Page 16 of The Third Girl

CHAPTER 7

SKYLAR

“So, any big plans this weekend?” Laney smiles big as she marches into my room after the kindergarteners have been escorted to the bus. She throws out her arms and spins around right in the middle of the rainbow reading carpet that my class loves so much. “It’s finally Friday, and Logan and I have no plans other than lying around in bed and occasionally getting up to fetch food and drinks.”

Jackie strolls in right after her, catching the tail end of Laney’s excitement. “Do the snacks happen aftereveryround or what?” She stops to wriggle her eyebrows. “Come on, the old married lady needs to live vicariously through your fresh, new love life.”

I laugh, dismissing her comment with a wave of my hand. “You aren’t old, Jackie. You know, you and Jud can roll around between the sheets all you want. Maybe you should make it your mission this weekend to try it out.”

Laney nods. “I like the sound of that.”

I pull my purse out of my bottom desk drawer and dig around for my ChapStick. I can tell I’m getting nervous for tomorrow’s meeting with Sailor and Matt at the park because I keep chewing on my lips. After I finish applying it, I drop it back into my bag, only to find Laney and Jackie eyeing me.

“What?”

“Are you nervous?” Laney’s brows narrow. “I know that’s one of your tells. You’re like a ChapStick fiend when you’re anxious about something because you abuse your lips with your teeth.”

“Oh, that’s right. I almost forgot the big meetup is tomorrow. Why would you be nervous?” Jackie cocks her head to the side.

“I don’t even know. Except—” I told the girls about how I’d talked with Matt when I saw them first thing Monday morning. But I hadn’t said how out of it he was. I figured that was his business. I shake my head. “It’s new, I guess. We don’t know each other, and I’m going to sleep in his house.”

“It’s not like he’ll be there.” Laney frowns, shrugging.

“I know. There’s more to it than that. Like, what if Sailor and I don’t get along? Or what if Matt doesn’t like how I handle her?”

Jackie points at me. “Well, that last bit is ridiculous. You work with little kids for a living.”

“Yeah, but not that young. And I don’t have my own.” I give them another nervous smile, complete with clenched teeth. Drawing in a deep breath, I let the air all whoosh out. “Okay. Just tell me I’m being stupid.”

In unison, they nod and respond, “You’re being stupid.”

* * *

I’ve taken about twenty million deep breaths over the course of the last eighteen hours or so, but I take another, pulling my Chevrolet Trailblazer into a parking space at the cute park that’s within walking distance of the elementary school. I hope this goes well. The more I’ve thought about it, the more determined I am to make it work. Like I told Matt, I want to help him. He’s a nice guy. I need money. He’s going to be paying me to do this. It almost seems criminal to consider accepting money from him for sleeping in his house. Of course, I know there’s more to it… but nothing I can’t handle.

Glancing around, I don’t see them yet, but I go ahead and get out of the car. I’d pulled on a stretchy pair of jeans this morning with my favorite Smashing Pumpkins concert T-shirt, a hoodie with zipper pockets so I don’t lose my stuff, and a cute pair of running shoes. I’d dressed with the playdate in mind, guessing it might help to show Matt I’m not afraid of chasing a toddler around. I tuck my phone into one pocket and my keys in the other, zip them up, then head for the swing set.

I sit down, clasping the chains with both hands, and give myself a push, gently letting the swing move back and forth as I scan the vehicles that approach. Several minutes later, I pull out my phone. Five past eleven.Huh.

But then a black Ford Bronco with the windows down and music blaring from the speakers pulls quickly into the lot and parks two spaces over from mine. Squinting, I nod.Yep.That’s them.

And how weird is it that he’s playing “Disarm” by the Smashing Pumpkins? Most parents I know play kiddie music in the car. But I can already tell that Matt’s not the average parent. Maybe he’s simply doing what he needs to do to survive. I can’t say I’d want to listen to “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” over my favorite alternative rock band. Nope. I’m totally with Matt on this one.

I’m torn between going straight over there or waiting here, but in the end, I stand up and slowly start walking in their direction. Matt’s gotten out of the vehicle, and I can tell from here that he’s getting Sailor out of her car seat. After a few seconds more, he straightens with her in his arms.Gah.She’s so freaking cute. Still wearing the pink dinosaur jacket, too. My heart thuds in my chest at the sight of the two of them together. I wave at them, a smile tugging at my lips.

Matt waves back and whispers something in Sailor’s ear. “Hey. Sorry we’re late. Somebody didn’t want to put her shoes on.”

“Oh. Well, I put my sneakers on so I can run around. Do you like them, Sailor?” I hold my foot out. “They’re pink. One of my favorite colors.”

Sailor tucks her face into Matt’s neck, but peeks at me, then at my shoes.

“Sailor, this is Skylar. Isn’t that a nice name?”

She turns her head a tiny bit to peer at me again. I wiggle my fingers at her. “It’s nice to meet you, Sailor. Would you like to go down the slide?”

“Oh. Um, she might be too little for that.” Matt shuffles his feet a bit awkwardly.

“I’d go with her.”

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