Page 119 of Delayed Penalty

“Oh, you’re early.”

I turn to find Hayes waltzing up, a smile on his face directed at the woman standing on the other side of the door.

Not at me. At her.

And man, does it make my blood boil.

“Come on in.” He waves her inside. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Carr.”

“Likewise,” she says, stepping in, shooting me an innocent smile as she passes like she’s not here to stealmy job. “Thanks so much for inviting me over today. I can’t wait to meet little Florence.”

“Flora,” I correct. “Her name is Flora.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought Flora was short for Florence.”

That doesn’t even make sense!

“Nope. Just Flora.”

“That’s such a lovely name.” She looks at me likeI’mthe one who named her, like I’m Flora’s mother. Does this woman not realize she’s here to take my job from me?

“Rachel, this is Quinn. She’s?—”

“Going to go lie down. I have a horrible headache.”

Hayes frowns, likely because I was just sitting outside with him and Flora and I was fine then.

That was before you brought someone here to steal my job.

I don’t wait for either of them to respond before turning on my heel and racing away, hoping Hayes didn’t just see the tears that are threatening to spill free. I have no idea what’s going on right now, but I know one thing for certain—I’m done here.

I close my door, pressing my back up against it just as the tears spill over. I hate that I’m crying, hate that I’m feeling the way I am. But even more, I hate Hayes for blindsiding me with this.

I shove off the door, marching over to my dresserand grabbing a handful of clothes before throwing them on the bed. I’m not staying here. I can’t. Not right now. Not after Hayes just brought some other woman into this home to take my job away from me, to take Flora away from me.

Wait. No.She’s not mine. I know that. She’s Hayes’s, but I…I love her like she’s mine. These last few months with her have been nothing short of spectacular. That little piece of my life that always felt like it was missing something… It was her. It was them.

And now it’s all being ripped away.

I grab a bag from the closet and start shoving clothes inside. I don’t even pay attention to what I’m grabbing—I just wantsomethingso I can be gone.

Gone.

Ugh, I don’t even know where I’m going. I haven’t thought that far ahead. But that’s sort of my MO, isn’t it? Just do as I please and worry about the consequences later. Like sleeping with Hayes. Now look at me—completely in love with him and crying because he’s cast me aside, decided he’s moving on and forgot to tell me.

When my bag is filled to the brim, I zip it up, then sling my purse over my head and march out of my room. I stop in the hall just before I reach the living room, straining to hear. I didn’t really think aboutwaltzing out of here holding my clothes and the scene that’ll cause with the new nanny.

But there are no voices, just the low hum of the refrigerator. I peek around the corner, then look through the kitchen and out the large glass door leading to the backyard. Hayes is standing on the back porch, his back to the house. Rachel’s out in the yard with Flora, bent down and chatting with her, laughing about something.

My chest aches watching it. That should be me out there. That should bemylaugh from Flora. But I’m not out there, and that’s not my laugh anymore. I thought I’d finally found somewhere I was accepted, somewhere I could be myself and that made me feel likeme, somewhere that didn’t make me feel like a complete mess.

But I was wrong. This isn’t it. I’m being replaced. I don’t belong here anymore.

I’m not sure I ever did.

As if he can sense my eyes on him, Hayes turns, staring into the house. He can’t see me, tucked back into the hall like I am, and I’m glad for it. I don’t want him to witness this. I just want to press my shoulders back and hold my head high and walk out of here with a bit of my pride intact.

So, that’s exactly what I do. When the door clicks shut behind me, I exhale shakily and look around.

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