Page 40 of Crush
“And what do you think I am saying, Brynn?” Chloe asked with a mischievous note.
I stared at her, not sure what to say. I tried another tack. “Look, I'm sure it'll be a fun dinner. But there wasn't, and therewon'tbe, any flirting between me and your dad. We're going as friends. If you think there's anything more than that, you're mistaken.” I paused to drive the point home. “I just don't want you to get your hopes up, okay?”
“Why, I appreciate your concern, Brynn,” Chloe said, perfectly mimicking my detached and stately tone. “But P.S., you're a terrible liar.”
“Excuse me?”
“You think I don't know?”
“Know what?” I asked, swallowing heavily.
“About you and my dad. I've never seen two people who need to bone more in my entire life.”
“Chloe!” I said, aghast. “You shouldn't talk like that.”
“Why not? It's true, isn't it? You two totally have a thing for each other. I've been suspecting it for a while, but now I haveproof.”
“Oh, Chloe.” I laughed nervously—dare I say, guiltily. “Proof? Because we're going to a meaningless party together? I'm sorry, but it's simply not true.”
“Uh huh. Sure.” The teenager tapped her chin while she swiped through a digital collection of music, hunting for a new album to play. “And I suppose you'd also say that it's not true that Dad always finds a reason to come in here and sit with us when you're in here. And I suppose it's not true that he's always acting all handsy and touchy with you. Or that you two are always tip-toeing around each other, giggling way too hard at each other's corny jokes. Did you think I wouldn't notice how my dad can't keep his eyes off you? He's never been like that with any of our other nannies, by the way. He barely even talked to the other nannies beyond making plans and stuff. But with you? Whenever Dad's home, if I need to find him for whatever reason, all I have to do is track you down—and voila, there he is, too.”
Secretly, my insides were bursting with happiness to hear Chloe's suspicions. But on the outside, I had to pretend I didn't know what she was talking about, nor let it show any effect on me. So I bit my inner cheek to keep the ravenous smile from spreading.
“Oh, Chloe—”
“Andyou,when Dad touches you or sits right next to you, you don't even move away. You get this weird,trying-so-hard-not-to-smilelook on your face. Yeah—like the one you're making right now!”
I didn't know what to say. Ateenage girlhad me figured out. I couldn't believe it.
“Heck, just a few minutes earlier, you said my dad was avery handsome man.Don't even try to deny it, Brynn, you think he's hot.”
I huffed. “I said he's ahandsome man,yes, but I didn't say he was hot.”
“You didn'tsayit, no, but you think it.” Chloe shrugged. “Don't get me wrong. I'm not mad that you like my dad, Brynn. Not at all.”
“Chloe, I swear—it's just not like that.”
“Would you stop lying to me?” The teenager rolled her eyes. “I tell you all about my life. And I tell you about the boys I like. I thought we could trust each other.”
I laughed. “I'm not lying to you.”
“Okay then. You leave me no choice.” She stuck out her hand and gestured for my phone. “Lemme see your phone.”
“What? No. Why do you want my phone? What are you going to do, text your dad pretending to be me?”
“That'd be weird and creepy and I would never do that, Brynn.” She gestured for the phone again. “Give it.”
“First, tell me why you want my phone.”
“Itoldyou, I have proof. And now I'm going to show it to you. So just lemme see it.”
Cautiously, I pulled out my phone. I wouldn't hand it over. “You can do whatever you're going to do while I'm holding it,” I said, “because I'm not letting go.”
She rolled her eyes. “I'm not going to steal it, but fine, suit yourself.”
I clutched my cell phone while Chloe tapped at the screen. She opened Facebook. The picture she'd been studying right before Shea entered the room was still on the screen.
“See?” she asked.
