TOUGH LUCK

REINA

“Ray! Ray, Gramma is not responding to me!”

I spring up from bed, eyes snapping awake as I scramble off the mattress. My hands reach for the flashlight on my bedside table and I rush to Gramma’s room.

She’s unresponsive, cold and a bit stiff. I burst into tears at once, unable to even try to act strong for Tee. We’re both a crying mess as we lift her and take her outside by the wee hours of the morning, manically flagging cabs.

It’s almost an hour before we find a cab, we’ve stopped crying by now. Gramma’s gotten even colder. We’re cold as well, but I don’t care. I comb my fingers through Gramma’s silky gray hair. She seems to be slipping away, but even until now, I can’t seem to imagine a life without her.

At the hospital, we’re pacing about when Tee asks, “I think we’re behind on a drug, I couldn’t find any medication in her room. Did you forget, Ray? I gave you my cut.”

I’ve been unable to make mine.

I shake my head no, looking everywhere but at him. “I didn’t. Pete refused to pay me. Said I haven’t fed his fat pigs well enough yet.”

“Even after you told him it’s for meds?”

“Yup.”

We stand in silence after that, and then Tee reaches for my hand, intertwining my fingers with his. The doctor comes out minutes later, and he’s frowning.

“She missed some important drugs. She has heart issues, it’s serious and I’m sure you both know it. Missing her medications put her at high risk. Unless you’re ready to watch her go?” He asks and Tee steps forward, ready to snap. I grab his forearm and pull him back to my side, subtly glaring at him.

I redirect my gaze to the doctor, “We’re uh… we’re sorry. Is she… will she be okay?”

“Hopefully. You need to make a deposit for us to commence proper treatment. For now, we’re trying to stabilize her. She had a heart attack.”

Tee swallows hard, squeezes my hand before I even realize I’m trembling.

“How much?” He asks.

“A thousand dollars upfront.”

***

“What are you looking for, Reina? I can help you, you’re trashing the house!”

It has to be here. It has to… it should be… it’s my only hope, it has to be here!

I raise my mattress up, and there it is! I snatch up the thick, black card from the ground and drop the mattress. Alan King’s business card.

Three days later… is the offer still up? One way to find out.

Hastily, I start typing the number into my phone.

I can get Alan King to pay an advance if he really needs me to work for him. I mean, he seemed to really want my services. We’d see just how much today, I guess.

“Whose card is that?”

“How about you quit the questions and just let me get something done, Tee?”

He doesn’t like the sound of that from the way his lips curve in a frown but I can’t care less.

The call finally connects and I place the phone against my ear, “Hello?”

“Alan King.”

Sharp. Direct. I almost forget what I need to say.

“Hi, Sir. I’m Reina, the waitress you met at Eve’s Bakery three days ago… you, uh, offered me a job as your son’s nanny?” I rush my words, biting my finger as I anticipate his response—which doesn’t come until what feels like an hour later. In the mean time, I nervously crack my fingers.

“Reina.” My name feels foreign coming from him.

“Y-Yes?”

“An address would be sent to you. You can come in tomorrow—”

“I don’t mind today. I don’t…” I catch my breath, then continue, “Please. I can come in today.”

A long pause. I continue to crack my fingers until they’re sore from all the snapping.

“Perfect then. See you today.”

The line goes dead before I can finish my ‘thank you’ line.

“A job? That’s four?”

I brush past Tee, towards our room to get ready, but I shout over my shoulder,

“No! That’s one!”

By the time I finish getting ready, Alan’s sent the address. I wrap my arms around Tee on my way to the front door, and he whispers against my ear,

“Please be safe, and don’t do anything stupid.”

I nod once. Sometimes it’s hard for people to believe I’m older than Tee. Not just because of his muscular physique or height (even if these play a part too, I guess), but because of how he takes charge of the house and always just wants to look out for us.

I remain in his embrace for sometime, before pulling away. When I finally leave, I get a message as soon as I board a cab. It’s from Frank.

FRANK: I hope you’re making some money wherever you are. Missed a day and couldn’t even take permission? We’ll make sure to cut off a decent compensation for your transgressions.

I swallow, turning my phone over on my lap. Yeah, I have to get this job now.

Finding Alan’s house is relatively easy. It’s the tallest building in the street. The biggest too. I stop in front of his porch and as soon as my hand starts to go for the door, a loud beep halts my actions. A red light flickers over my body and my eyes go wide. The light changes to green afterwards and the door clicks.

My hand is on my chest as I struggle to catch my breath. Was I just scanned? Where’s the doorbell?

Instinctively, I slowly go for the door knob and I twist, then push it open. The door gives way at once and I burst out laughing, shutting the door behind me at the same time. My back is against the door and my hand now over my mouth while I try not to make a noise.

“Does my house amuse you, belle?”

That familiar, smooth baritone has me shooting off the door in a flash. I tip my head up and watch him alight the stairs in front of me. My throat goes dry at once.

Belle?

Alan’s not dressed in a shirt today. He’s wearing something casual instead—a white tee and checkered lounge pants. The tee fills out his lean, muscular frame perfectly. His hair looks freshly cut, the curls framing his face still. They look wet, like he just came out of the shower. Late thirties where?

His lips move again but I can’t hear him. He’s too close. I take a step back only to hit the door. He’s right in front of me now. Okay, barely three steps away. I need to stop acting like a lost puppy. Holding that thought, I straighten my spine and stare up at him with a believable grin.

“I don’t like being ignored.” He says quietly, his gaze scrutinizing.

“The door. The door startled me, sir.”

“You laugh when you’re startled.” He doesn’t ask. He appears genuinely curious, worried even. “You seem to like laughing a lot.”

“You should try it.” The words leave my lips before I can stop them. I slap a hand over my mouth. I think I see amusement flicker in his gray orbs for a mini second before they vanish.

“Already mouthy on your first day. I’ll have you know I don’t tolerate it, belle. You should speak only when required.”

I raise a brow. “Why is that? Don’t you think that’s a bit… I don’t know? Inhumane?” My voice is quiet as I try to soften the blow of my words.

His gaze drops to my lips, then he stares up at me again and his face hardens. Damn. He always looks mad.

“What’s your name again?”

“Reina.”

“Reina?”

“Summers. Reina Summers.” I breathe out.

“Summers.” He tries the name on his tongue. “Perfect.”

He moves closer, his orbs flashing with intent. My body warms. I try to remember Gramma’s condition. Anything to control the way my pussy answers to his closeness.

Alan gives me an open once over, only a hair’s breadth from me. I’m wearing a pretty decent red dress. A-line, pretty much unattractive except for how it dips into my cleavage.

He’s not touched me yet, but he might as well have. My skin tingles. His eyes meet mine, my breath catches for a second. Fuck. He’s too beautiful.

“This is inappropriate.” I whisper against his lips. Said lips slowly curve into a light smirk. After one last look at my fuller ones, he finally takes a step back.

“It is. My apologies, Ms Summers.”

I nod rather shakily, letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “I’m here for the job. Please, I need this really urgently… Are we going to talk about the job or?”

There’s silence for a while. A good while. I impatiently shift my feet side to side, until he finally speaks,

“My office. For your first interview.”

“First?”

“Second would be with Ethan.”

Oh.

“Dad?” Speak of the little angel.

I move away from Alan’s warmth and meet Ethan’s wide eyes with a bright smile. He’s clutching his iPad to his chest, watching me with what resembles disbelief.

“You…”

“Yes. Me! Hey Ethan, how are—”

But he clutches the Kaio neckpiece on his neck and shakes his head, “No! Go away!”

And then he bolts up the stairs.