Page 103 of Spotlight
I’m surprised at the rage I feel, thinking someone might have hurt Greer, and the immediate need to figure out who, what, and when.
Olivia’s phone pings, and she digs it out of her purse. A crease forms between her brows.
“What?” I ask, thinking it’s something to do with Greer. My mind is stuck there. Somewhere along the line while I was falling for Olivia, I fell just as hard for Greer.
“Sabrina is sick. She was going to watch Greer for me tonight while I work.”
“Yeah, everyone at their apartment has it,” I confirm. I texted with Archer and Brogan this morning and they were talking about painting a red X on their front door.
“I’ll have to call my grandparents and see if they can watch her,” she says, not sounding happy about the prospect.
“What about Ruby?”
“She’s deep in the writing cave.”
I don’t know what that means exactly, but that only leaves one option. “I can watch her.”
Olivia’s brows lift.
“Don’t look so appalled by the idea. I’m great with kids. Or at least with Greer.”
“Of course you are.” She shakes her head and smiles. “But hanging out with her for a couple hours while we go to the trampoline park or somewhere fun is different than getting her to bed. Especially in her current mood.”
“I grew up with four brothers. Someone was always in a bad mood. I know how to handle it.”
“The peacekeeper,” she says, stepping closer and wrapping her arms around my middle. She places her head on my chest. “I’m worried about her.”
“Me too.” I cup the back of her head and then let my fingers flow down her hair. “But we’ll figure it out.”
I pull back and stare down into her eyes. “Now tell me all the rules, Momma.”
“You really want to watch her only hours after getting back into town? Have you even been to your apartment yet? I don’t get off until two.”
“Yes and no. I like your place better anyway. It has my two favorite people. And I’ll crash on the couch once she’s in bed. That’s allowed, right? Wait, do you sleep or do you stay up and watch her breathe all night?”
She smacks at my chest playfully.
“I got this.”
She bites on the corner of her lip, then nods slowly. “Okay. But only if you’re absolutely sure. It’s fine to say no. My grandparents won’t mind if I drop her off there.”
“If Greer’s cool with it, then I’d love to hang with her tonight. I missed her too.”
She chuckles, grinning in a way that tells me she doesn’t quite believe me. That’s okay. I’m still a little taken back by it too.
“Let me talk to her.” Olivia leaves me in the kitchen, disappears into Greer’s room, and comes back only a couple minutes later.
I don’t know why, but I feel a little nervous. It’s possible Greer would rather go to her grandparents’ house than have me watch her. And I guess I want her to like and trust me.
“She wants to stay with you,” Olivia says, a small grin lifting one side of her mouth. “She nearly cracked a smile when I asked her.”
“See? I’ve totally got this.”
“Keep her alive, make sure she brushes her teeth, and is in bed by eight.”
“That’s it?” I ask with a huff. “Easy.”
She laughs again.
