Chapter 14
Fourteen
“Okay, go,” I say, reaching for the front door handle before Emmy can change her mind. “You’ve already said goodbye twice. I’m going to cry if you don’t leave soon, and no one needs to see that.”
Emmy adjusts the strap on her bag. “Levi prefers the blue plates, not the green ones. Sasha already ate but might say she didn’t. No juice after seven, unless you want a bedtime monologue about fairies.”
I stare at her. “Do you think this is my first babysitting shift?”
Emmy still hesitates, glancing at the kids.
I step in, grip her shoulders, and shake her. “Emmy, go have dinner with your husband. Drink something fancy. Do all the wildly inappropriate things people can’t do when there are tiny humans in the house.”
Her mouth twitches. “I don’t know why I still get nervous about leaving them.”
“Because you’re a mom,” I say, steering her toward the hallway. “And because you’ve forgotten that I’m the one who taught Sasha how to lie to pediatricians about screen time. We’re good here.”
“Okay, but text me—”
“Emmy. Leave.”
She gives each kid one more kiss, lingers a second longer, then finally walks down the hallway. I wait until I hear the ding of the elevator before I close the front door and turn around.
Two faces stare at me from the couch.
Sasha’s crossed-legged, arms folded. Eleven going on forty.
Levi’s upside down, feet in the air. He waves one foot at me like it’s a casual hello.
“So,” Sasha starts, “are we having a movie night?”
“With popcorn?” Levi adds, flipping over and immediately falling off the couch.
I take a long, slow look at both of them. “Oh, my little gremlins. I love that you think that’s the plan. I truly do.”
Sasha tilts her head. “Then what is the plan?”
“I thought we’d try something different tonight.” I walk toward the kitchen and grab two juice boxes.
“Different how?” Levi asks, climbing back onto the couch.
“I’m glad you asked,” I say, handing them each a juice box and sinking into the armchair. “Tonight, we’re going on a mission.”
Sasha perks up. “What kind of mission?”
“The best kind. Secret mission.”
Levi gasps. “Like spy stuff?”
“Like prank stuff,” I say. “Very important work.”
They both lean in.
“Who’s the target?” Sasha asks.
I lift my chin and point upward.
Levi follows my gaze. “Mr. Thuddy?”
Sasha lights up. “It’s Dr. Thuddy, Levi. The stompy one.”
“Uh-huh,” I confirm. “Exactly.”
Levi claps once. “Are we doing a knock-and-run?”
I hold up my hand for a high five. “That’s my guy.”
They both let out a whoop and sprint into the hallway before I’ve even had a chance to explain the plan.
The mission is on.
∞∞∞
We’re huddled in a loose triangle at the corner of the fourth-floor hallway.
“Alright,” I whisper, glancing at Levi’s shoes, which are on the wrong feet again. “We’ve run two dry drills. Times are good. You’ve got about a six-second window to get there, knock, and get back without being spotted.”
Sasha rolls her eyes. “Please. I’ve been training for this since I was eight.”
She was actually seven when I taught her this game, but now is not the time.
Levi gasps. “Can I knock with both hands?”
“Absolutely not,” Sasha and I say in unison.
He pouts. “Why?”
“Because that’s too much,” Sasha explains. “You knock with one hand so the other’s free to protect your face in case the door flies open. God.”
Levi squints. “Oh. Okay.”
Sasha is already bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Let me go first.”
“You sure?” I ask, even though I know she’s been vibrating with anticipation since we reached the fourth floor. “You only get one shot.”
She scoffs. “Please. He probably won’t even answer. I bet he’s asleep.”
He is. I know he is. Don’t ask how.
Sasha bolts before I can say go. She runs, raps three sharp knocks on the door, and whips around the corner. I count the seconds in my head.
One.
Two.
Three.
Nothing.
I peek my head around and squint.
Still nothing.
Sasha frowns, breathing hard. “That was textbook.”
“It really was,” I say, impressed. “A master class in knock-and-run.”
“Maybe he’s in the shower?” Levi suggests.
Sasha levels him with a look. “He’s a grown man. He showers at, like, 5 a.m. because he’s weird.”
She’s not wrong.
“Okay,” I say, clapping once. “Levi, you’re up.”
He salutes me and takes off at full speed, his little legs moving so fast he’s practically a blur. He gives the door three quick smacks and bolts back toward us.
This time, the door opens.
Beckett appears.
He looks sleepy and frowning, with his hair sticking up in all directions.
Shit.
I lunge forward and slap both hands over the kids’ mouths before Levi can shout “It worked!” and blow our cover to hell.
We duck low and stay silent.
Beckett steps into the hallway in a T-shirt and sweats, one hand dragging across his face. He glances left, then right.
“Hello?” he calls out, voice still gravelly.
Sasha’s shoulders are shaking with silent laughter. Levi has a tear rolling down his cheek from trying not to explode.
Beckett sighs, rubs the back of his neck, mutters something that sounds like a curse, then turns back inside.
As soon as the door clicks shut, Sasha throws my hand off her mouth. “That was amazing.”
“He’s onto us,” I whisper.
“Which is why I deserve another turn,” she says.
“Wait—”
But she’s already gone.
Three seconds later, and she’s sprinting back.
The door opens faster this time.
“Come on,” Beckett mutters into the hall. “Seriously?”
He steps farther out.
We press ourselves against the wall and hold our breath.
He walks a few paces in our direction, pauses, and looks around.
Then—rookie mistake—he goes back inside without rounding the corner.
“I could cry,” Sasha whispers. “That was so close.”
Levi tugs my sleeve. “It’s your turn, Aunt Madi.”
My stomach flips. “Wait. What?”
“You said we all get a turn.”
“I said no such thing.”
“Your turn,” Levi sings. “Your turn. Your tuuurn.”
“Fine.” I hold up a hand. “I’m going. But if I get caught, you tell your mother I was a good person.”
“You weren’t,” Sasha mutters.
“Not the point.”
I square my shoulders and take a few deep breaths.
This is the moment.
I take off at full speed, reach the door, knock three times, and spin.
I’m barely halfway turned when I hear the door whoosh open.
“Gotcha.”
Before I can even process the sound of his voice, a solid arm snakes around my waist and hauls me backward. A scream rips from my throat, cut short when I’m jerked flush against his chest. I’m flailing as my feet leave the floor.
He spins me around in his arms, but when we finally make eye contact, the breath leaves my lungs and never returns.
He’s very close. Too close. He smells of sleep and mint and something purely masculine. His eyes are narrowed, and his hand is still firmly clamped around my waist, holding me against him.
“What the hell are you doing, Madison?” he asks, his voice low and vibrating through my sternum.
I panic. I didn’t think we’d need to use the code word, but there’s no better time than now.
“Turtle pancakes!” I shout.
The kids come screaming around the corner like feral warriors.
“Chaaarge!”
Beckett barely has time to blink before he’s covered in Silly String.
Levi has both cans, Sasha is hollering war cries, and I’m suddenly free. His arms drop as he instinctively shields himself.
“Oh my God,” I shout, yanking Levi back with one hand and Sasha with the other. “Run!”
“Why is it in my ear?” Beckett yells behind us.
We sprint and don’t stop until we’re safely back inside my apartment, giggles echoing off the walls.
My heart is still racing.
“That,” Sasha gasps, “was the greatest moment of my life.”
“Same,” Levi wheezes.
I nod, still catching my breath. “I can’t feel my legs.”
Sasha beams. “Best. Babysitter. Ever.”
I try to answer, but I can’t quite find the words. Mostly because I’m replaying the look in Beckett’s eyes when he caught me and the feel of his arm around my waist.
My stomach does a weird flutter. I look down at it in betrayal.
Goddammit!