Page 114 of Legacy

The kids grab their backpacks, and I hold the door while they climb out. Bea is practically skipping up the steps to the school, while Austin walks beside her. It’s a busy morning at drop-off, but no one says anything about Venom idling at the curb in front of a No Parking sign.

It’s the same spot Steel and Jesse also use, and I get the impression the school has an understanding with the Twisted Kings that lets them get away with things others might not.

When we walk into the school, we reach Austin’s classroom first. Bea’s is at the end of the hallway, and I barely have time to give her a hug before she disappears into the room. They’re working on their art projects today, and she spent all night thinking about glitter and confetti, so she’s anxious to get to work.

I turn to leave but find Principal Grandy in my path.

“Ms. Brady?”

“Yes.” I straighten my spine, my intuition prickling.

After that one date with Lincoln—and what inevitably followed—I can’t shake that principals now make me uncomfortable.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“Bea’s father isn’t here today.”

“He’s not the one I was hoping to speak with. Let’s discuss it in my office.”

I open my mouth to say I’m busy, but he turns before I get the words out, leading the way. The last thing I want to do is irritate Bea’s principal, so I follow.

Pulling out my phone, I text Venom, thankful that Jesse put the number in it.

Reagan: The school needs to talk to me for a minute; I’ll be right out.

Venom: Need me to come in?

Reagan: It’ll be quick.

Venom: Let me know if you need me.

“I hear you used to work for a school.” Principal Grandy glances at my phone, and I tuck it away.

“I worked in the front office at an elementary school back in Glendale.”

“You must have been good at your job,” he says, although I can’t figure out how he’d know that. “Have you considered looking for a similar position since moving to Vegas?”

“I wasn’t initially planning on staying.”

“And now?”

Now I am, but that doesn’t mean I’ve figured out what that looks like.

Jesse made it clear he wants me to stay—and not as Bea’s nanny—but we haven’t talked about if that means he wants me to get another job or if I’ll continue doing the things I already am. What I’ve done around his house hasn’t felt like work in weeks. It just feels like taking care of my family, and I’m happy to do it.

I was never here for money and refused to accept a cent since it was a favor to Margaret. Which is a good thing, or it would have gotten murky when Jesse and I started sleeping together.

Now that we’re becoming something more official, we should probably define our roles better, but I don’t want things to change so long as he doesn’t. Bea needsstability, and Jesse’s club requires so much of him. I’d like to be at the house to help lighten his load there, even if now it’s for a different reason than the one that brought me here.

“I’m focusing on other things,” I decide, knowing Jesse and I still need to talk about it. “What is it you want to talk to me about?”

“A job, actually.”

“Here?”

“No, it seems you’re already indispensable.”

My face pinches in confusion as he leads me into his office, and the moment I step inside, it all becomes clear.

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