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I pushed Milo back at her and leaned around her to see that my closet was just as trashed as I’d found it. Clothes were out of order, colors were all mixed together. It was horrible. “I’m not playing a prank, Ms. Walton.”
She laughed even harder and patted my shoulder again. “You got me. I really thought it was going to be trashed and I was going to have to solve some big mystery to keep from losing my job. You’re good. Have you ever considered acting?”
I glared from her to my closet and back again. Was she not seeing what I was seeing? Was she messing with me? Before I could figure out how to move forward, she just walked out of my room, still laughing.
I slowly stepped into the hallway and watched her bounce down the hallway, a song already on her lips. I listened and scoffed when I realized she was singing “Maneater” by Hall and Oates. She glanced over her shoulder at me and smiled before turning the corner and disappearing. I crossed my arms over my chest and considered going downstairs and firing her right then and there. But I didn’t.
17
***Ada***
Isatonthefloor of Kendall’s room with Milo as he played with his toy trucks. He’d just woken up from his nap and Kendall and I were still laughing about Joe’s reaction. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little bad about being so mean. I’d channeled every gaslighting thing Camden had ever said to me and I felt dirty. I also felt like I was winning, so maybe I was a terrible person.
“I can’t believe he didn’t fire you!” Kendall spun around in her desk chair and laughed. “He must be sick. Or high.”
“Does he do drugs?” I didn’t mean to sound so horrified but the idea of him doing hard drugs made me want to scoop up the kids and run.
“No!” She laughed even harder. “No. My dad? Doing drugs? I think he’d be a little chiller if he was doing drugs. Right? I mean…people on drugs are laid back, aren’t they?”
“I guess it depends on the-” I cut myself off. “Dear god. I’m the worst nanny who’s ever nannied. Drugs are bad, Kenny. No drugs for you. At least until you’re twenty-five and your brain is fully developed. Or, ever, I mean. No drugs ever. Yeah, ever.”
She stared at me with her head tilted to the side. “Who are you? Nancy Regan?”
I snorted. “No! I’m not Nancy Regan. How do you even know about that? You’re clearly getting a much better education than I was at your age. I don’t think I knew who the president was at fifteen.”
Kendall looked horrified. “Are you serious?”
“No. Of course not…” I was completely serious. “Shut up. I wasn’t a great student.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry. I’m not going to do drugs. At least not any bad ones. I don’t think smoking weed is bad.” She watched me struggle with a response and cackled. “I’m just messing with you, Ada!”
Her door swung open and she instantly shouted at the twins to knock before coming into her room but they seemed unfazed as they frowned at both of us.
Avery and Alex were identical in every way and I wasn’t sure who was who. One of them moved a little closer. “What are you guys doing in here? We could hear you laughing.”
“Mind your own business, Avery.” Kendall rolled her eyes and pointed at her door. “Go away.”
The other twin stepped forward and ignored Kendall. “You can tell us apart because Avery has a scar on his chin. He scratched his chicken pox too much.”
I leaned in and sure enough, there was a small round scar on Avery’s chin. “Thanks! I was considering name tattoos across your foreheads but I guess the scar works, too.”
Milo tugged at my hand and pulled himself to his feet. “Mi-wo swim with Aya.”
Avery’s frown deepened as he stared at his little cousin. “You can’t even swim, Milo.”
I clucked my tongue at him. “You’d better be an Olympian swimmer if you’re judging someone else’s swimming skills. And if I’m in the presence of an Olympian swimmer, I expect to see it. Shall we?”
His eyebrows furrowed as he studied me. “You want us to go swimming with you?”
I looked back at Kendall, who didn’t look revolted by the idea. “I demand it. Besides, when’s the last time you two saw the sun?”
Alex huffed. “We see the sun. We have windows.”
I stood up and grinned. “It’s not the same. So, it’s settled. We’re all going down to the lake to swim. Kendall?”
She sighed and rolled her eyes again, the cooler, older kid act in place. “Sure. Whatever.”
“You want us to go down to the lake? Why can’t we just swim in the pool?” Alex sighed like I was asking him to climb Mount Everest.
