Page 5 of Beyond the Spotlight Discreet Version
I pop my eyes open, and he’s staring at me with a bit of concern. Probably because I’d squeezed his hand hard enough to stop the blood from circulating to his fingers.
I let go and sit up straight in my seat. “Right. Fuck. Sorry.”
I cover my mouth with my palms because I keep forgetting there’s a child next to me. I’m not used to censoring myself.
“Two dollars, Savvy,” Adeline sings. “Hey, your name kinda rhymes with mine. Savvy and Addy. They both end in ‘y.’”
She bounces in her seat at the revelation while we taxi to the gate.
“Same with dad’s name.”
I frown. Reynold doesn’t end in a ‘y.’ Before I think about it or ask what she meant, we roll up to the gate and the seatbelt sign turns off.
“We’re here!” Addy squeals. “Savvy, where do you live? We live on the Upside.”
“Upper East Side,” Reynold corrects.
I laugh. “You probably shouldn’t tell strangers where you live.”
“But you’re not a stranger. You’re my new best friend.” She gasps. “Would you want to be my nanny? Dad says I need one, but he doesn’t like anyone he’s interviewed. Pleeeeeease, Savvy! We’d have so much fun!”
“Addy, your nose is wandering again,” Reynold says. “I’m sure Savannah already has a job.”
I bite my lip to stifle a wince, which doesn’t get past him.
“I... don’t have one. I’m moving here. I was going to go job hunting tomorrow. Probably find something at a bar or restaurant serving or bartending.”
He furrows his brows as if he hates that idea and shifts in his seat to pull his wallet out of his back pants pocket. Shuffling through the contents, he extracts a card and hands it to me.
It has his phone number and name: Reynold Kane.
“We should talk. If you’re interested, I mean.”
“Okay.” My heart races at the thought of seeing this man every day. I don’t know how I’d cope. But if he needs a nanny, I’m guessing that means he won’t be around a lot.
If it’s just me and Addy, then she’s right. We’d have so much fun. I realize my cheeks ache with how much I’ve smiled and laughed this entire trip. I haven’t even thought about my asshole ex who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants.
I used to babysit in high school. I’m sure nannying isn’t much different. Plus, I need a job. The $3,000 in savings I brought and the $2,000 from selling my car will only get me through two months, max. “Yes, I’m interested. When do you want to meet?”
Reynold’s eyes widen as if he didn’t believe I’d agree. “Tomorrow morning at ten? There’s a coffee place near me... wait. Where are you staying? We can meet wherever is easiest for you.”
“Oh, um...” I stumble over my words because, technically, I’m homeless. “I booked an Airbnb for a month until I find an apartment. It’s in a neighborhood called Hamilton Heights.”
He frowns and those perfectly sculpted brows of his pinch again.
“We can meet closer to your Airbnb. There’s a coffee place near Columbia University. I used to go there every day while fil—erm—for my job. Here.” He finds a pen from the bag he’d pulled from underneath his seat after we landed and takes the card back. After writing on it, he hands it over. “That’s the name and the cross streets. Take the 1 train and the subway station lets out right there.”
I nod. “Ten a.m. I’ll be there.”
Chapter 2 – Reynold
AddyandIweavethrough a crowded sidewalk in SoHo, past people zoned out or staring straight ahead. This is what I love about New York City. It’s easy to disappear. New Yorkers get a bad rap for being mean, but they’re not. They’re just in a hurry. They mind their business and pay me no attention, allowing me to blend in.
We slip inside a posh French bistro where we’re meeting my friends, Eloise and Kelly, for brunch. The cool air washes over me when we step inside. It’s the end of May, not even summer yet, but it feels like it with a high in the nineties today. The white T-shirt and jeans I’m wearing do nothing more than soak up my sweat.
It’s been two weeks since Savannah ghosted me, and I’m still pissed about it. What the fuck happened? She seemed interested in interviewing for the position. Did I push her too hard? Did she accept my card just to be polite? To get me off her back?
Oh, how I want to be hovered over her back, to smooth my palm over her spine and tug on her long blonde hair just to hear her scream my name while fucking her from behind.
