Page 62 of The Nanny is Off Limits

Ahhh. Okay. I hadn’t anticipated him being a part of this with him supposedly out of town, but this makes sense.

“What did you see?”

“He plays for a travel soccer team, not for our school. And I guess the team went to some party. I follow most of the guys and in the background of one of the stories…some girl was in Gabe’s lap and it looked like they were kissing.”

“Looked like it? Or they were?”

She pulls out her phone and slides it across the table. “I took a screenshot, what do you think?”

I look at the photo, and while it isn’t totally clear, it certainly looks suspect. She’s definitely in his lap and the way she’s turned it could be that they’re just talking, but with the amount of beer cans on the table in the forefront of the picture, I’m going to assume they aren’t exactly sober.

“Have you talked to him?”

“Of course. I called him and flew off the handle!” She lets her head drop to the table. “He claims they weren’t kissing and he made her get up as soon as she sat down and the story just happened to catch it. Of course, now it’s gone.”

“What do you think about that?”

“Sounds a little too coincidental.” This thought makes me breathe easier. I know Margot is a smart girl but even the smartest girls get the wool pulled over their eyes.

“Okay, so how does your argument with Mel fit into that?”

Her head perks up from the table and narrows her eyes at me curiouslyor maybe suspiciously. “How did you know about that?”

Dammit. I should not have said that.“Oh, I talked to your dad last night. I wanted to know if you were okay.”

“Oh.” She shakes her head. “Right, of course.” She gives me a guilty look. “I made that up because I didn’t want to tell him about Gabe. I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. I mean he says it was nothing, but I don’t want Dad to hate him if I’m not going to break up with him.”

“Does it feel like nothing?”

Her lip trembles slightly and she wipes a finger under her eyes. “I don’t like that she was in his lap.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t either.”

“Can you just tell me what you think?” she asks. “I don’t…have anyone else that I can talk to about this.” I hear the sentiment loud and clear that once upon a time she would have gone to her mother.

“You’ve been with Gabe for a year, right?”

“A little over, yeah. We were friends for a year before that though. I just didn’t realize he liked me the entire time. And then…when everything happened he was just…so great to me. He barely left my side when she died, and I guess I just…liked that he took my mind off of it? And now I do love him.”

“Can I ask you a personal question?”

She puts her head in her hands before peeking at me through her fingers. “Can it not be about sex?”

“Sorry, but I need all the facts before I can give you my opinion.” I close my laptop.

“We haven’t had sex,” she tells me. “We’ve come close…a few times.”

“I see. What’s stopped you?”

“My dad called once. His mom came home…and…one time it just didn’t feel right.”

“Do you think it’s your subconscious telling you he’s not the right person to give your virginity to? You know you only lose it once.” I clear my throat. “And as someone who didn’t have a pleasant first experience, unfortunately, that memory of your first time sticks with you forever.”

A sad look crosses her face and she lowers her eyes to the glass in front of her. “That sounds like something my mom would say.” I watch as she slowly blinks tears from her eyes.

“I’m not going to tell you what to do and it’s easy to pass judgment and give advice on relationships that your heart and emotions aren’t invested in. What I will say, however, is if something doesn’t feel right, it usually isn’t. I don’t know what the situation was, but maybe the question you should ask is why that girl felt so comfortable to hop in his lap even if it was just for a second. Did she know he had a girlfriend? Had he been flirting with her? Unfortunately, in this situation, you can only go by what he tells you, so it’s going to be up to you if you believe what he’s saying and if you trust him. Has anything like this happened before?”

“No…” she says with a hint of hesitation and I can’t tell if she’s telling me the truth or if the hesitation implies,not that I know of.

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