Page 85 of Stop and Seek
“And? I have connections. I’m more than happy to use them for Belle.”
Noah smirked.
Ah, the tiny demon herself. The first gremlin.
“I don’t know how comfortable I feel kicking a child out of a spot so she can go instead. I love her, but she’s a menace,” Benji muttered, eyes still on his phone. “Kyran said the wordarsonand I… I may kill him. It’s crossed my mind once or twice.”
No texts from Theo.
Noah flipped his phone over on his lap. “Is she actually running around screaming about arson now? Have you told her what itmeans?”
“You’re joking,” Benji groaned. His whole posture deflated. Glasses slipping, expression pleading with the universe. “This is the fourth nanny this year, and I hate to think of how many more I’ll go through if I explain.”
FatherBenji was a thousand times better thanRegularBenji. The minute his five year old daughter came up, the whole vibe shifted. Way less “I’m better than you” and way more “I haven’t slept since February, send help.”
“She’s cute as fuck,” Max scoffed. “The girl has spunk and character. I love her.”
Benji rubbed his face, plucking the cigarette from behind his ear. “I’d rather split custody with you than Penelope. Trust me, Max. You take her for a weekend, and I guarantee you’ll be begging me to pick her up in an hour.”
Noah straightened fast, pushing up with both hands. “Last time I was over, she putclear Legosall over the carpet,” he said, even as Max shot him another death-glare. “I saw my life flash before my eyes. Also—Max’ll have her cussing like a sailor by Monday. How well doesthatgo over in daycare?”
Benji visibly shuddered.
“Kindergarten,” he corrected. “I—I can’t. I won’t. Let’s all forget everything I offered. I need a smoke before I find the nearest bridge.”
“Do you see the fucking problem? I’m not nuts.”
Noah’s heart jumped at the voice—Theo’s voice. Soft. Bitter. Funny in that bone-dry way he always sounded. He was close, too. Right there at the bottom row. Noah hadn’t evennoticedhim come in.
Explains the texting pause.
“I’d still write a thank you note,” said the girl next to him—Rachel. Noah recognized her from one of Alyssa’s friend dumps online.
Theo mumbled something too quiet to hear.
“Teddy, it’s clean. It even smells nice.”
“I don’t own half the shit in there!” Theo snapped, louder this time.
Noah’s whole chest winced.
Damn it.
The cleaning thing was supposed to benice. Helpful. Not piss him off.
The guy didn’t even havesheets.
Noah glanced down at his phone. He didn’t regret it. He’d do it again.
“Don’t you have work?” Theo asked.
Rachel chuckled. “I want to be here to see you win, dumbass. I switched with someone.”
There was a pause, and then—
“Yes really!” Rachel laughed louder.
Noah peeked over his phone in time to see Theo adjust his glasses and rake his hands through his hair.
