Page 21 of Nanny for the Doctor

It’s too sweet, but those hellions need their rest, and I promise to see them soon.

I’m certainly not going anywhere, however. I’ve had a few too many drinks to drive, and I’m not done having my fun.

Stevie is a superb drinking buddy, and we’re cracking into the Pink Whitney now that the kids have left. It’s some terrible fruity liquor that tastes like medicine, but it’ll get the job done.

“Ugh! How can you drink this stuff?” I set the bottle back down on the bar outside, grimacing.

“It’s not that bad.”

Stevie takes a swig, but her face betrays how much shedoesn’tenjoy it, and I laugh.

“Ha! You big liar!”

We’re a fit of giggles as we continue to work on the bottle, and soon Johnny and Reed come over to try some for themselves.

“Yup, this is disgusting.” Reed frowns. “I think I’ll stick with the whiskey.”

I love the crinkled brow he’s sporting, not to mention the complete departure from his usual attire. When Johnny indicated the dress was semiformal on his invitations, Reed definitely understood the assignment.

His black suit is crisp and tailored, but he’s worn it without a tie, which gives his look this casual flair that only adds to his sex appeal.

Ugh. Why does Reed have to be so hot?

Johnny has some of our girl’s drink, his eyebrows shooting to his hairline. “Whoa! It’s way stronger than I would have thought. Oof.”

Easy laughter rings our tight circle as we drink the night away, trading embarrassing stories.

“Oh, and she couldn’t wait to take it to school. Absolutely pitched a fit about it, so our mom had to call the school and let them know Mae was going to come in with this huge fucking balloon!”

“I didn’t know that part! Oh, no! Now I feel bad.”

I swipe under my eyes, tearing up from all the laughing.

“Oh, don’t worry. You popped it on the way into class.” Johnny can barely get the words out through his laughter.

“I did.” I frown, remembering how sad I was. “I was so upset.”

“Over a balloon?” Reed raises his brows at me, which has heat flaring up my cheeks.

“You weren’t there. You don’t understand.” I try to be uppity about it but fail miserably and end up bursting out laughing.

“Don’t worry, Mae. You’re not the only one with an embarrassing story. Remember the massager?” Johnny wags his brows at Reed.

Reed’s eyes blow wide, and my curiosity is definitely piqued. “Don’t you dare. You can’t.”

“Oh, but I can.” Reed buries his face in his hands as Johnny continues. “So, I was over at Reed’s place. We were, what, like, fifteen?”

“Yeah, that sounds right.”

I’d forgotten that Johnny actually met Reed in high school, and the two chose to attend the same college. God, they’ve always been inseparable…until recently.

“So, yeah, fifteen, and we were snooping around the house like teenagers do. And Reed pulled open his mom’s top dresser drawer in her closet. I think we were looking for porn or booze or something.”

“Oh my God. You found her—”

Stevie finishes for me. “Vibrator!”

I can only see the tips of Reed’s ears, but it’s still enough to see he’s turning bright pink. Stevie and I laugh hysterically, and Johnny adds the kicker.

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