Page 20 of Soft Tissue Damage
“Meet me at my house after your shift, and we’ll head out.”
Before, Leon has always picked me up after my shifts when he wants to take me out, but I don’t say anything about it. We chat for a few more minutes, and then we say good night.
I don’t know if I’ve got my mind sorted about who I desire and who I’m allowed to fantasize about. I toss and turn for a long time, my lower belly tight with needy frustration.
On Wednesday afternoon,I head around to the beautiful Georgian revival house.
Mr. Grant opens the door. He must have had a meeting today because he’s wearing a crisp white shirt that is fitted closely around his shoulders and biceps. He smiles when he sees me, puzzled but pleased. “Elena, did I tell you the wrong night for babysitting? I’m sorry.”
“Dad. She’s here for me. Duh.” Leon reaches past his father and grabs my hand, pulling me inside past Mr. Grant.
The smile vanishes from Mr. Grant’s face. “Right. Got it.”
Leon takes me down the hall to the living room and leaves me there. “I’ll grab my keys and then we can go.”
Rosie is sitting on the living room carpet among a pile of blocks. She’s wearing a cute little ruffled top and shortsin pale blue, and her golden curls are shining. She breaks into a smile when she sees me. “Lay-na!”
Mrs. Kerr, the nanny, helps Rosie toddle across the room toward me, and then the little girl reaches both arms up to me. I can’t resist her adorable smile, and I scoop her up for a cuddle.
“Look at you walking. That’s such good walking,” I tell her with a big smile.
Mr. Grant approaches my side. “Rosie’s getting stronger every day.”
“Isn’t she? Every time I see her, she’s a tiny little bit more grown up.”
While I’m holding Rosie, he kisses her curls. He’s standing so close, and my stomach flip-flops as his hand grazes my arm.
“Are you free to babysit next Tuesday night?” he asks me, his eyes flicking up to mine.
I have trouble thinking when he’s standing this close to me. I can’t remember my schedule, and I don’t bother trying. I just smile and say, “I’m free. I’ll see you at five.”
“Come on, Elena. Let’s go.” Leon reappears and puts his arm around my waist.
I turn around to give Rosie back to the nanny, and I can see Mr. Grant’s reflection in the mirror that’s hanging on the wall. He’s glaring at where Leon is touching me, his brows drawn together. I study the expression, wondering what it means.
Is he jealous?
I dismiss that ridiculous thought. Of course Mr. Grantisn’t jealous of his own son. He’s probably thinking it’s too complicated that I’m dating Leon and also babysitting Rosie. I hope I’m not going to lose this job.
“Bye, Mr. Grant,” I say uncertainly as Leon leads me toward the door. “See you Tuesday.”
His brow clears, and he returns my smile. “See you then, Elena. Rosie will be looking forward to it.”
I breathe a small sigh of relief as I get into Leon’s car. It sounds like I’m not getting fired, for now at least. Good things never seem to last for long.
Leon takes me for a walk along the seafront, which looks so pretty all lit up, and there’s the sound of waves crashing on the sandy shore, then we get pizza for dinner. I don’t have a lot of news to share with Leon because I’ve been working so much, but I tell him how I’m looking forward to visiting my friend Justine’s new apartment. She’s the waitress at work I’m closest to, and she always commiserates with me when our boss treats us like crap. She doesn’t understand why Archer had a sudden change of heart and has stopped docking our hours for petty reasons, and neither do I. We both wondered why his nose was swollen and red when he fixed his “mistake” and handed out additional pay envelopes.
I do talk about looking after Rosie, and I assume Leon will be interested because she’s his sister.
“Mr. Grant has been so kind and thoughtful,” I tell him as he drives me home. “You and Rosie are so lucky to have a father like him.”
Leon shrugs, and I realize his interest has faded. “Yeah, sure. But you don’t have to go on about it.”
Am I going on about it? I thought I was just talking. Maybe Leon doesn’t understand that having a happy, safe home where people love and support you is a big deal, and it shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Outside my apartment, Leon turns toward me, and we make out for several minutes. He reaches for my breasts, and my eyes open. The clock on the dashboard reads twenty past midnight.
I gasp and pull away. “How did it get so late? I have to get to bed. I have an early shift tomorrow. I’ll see you later, Leon.”
