Page 6 of Selling Innocence

“Since you interviewed. Your boss called around to your references, and because I set those up, I was contacted.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t stop me.”

“Your boss and coworkers all had clean backgrounds, so I saw no reason to intervene. Well, other than Riley. Riley has a habit of piling up traffic infractions and parking tickets. Don’t get into a car with her.”

I went about filling the water bowls at the doggy-daycare and boarding place I worked, pups following along behind me and fighting for my attention. I couldn’t shake my unhappiness at Jarrod knowing.

Which, of course, he picked up on even through the phone. “You’re upset?”

I laughed softly. That was so Jarrod—smart and observant enough to tell I was unhappy but bad enough with feelings to not understand why.

“I’m fine,” I said.

“No, you aren’t. What’s wrong?”

“I just thought this place was my secret.”

“I only know because I’m looking out for you. Nem and her idiots are the same.”

“Yeah, I know.” I sat on the edge of the barrier that kept the dogs in the center area, letting my heels strike the wall as I swung my feet. “It’s just… I don’t really get a lot of time to myself, where I don’t feel like I’m under a microscope.”

“But that is one reason you moved, why you live across the country. How could you still feel watched so far away?”

“Because you all are still looking over my shoulder! Nem picked out my apartment, Bray goes over my transcripts and medical records, Rune keeps sending self-defense teachers to my house, Colton threatened a new resident in the building until they left because he claimed the man ‘didn’t look like a good person,’ and Dane had someone drug test me in secret one time! I’m supposed to be living my own life, but I can’t go more than a day or two without you all intervening. I thought that this job was the one place in my life where I didn’t answer to anyone, that I got on my own and that I controlled myself.” My shoulders drooped. “I guess I was wrong about that, huh?”

Jarrod said nothing at first. In fact, it took so long that I thought for a moment he’d hung up. “We just worry,” he said.

And just like that, I felt like the bad guy. I remembered what happened to my mother, to everything Jarrod and Nem and the Quad had seen happen. It wasn’t like I was someone capable of protecting myself much, so could I really blame them for worrying about me?

“I know,” I said, hating that I had no good answer for what to do from here. “I know you worry, that you don’t want anything to happen to me. It’s just hard to live like that. I thought when I moved I’d finally get to make my own choices, but it isn’t like that at all. I still feel trapped. I want you all to trust me, to let me make my own mistakes. Sometimes I think about just running away, about trying to disappear and become anyone else, someone normal who doesn’t have to deal with this all.”

It was a stupid idea, of course, but I finally admitted it to him. I didn’t think I’d ever actually try it—it wouldn’t work even if I did because running from Jarrod or the Quad would take a skillset much bigger than my own—but the temptation was there.

He sighed, the sound making me feel even guiltier. “I’ll talk to Nem for you. What if I got them off your back a bit? Nothing can change them entirely, but maybe I could get them to give you some space?”

I snorted at that idea. Jarrod was impressive, sure, but I doubted even he could manage something like that. It would take a miracle to get Nem or the Quad to loosen their grip on me, even a little.

A bell chimed to signal a customer had arrived, and never had I been so thankful for one. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m just stressed, but I have a customer. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Sure. We’ll talk later.” Jarrod hung up, but I couldn’t shake the hurt in his voice.

I slid the phone into my pocket before hopping over the short wall and heading for the front lobby. The daycare was small enough that we didn’t have a regular receptionist. It meant a lot of running back and forth, but I didn’t mind that.

Staying busy made the time go by faster. I didn’t make much money here, but it had never been about money. I had all I could use and more—a leftover from my parents’ estate since Nem had refused to take a penny of that. Instead, it was all about my own independence.

I stopped short when I crossed from the back into the lobby and spotted the customer.

He was beyond lovely, taking me entirely by surprise. His hair was dyed red, but because it was shorter, it didn’t look nearly as unnatural as Nem’s. Dark eyes peered at me, and he wore a hoodie sweater that made him look like another college student. He wasn’t that tall, his body lean, but none of that mattered. A sheen on his lips caught the lights, and when he smiled, I wondered if I should hold on to the wall to keep myself upright.

No man should be that pretty.

I said nothing, distracted by his good looks, and finally he let out a soft chuckle. “Is this Paws and Pause Boarding?”

You’re at work you stupid floozy—get your head in the game!

I nodded, leaving the door to the back cracked open so I could hear if the dogs started snapping at one another. “Yes. Sorry. I was in the back and didn’t hear you right away. How can I help you?”

He walked up and stuck his hand out, a friendly smile on those perfect pink lips. “My name is Char. I heard this place is fantastic, and I wanted to check it out.”

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