Page 38 of Rough Heat

The thought of having the time and peace to think was as frightening as it was appealing, but what other option did he have?

“Okay,” he said and ignored the relief on his sister’s face.

***

The days passed like phantoms, leaving no trace but a chill behind. Leo’s sister was a constant, solid presence slowly dragging him out of the fog.

It was nice not to be alone, but no one could fix this but him.

He called the agency and quit. Lay around the house, doing nothing, and then started taking walks. Then started cooking. Then started showering without cringing at his own body.

He started talking to his sister again like they were both normal people.

He started looking for jobs.

Days, and days, and days passed until his sister recommended a friend who was looking for a full-time nanny.

Leo loved children, but he didn’t really have any experience with them. All he was expecting was some interview experience as he went to the family’s apartment. Melissa, George, and their two kids, Lily and Sam, lived in a beautiful brownstone apartment. Leo admired it as the Omega-Spouse let him in.

Lily, it turned out, was six and peered at him with suspicion as he walked into the sunlit living room. Three-year-old Sam had no such reservation, going right up to him full-tilt and crashing into his legs.

“Sorry,” George said, picking him up. “He does that.”

Leo shook his head and smiled at Sam. “Hello, you’re Sam?”

“Three!” Sam shouted.

“And you’re three? That’s so cool. I’m Leo. I’m twenty-six.”

Sam laughed like that was the funniest thing anybody had ever said, and Leo couldn’t help but giggle along.

Melissa appeared from around the corner, braided hair framing her dark face, eyes bright and smile wide. “Hey! Sorry, got caught up in something. I’m guessing you’re Leo.”

“Yes, it’s really nice to meet you all.” He looked at Lily, who was still standing still by the kitchen counter a few feet away from him. “Hi. Lily, right? I’m Leo.”

“I know, you just said it like a million times,” Lily bit out.

Her parents turned towards her sharply. “Lily, come on,” Melissa chided gently. “Remember what we said about being polite even when you’re not keen on someone.”

Lily stared at Leo. “I’m not keen on you.”

Leo jumped in before her parents could. “That’s totally okay. I’m a stranger coming into your house, so I totally get that. Once a rat came into my old apartment and, you know, I don’t mind rats out on the street. They’re pretty cute, honestly. But I was not keen on one in my house.”

Lily narrowed her eyes at him. “What did you do to it?”

“I bought one of those traps that don’t hurt them and then set it free. And then I moved.” Leo laughed.

Melissa snorted. “I’m going to try and not judge you for thinking New York rats are cute.”

Leo shrugged. “They’re all chubby and stuff.”

“They’re not chubby. They’re humungous.”

Lily piped up, “I like rats too.”

Melissa and George looked at her, obviously surprised. Leo honestly didn’t know if she was just being defiant against her mom, but at least she was on his side.

“Right on,” Leo said with a smile.

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