Grandma!”

I hoped she couldn’t see through the blush furiously shading my neck right now, because while it wasn’t what she thought, Willhadcalled me his little whore the other night.

And I’d loved it so much I’d comeon command.

“Well, how else do you explain this?!” She held up the check and waved it around like a piece of evidence.

A check for thirty-thousand dollars.

“He pays me five-thousand dollars a week,” I explained.

It was their turn to choke.

“What in the—”

“How?!”

“He’s the starting goalie for one of the best hockey teams in the league,” I reminded them, picking up my cards like it wasn’t a big deal.

Like I didn’t still have a panic attack every time that money hit my account on Friday.

“Like I said, he respects me — more than the school system ever will. He recognizes how difficult being a nanny is and he just happens to be in the position to pay me well. Very well.”

“Outrageously well,” Mom stated, plucking the check from Grandma in disbelief. “Why are you giving this to us?”

“Because I don’t need much,” I said quietly. “And you two have done so much for me, sacrificed your entire lives. I thought this could set you up for a while. I thought… maybe this could pay off my student loans.”

They grew silent, Mom’s eyes watering as she and Grandma exchanged a look.

It was a look of surprise, of wonder.

Of pride.

“I know how hard it was for you,” I said to Grandma. “To raise Mom on your own. And Mom, for you to raise me. And I know you sacrificed probably more than I even understand to put me through school. So… this is me paying you back.”

“Oh, Chloe,” Mom tried.

“Or you could do something fun,” I said before she could argue. “Take a cruise or go on one of those bus tours you keep talking about. Besides,” I added — and damn it if my brain didn’t realize my error before I’d even fully made it. “Will takes care of me, so I don’t need…”