Page 30 of Already At Risk
“Okay, okay,” I interrupted but used the softest voice I couldmuster. Her eyes were closed again, and I didn’t want to disrupt that. We could deal with the code on the door later.I’ddeal with the code on the door later. “Don’t worry about it right now.”
“Deal,” Natalie said with a sigh. Her eyes flicked open and pinned on me. “Thank you, Cameron.”
“You’re welcome,” I answered, meeting her gaze beat for beat.
It fucking simmered, and I suspected she didn’t even realize. Had no idea what she was doing to me.
It took me far too long to force my feet to move, but eventually, I took a step back. And then another.
And then I was down the stairs and out the back door, taking a picture of the lock before I left.
CHAPTER EIGHT
cameron
THE NEXT MORNING, HALFWAY through a video tutorial on how to change the code on Natalie’s lock, my phone buzzed on top of my desk. And I had to bite down on a smile when I realized it was from my favorite single mom herself.
SUNNY: I woke up and thought I wasn’t going to have any coffee ready, but you saved the day.
SUNNY: Again.
SUNNY: Thank you, seriously.
It was the least I could do after not catching the name error and putting extra stress on you.
I wouldn’t really mind making Natalie’s nighttime routine part of my nighttime routine. I’d happily show up at her place after her shifts just to make her tea, give her cat treats, and carry her to bed.
Maybe one day.
Aguy could dream.
SUNNY: That wasn’t your fault.
SUNNY: This coffee is going to help me survive twenty-five fourth graders today.
SUNNY: Just kidding. I actually love to chaperone field trips, even if it is a lot sometimes.
I realized that Natalie texted like she talked, in animated spurts. Like she had to get the words out while she had the energy, and then she sort of died away again.
Do you chaperone a lot?
I told myself that this was pertinent information, that I wasn’t just trying to continue the conversation. And honestly, that wasn’t far from the truth. This was a factual anecdote to support her claim for full custody.
SUNNY: When I can. I try to attend a field trip once or twice a year.
How many do they go on every year?
SUNNY: Like three or four.
So you go on half of all the available field trips?
SUNNY: I guess so? About that.
I really needed this woman to give herself more credit for what she was able to do as a single mom. There were so many parents out there who never went onanyfield trips, her ex likely included.
Which one was your favorite?
Okay, fine, this one had nothing to do with my job.
