Chapter 2 Flo #2
Turning the corner slowly, it finally comes into view. The white panelling is slightly browned, with a wide wooden porch scattered with well-loved furniture and a few children’s toys. It’s relatively small in comparison to the land surrounding it, but I have to admit that it looks cosy.
There’s another smaller house—more like a large cabin—positioned by the trees, about forty meters from it, but it doesn’t look occupied, judging by the smashed window, crusty moss-covered roof and unopened rusty paint pots sitting by the front door.
My engine splutters a few times as I cut it, and I make my way to the main house's front door with the donkey in hand, feeling a lot more comfortable now I’ve swapped my poofy blouse for a plain white T-shirt . My fist rattles against the wood, and I wait patiently.
A woman who smells like sickly marshmallows and peaches opens it, relief flooding her features before she grabs her leather tote bag off a hook and slings it over her shoulder.
“Hold on one second,” she mutters into the phone that her fingers are curled around. “Thank God you’re here.” She beams at me, chuckling as she wipes at her forehead in liberation. “Evan didn’t give a definitive time you’d be arriving.”
Alexander must have warned them about my arrival.
I smile. I don’t know who this woman is, but I’m relieved she opened the door rather than Evan, because from what Alexander has said, he doesn’t take kindly to strangers.
“I hope the kid wasn’t too upset without it.
” I hold the toy out for her to take, but she stares at it blankly before shuffling past me with collapsing eyebrows, phone still between her ear and shoulder. She’s barely listening to me.
“Yeah, um, he’s been fine. Tell Evan to call me about nannying again. I really need to rush off. I’ve booked a pilates class, but it's great to meet you.”
I blink, trying to gauge what’s happening as she saunters down the porch steps. “Wait, what are you—?”
I don’t have the chance to finish my sentence. She’s already hopping in her gleaming red car and turning it around, leaving me standing on the porch with limp limbs.
“Where are you going?!”
The woman rolls down the window as she passes me, having not heard my question, red nails tapping against her wheel.
“It’s a shame the grey eyes skipped out on you.
Considering his strong genes, I would have thought Evan’s sister would look somewhat similar to him, but I guess you can’t have it all.
Your legs are already too perfect.” She grins, proud of herself for the compliment she’s just thrown my way. “Anyway, Leo’s all yours. Enjoy.”
“What?” My eyes bulge. “No, I’m not his sister. I’m just—”
She can’t hear me, though, already barrelling down the gravel path towards the main road, the purr of her car engine fading into the background.
“Hey! What are you doing? Come back!” I flail my arms, attempting to wave her back, but it’s clear she’s not looking as she speeds around the corner and disappears off the land.
“Oh, you have to be kidding me.” I strangle the donkey, glaring at it with narrowed eyes, finding satisfaction in how my fingers press into its thinning fabric.
“This is your fault, you know? All I wanted was a promotion.”
This isn’t me. I’m usually smiley Flo. Happy Flo.
The person everyone comes to when they need a pick-me-up, but I can literally feel Starbound changing me.
Morphing me into the type of person whose work takes up every inch of space inside their head.
Not because they love it, but because it’s utter shit.
“Donkey!”
The voice startles me, and I peer down to see an adorable toddler rushing to my feet with a grin so wide you’d think I was dressed as Santa Claus.
He’s wearing a light blue T-shirt with a juggling dinosaur on it, the baggy pants matching, and his icy grey eyes bore up at me with a mixture of curiosity and gratitude.
“Um, hi,” I say weakly, and he giggles, flexing his chubby fingers, reaching up for the stuffed animal. Giving it to him without hesitation, I watch him embrace it.
I don’t know what the hell is going on, but time feels as if it’s standing still because there’s no way this kid’s nanny just left me alone with him, thinking I was Evan West’s sister.
Who rushes out without giving the other person a chance to explain themselves? Did Alexander set this up? Is this some kind of test to see if I can handle the promotion?
I sigh. It’s wishful thinking.
“Where was Donkey?”
I click my tongue, unsure what I’m supposed to do now. “You left him at Starbound.”
The kid gawks up at me like I’ve just spoken in gibberish, and I suppress a chortle.
“Um, I mean… he was just competing in… the National Eee-aaw Donkey Competition. I offered him a ride home.”
The child’s eyes widen, and he stares at his cuddly toy with adoration. “Did he win?”
A chuckle slips from my mouth. “You know what? Yeah, he did. Trophy should be on its way.”
“Wow! Thank you!” He points up at me. “What’s your name?”
“It’s Flo.”
“My name is Leo.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Leo.”
He immediately takes my hand and leads me into the house, like he knows me. Like I’m supposed to be here.
“Hello?” I call loudly as I hover, and when no one responds, it’s clear there are no other adults around.
Leo looks up at me, full-on, unblinking. Like he’s trying to work me out, and after a few seconds, he tips his head and breaks out into a genuine smile.
I thought kids were supposed to be easily distracted, but he’s locked in on me like he’s waiting for me to do something.
Why am I intimidated by a toddler?
“Your hair is long.” His eyes hone in on the strands that are tumbling down towards my belly button. It’s due for a cut, but I just haven’t had the time. Juggling work at Starbound and my hobbies doesn’t allow a ton of time for my to-do list.
“So is yours.” I nod towards the boy’s brunette locks, tousled and peeking past his ears, but he only mutters a low, “Yours is pretty, though,” before waddling over to his toy box.
Pulling out my phone, I dial Alexander’s number, but of course, all I’m met with is his fake chirpy tone telling me to leave a message.
A text telling him he needs to call me urgently will suffice.
Calling the police seems a tad dramatic at this stage, and that’s sure to get out to the press.
The last thing I want is to be plastered all over the front cover of a magazine as the woman involved in a child endangerment scandal alongside Evan West.
There are no neighbours nearby—the house is in a secluded area just outside of Missarali City, near Great Falls—so for now, the only thing I can do is wait for someone to come home. Or for Alexander to get his head out of his ass and pick up his phone.
His wife’s birthday, my ass. Last month, he told us he was getting a divorce. He was probably just looking forward to getting home and rubbing one out.
“Do you want to play with me, Flo?” Leo waves me over to his toy box in the corner of the rustic-looking living room. The smell of black coffee wafts up my nose as I manoeuvre through, and overall, the place is pretty clean, except for the occasional sock and racecar scattered on the floor.
I take a deep breath and smile, dropping to my knees to be at Leo’s level. “Sure.”
I can’t lie, he’s a cute kid. He seems polite and respectful, which I appreciate. Most of the adults I worked with at Starbound didn’t harness an ounce of courtesy that this child does.
Leo laughs, rummaging through the box and yanking out everything he owns. He shoves them into my lap as he introduces me to each toy, attempting to explain their wild and wacky backstories, but he can barely finish one without getting sidetracked and moving on to the next.
I pick up a plastic T. rex dressed in what looks to be Ken doll clothing, a bright yellow and pink Hawaiian shirt wrapped around its torso, the T. rex’s tiny arms sticking out of the ripped armholes.
“Wow,” I chuckle. “This guy’s… fashionable.”
“It’s a girl.” Leo giggles, taking the dinosaur from me. “Daddy dressed her. And named her. It’s Buttercup.”
“Oh, right, my bad. Sorry, Buttercup.”
Razor-sharp teeth.
Piercing red eyes.
Scaly skin.
Yep, sure looks like a Buttercup.
I can’t picture it—the gruff, and frankly, intimidating-looking, Evan West sitting down for a glittery tea party, using a high-pitched, posh voice to speak in place of an elephant wearing a bow-tie.
But then again, he’s a father, and fathers do these kinds of things for their kids.
It’s just strange to imagine, since I’ve only ever seen the jock-like side of him—chest-bumping and grunting with his teammates on the field, like cavemen, which always pulls a chuckle from me. Men really are fascinating.
“Wanna hear a secret?” Leo’s staring at me, blinking innocently.
I laugh, leaning closer to him as he cups his hand around his mouth, whispering in my ear, “That other nanny had Oreo’s in her teeth.”
My face lights up in a grin. I really needed a pick-me-up today. “What? And you don’t like Oreo’s?”
“I do. Not when they’re in her teeth.” He leans forward again, lowering his voice. “You don’t have them in your teeth.”
“Thanks, I brushed extra hard today.”
Leo grins at me, turning back to his toy box. “Me too. Daddy makes me.”
Watching him, I laugh. He’s just a kid; harmless, and someone is sure to be back soon. How hard can it be to keep a kid alive for an evening?