Page 68 of Make Mine Sweet
“I’m not worried about his behavior, but it’s not like watching any other kid. You’d have to be able to manage his diabetes and be aware of any changes in his blood sugar levels. It’s too much to ask of you.”
“His blood sugar monitor has an app on a phone, right?” I wouldn’t hesitate even if I had to do regular finger pricks to check his blood sugar and dip ketone strips in his urine.
“Yeah, we have one just for—wait. How do you know about the app?”
“I looked them up.” My research isn’t really the point. “I’m a certified EMT, and I have multiple first aid certifications. You’re not going to find safer hands than mine.”
She blinks hard at me. “Wow. Cocky Ian really is back.”
I level her with a stern look. “It’s not cockiness. It’s fact.”
“That’s the whole definition of cockiness.”
“The point is, his diabetes isn’t a problem.”
She stares at me so long, I’m convinced she’s coming up with fresh ammo to reject my offer. But she takes a slow step back, her arm dragging against mine.
“I’m going to call Amy real quick. I should probably get at least one reference before I leave my child with you.” Her true smile peeks out for the first time this afternoon. “Can you watch August for a minute?”
I frown harder at her, tilting my head indicating she can go inside.
“Right. Right. I’ll just—” She slips inside the house.
I listen as August narrates what he’s doing for Dutch, filling his trucks with tiny scoops of dirt. Kind of hilarious what all goes on in his head.
Wonder what Dutch would narrate back. Pretty sure it’s circus theme music in there twenty-four-seven.
Five minutes go by. I’m not worried…but I do start to wonder just what Tess and Amy are talking about. She just needs a little reassurance I can make a good babysitter. Right?
Although…it might have been a mistake to offer up personal references. Technically, I’ve never babysat anyone. The closest I came was watching Steven and Iris’s four dogs one weekend when they went off on an anniversary celebration. And even that wouldn’t provide a pristine Yelp review—the Chihuahua, Bill, picked up the habit of walking on the dining table during meals.
I said that’s what they get for having a dog the size of a skirt steak, but they still blamed me.
My heart is drumming a frantic beat when Tess finally walks back outside. She looks stunned, like maybe she got more information about me than she’d bargained for. Definitely a mistake suggesting she talk to my family.
“What did she tell you?” It comes out more accusatory than I mean it to, but Tess’s expression has me on edge. Like my heart’s a Rubik’s Cube with one side twisted out of alignment.
It takes her a second, but when she smiles, my heart clicks back into place.
“She confirmed everything about your EMT status. Said you’re very trustworthy.”
“Then why do you look so startled?” I can come up with plenty of other things Amy might have shared that I wouldn’t be so thrilled about. Mostly about my lack of experience with commitment.
To be fair, nobody I dated in the past wanted to commit to me long-term, either. Which, now that I think about it, isn’t a point in my favor.
“Oh, I just…” She pushes her hair over both ears at the same time, her gaze moving between me and her son. “I want to make sure August is comfortable with this.”
“You can ask him. If he doesn’t want to hang out with me, that’ll be the end of it.” Pretty sure he’ll be thrilled to spend more time with Dutch. He’ll probably rope him into another game of kickball. He let the dog win their last round. A point that further confirms August isn’t much like I was as a kid. I hated to lose. But I also had two older brothers to rub it in my face when I did.
“August,” she calls. “Come here for a second, buddy.”
He nods and scrambles over—he’s way more obedient than I was at his age, too.
Or am currently.
Tess gets down on one knee. “Honey, your daycare has to close for a few days. Miss Tammy and Miss Lori got sick.”
“Like when Max threw up yesterday?”
