Page 90 of Skate the Line

“I can’t see you.” Sunny laughs.

Can’t see who?

“What? Oh.” The woman on the other end of the phone sighs. “I don’t know how to fix it.”

“You press the little camera button on the screen,” Sunny says.

“Can you see me now?”

Sunny snorts. “No, Nana. I’m looking at the wall. Now the floor.” She laughs again. “Now the window.”

“Oh jeez. I can’t work this old phone. It’s too small for me to see the buttons.”

“It’s okay,” Sunny reassures her. “I just wanted to check in. It’s evening for me, but I figured this was a good time for you.”

“How is the new nanny job, sweetheart?”

Oh, I definitely have to hear this.

I move closer to the kitchen and stop right outside of the opening. Sunny’s back is to me as she continues to stare at her laptop.

“It’s good.”

Just good?

“The house looks nice,” her nana says.

I slip backward, afraid her nana will catch a glimpse of me being a total fucking creep.

What the hell am I doing? Why am I sneaking around and eavesdropping on the conversation?

“It is. I actually love Chicago. I even went to one of the art museums the other day.”

“Are you painting again?” Her nana coughs, and I’m not going to lie…it doesn’t sound good. “Your grandpa was so upset when he found out you had to stop painting as much. If he knew it was so you could work more to help pay for the nursing home, he’d probably demand we put him on the street.”

My eyebrows rise.

“And now you’re paying for mine.”

She’s paying for her nana’s nursing home?

“It’s not that much,” Sunny argues. “Insurance covers some of it. You’ve taken care of me all my life.Of courseI’m going to take care of you. I make good money nannying, Nana.”

I press my head to the wall. She’s so…selfless.

“Tell me more,” the old woman coughs again. “Is the little girl’s dad kind to you?”

My blood pressure spikes.Hardly.

“I know you said he’s a single father, but what about her mother?”

“I read that her mother passed away at birth or shortly after, just like Mom.”

Oh.

“He’s a little grumpy, but I think I’m wearing him down a little.” Sunny’s soft laugh fills the kitchen, and she’s right. She isabsolutelywearing on me.

I’m seconds from strolling into the kitchen. The guilt of spying is catching up to me.

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