Page 46 of The Wrong Prom Date

I sat on my front porch waiting for Liam to come pick me up. There was no way I was going to wait inside and risk him coming to the front door again. He’d caught me off guard yesterday, and I wouldn’t let that happen again. My house was the last place I wanted him anywhere near. I could only imagine what this place would look like to some Hollywood starlet, let alone the horror I’d endure if he met my mom.

He pulled up outside the house with two minutes to spare, and I slowly dragged my feet toward him as he got out of the car. “No need to get out. We’ve got to go,” I called to him.

He frowned and glanced up at my house. “I thought we were studying here.”

“Nope,” I replied. “I’ve got another babysitting job, and you’re coming with me.” I usually didn’t mind the amount of babysitting I committed to, but today, I felt too tired to be looking after a little person, let alone dealing with Liam as well. I needed the money though. I was saving for when I escaped this town someday. I was also terrified that there would come a time when Mom was going to max out her credit card and have nothing left to sell to cover the debt. My babysitting money was my insurance policy, so I continued slowly moving toward Liam rather than returning to bed like my exhausted body desperately wanted me to.

Liam folded his arms over his broad chest. “You want me to go to your babysitting job? You’re kidding.”

I wished that I were. “No jokes here, so back in the car with you.”

He grumbled under his breath as he climbed back in the car.

“Why couldn’t we have done this at your babysitting job last night?” he asked as I joined him in the vehicle.

“It wouldn’t have worked. Baby Sarah needs constant attention.”

“And the kid today doesn’t?”

The corner of my mouth lifted as I shook my head. “Topher is a little angel. We’ll be fine to work on the assignment.”

“You realize I had to miss a session with my trainer today for this, right?”

I huffed out a breath and settled my hard gaze on Liam. “And I have to completely redo my assignment because of you. I’m sure you’ll live one day without your trainer.”

He frowned at me, as though he was genuinely worried he wouldn’t survive without his morning gym session. He also seemed slightly stunned that I hadn’t simply apologized. He must have been so used to people fawning all over him. I was one girl who certainly wouldn’t be.

“Besides, your muscles are too big anyways. They’re starting to make your head look small,” I added.

His eyes bulged at the comment, and he quickly looked down at his chest. I had to hide a smirk at his reaction. Every inch of the boy sitting across from me was pure perfection, but there was no way he needed to know I thought that. Besides, a little less training would probably be good for him. He clearly spent far too much time in the gym.

“I need to stay in shape for my next movie,” he said, narrowing his eyes as he looked back up at me.

I gave him a tight smile. “Well, I’m sure they won’t mind if you overdo it then. Is the part you’re playing a high school student on steroids?”

“I don’t look like I’m on steroids.”

“Don’t you?” I left the question hanging, and he checked himself out again. I was having far too much fun getting under his skin. “We should probably get a move on. The Browns live on the other side of town.”

“Right.” He started the car and focused on my directions, but he kept sneaking nervous glances at his muscles. I’d probably given the guy a complex.

When we arrived at the house, I let myself in using the key under the doormat. I’d been babysitting Topher for a couple of years now, and the place practically felt like a second home to me. Topher’s mom, Nina, was a nurse and worked crazy long hours. Topher’s grandma looked after him most of the time when Nina was at work, but I came in on the weekends to give them both a break.

“Hello, Nina?” I called out as I entered the house. The place was a lot smaller than the house I’d been babysitting at last night, and Nina only paid me half as much as the Jensens for babysitting, but I’d help her out for free if she let me. Little Topher was the cutest kid alive, and I actually enjoyed hanging out with him. I also knew how hard she worked as a single mom, and I hated taking money from her. She certainly put my own mother to shame in that regard.

“Oh, Teagan, you’re a few minutes early,” Nina said, rushing down the corridor in her scrubs to meet me. She gave Liam a pleasant smile as she caught sight of him over my shoulder. There was no hint of recognition in her eyes, so I doubted she knew who he was.

“I hope it’s okay I’ve brought my English partner. We have an assignment due Monday that we really need to work on.”

Nina smiled. “Of course, that’s fine. You’re still okay to work until tonight? I know it’s a long shift, but Mom’s going to struggle to get here and relieve you today.”

“Yep, still okay,” I replied. “Don’t worry about it at all.”

She let out a breath and nodded. “You’re the best.” She grabbed her keys from the entranceway table and started for the door. “Topher’s out back drawing, and you have Mom’s number. If you need anything, call her.”

“I will,” I said with a smile.

She was out the door in the blink of an eye. That was how it always was with Nina. She almost seemed to blur when she moved as she was always trying to get a million things done at once. It was part of the reason I always tried to come a little early. I knew it made her life easier.

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