“Sof, I’m not here just to be your personal babysitter.” Anna stands over me with her hands on her hips. “I have shit to do, too. Is it a stretch to think maybe I have a date tonight? She isn’t my kid.”
“You have plans? Sorry, I didn’t know it was a secret.” My voice comes out a little cranky, because I am.
The daycare called at the last minute and said they were full for this evening. They’ve been at capacity with a huge convention being in town and everyone working extra shifts.
Including me.
“Well, maybe I do.” Her tone softens as she leans against the counter. “It’s just exhausting always worrying about who’s going to take care of her, ya know?”
“Um. Yeah. I get that. I’m her mom. Look, I’ll call Mrs. Wilson. She told me that if I get in a pinch, she’d watch Maeve. So go have fun.”
She’s right. She isn’t responsible for my daughter. Anna already helps so much.
I just wish she had warned me. But, she’s been acting kinda weird lately, more distant.
There’s a little knot in my belly that tells me something isn’t quite right, but I don’t know what.
“Fine,” she says with a dramatic sigh. “I’ll pick her up when I’m done. But, next time, some warning?” Anna says before disappearing into her room.
Sure.
“Come on, baby girl. Aunty Anna is busy. Let’s get that nice old lady on the phone.” I pick up Maeve and carry her to my bed, letting her crawl around on the comforter as I make the call.
Thank God she says yes.
Mrs. Wilson lives four doors down and is standing outside of her door in the warm evening breeze when I show up.
“Thank you again so much!” Sliding the diaper bag from my shoulder, I hand it to her first before Maeve.
“Oh, honey. I know how it goes! I raised four babies. Sometimes things just happen.” Her kind smile is framed by curly gray hair.
A brown-eyed toddler runs up and hugs her knees from behind.
She laughs. “This is my grandson, Nate. He is excited to have a baby in the house tonight.”
He gives me a toothy grin and a shy wave with jelly-covered fingers.
I’m feeling better about this already.
“I’m going to do a short shift tonight, but if Anna gets done early, she said she could pick her up.” I give Maeve a soft kiss on her forehead and hand her to Mrs. Wilson.
Maeve doesn’t fuss, thankfully.
Traffic is horrible. It’s like every single car in Vegas is on the road.
I can’t even imagine how busy tonight is going to be.
Pulling into the big parking garage, my headlights sweep past the entrance into the casino.
And over Jax, leaning on his motorcycle.
How does he always seem to know where I’ll be?
The clock on my dashboard is leaving me very little time to make it inside.
I park and gather my stuff, half expecting him to wrench my car open.
But, he doesn’t.
He waits for me near the door to the stairs.
“You need to come with me,” he says without moving.
“Is this your attempt at a date again? You really don’t understand this, do you?” What ever happened to dinner and a movie?
Jax can’t seem to do anything by the rules.
He pushes himself away from his leaning Ducati and falls in step next to me. “I’m serious. It’s important.” His warm palm finds my elbow, and he tugs me closer to him as we walk.
“Jax. I have to work. Maybe later?” My fingers are just brushing the handle when he twirls me around to face him.
His lips are thin and his jaw set. “I’m worried about you, okay? You might be in danger.”
My thoughts jump to Maeve.
“What kind? Tell me!” Panic makes my heart race as every possible bad scenario begins to rush through my mind.
His curly hair sways over his brow as he shakes his head. “It’s hard to explain. You really should just come with me. You can stay at my place for a few days.”
Anger begins to replace the panic.
“Is this a joke? You’re fucking with me.” I wrench my arm away from him and pull the door open.
His hand flattens over it, shoving it shut out of my grasp.
“No. This is more important than slinging margaritas, Sofia,” he growls, reaching for me again.
“You’re scaring me, Jax.” I stumble backwards, trying to create some space from his intense presence.
His chin dips and the corner of his mouth rises in a smirk. “You should be scared.” His arm snakes out.
But I shove my purse at him and turn, running through the opening to the outside path that surrounds the casino.
His deep voice follows me. “You want to run, tirgritsa, that’s fine. I’ll give you a head start. If you really don’t want to come with me, then don’t let me catch you.”
