Page 17 of If This Was a Movie

“An hour? Jesus. That’s unacceptable.”

He shifts then, shrugging off his thick tan jacket, draping it over my shoulders. In my peripheral vision, Claire elbows Sloane, and Sutton whispers something I probably don’t want to hear.

“You don’t have to give me this, I’m fine,” I say, even though it’s warm and smells like Nate and feels absolutely amazing.

Nate glares at me and opens his mouth, but his sister interrupts.

“You should go talk to Mark, see what’s taking so long,” Claire says with a smug smile.

“Yeah. Stay here; I’ll try and move things along,” Nate says with a nod.

“That’s really not necessary—” I start, but he’s already turning, moving to the fire chief, who greets him like an old friend with a handshake and a pat on the back.

“Let him do his thing,” Claire says. “He knows everyone, can figure out what the next steps are, and when you can get some things to tide you over for a night or two.”

I sigh, then slip my arms into the jacket. If it’s already on me, might as well warm up. Or, at least that’s what I’m telling myself. I definitely amnotjust trying to take in the smell and feel of Nate while I can. That would be crazy.

“Where are you staying tonight?” Sloane asks.

I shrug.

“I uh.” My mind moves over the money in my savings that I’ve been saving for a larger studio, groaning internally as I do,but using the money is much better than the alternative. “I think I’ll have to go on to a hotel?—”

“Oh, god, no!” Sloane shakes her head. “That’s going to cost a million dollars, if they even have any openings,” she remarks, using the same logic her sister did earlier.

They’re not wrong. This weekend is the town lighting, one of the few times a year our tiny town is flooded with non-locals to see the wonder that is Evergreen Park at Christmastime. Because of this, hotels cost an arm and a leg and book up fast.

“It’s really my only choice, you know? I don’t want to bother my friends, and my mom isn’t…the ideal place for me to stay. It’s really all I’ve got right on such short notice.”

“Are any even going to be open?” Sloane asks, grabbing her phone and scrolling. Looking at her properly, she looks so much like her sister but has a more professional, no-bullshit way about her that is completely the opposite of Claire.

“Probably not,” Claire agrees. “I was calling you guys before because I told her she should just stay in Nate’s guest house.” A knowing smile pulls along her lips with the words, and I watch as her two other sisters smile and nod in agreement.

“I—” I start with a shake of my head, but Sloane cuts me off.

“Oh, that’s genius!” she says.

“It’s not even really attached to his house. I lived there for a bit when I moved back to Evergreen Park, too. It’s really cute!” Sutton adds.

“I couldn’t?—”

Claire ignores my argument, turning to Sloane. “Has he found someone to watch Sophie when he’s not around?”

“I don’t need—” Sophie starts, but her aunt breaks in.

“You know, I don’t think he has.” There’s a tip to her lips like she’s catching on to whatever grand scheme Claire is hatching. “You know, Nate’s a contractor. I bet he could help with therepairs.” Sloane waves her arm at my building. “And you could help out with Sophie on the nights he works late.”

I pull the edges of the jacket closer, needing the comfort of it now. “I really don’t think?—”

“It’s perfect!” Claire says, then turns to me. “It’s not often, the babysitting, just like, once a week and getting her off the bus if you’re around.”

“You’re my new nanny?!” the little girl shrieks, and the panic continues to close in on me as her aunt puts her back down on the ground.

“No, no, I?—”

“I mean, you’re so great with kids, you teach all of those classes, Jules! And you babysit, right?” Claire asks, knowing the answer. Sometimes parents of the kids I teach ask me to come sit for them on a date night, and I’m always more than willing to help if I’m free.

“Well, yeah, but?—”

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