Page 22 of Big Trouble

“It’s poker night!” Clementine yells throwing her arms up in the air.

“Oh. Right.”

Brody’s poker buddies are coming over for poker night.

And here I thought he was hinting an entirely different kind of poking.

Is that why he’s in such a good mood? Probably.

Dear Lord above, I wish I had just an ounce of chill.

Just enough to at least pretend to know how to act during a morning after.

Instead, I’m just awkward and horrible at this.

Leave it to me to mess things up this badly. Only I could be a dumb virgin nanny who love falls in love with her boss.

Oh, god. I’m in so much trouble here.

diary entry 5

Dear Diary,

Now that Winnie is eating dinner with us, Daddy talks a lot more. I got to hear all about what the farm was like when he was growing up and how Pawpaw and Nannie used to raise not just horses but pigs too. I told Daddy I wanted a pig, and he said we could have one when the chickens start laying eggs.

I don’t think he knows they’re all roosters. Why do all the grown-ups always tell me to go look for eggs?

People always tell me how smart I am, but are the grown-ups really all that stupid?

Love,

Clementine

chapter

eleven

Official Rules for Wind from the East Nanny Service

Rule #10: Clients shall not infringe on a nanny’s previously agreed upon time off.

Brody’s take away: I wouldn’t infringe on her time off if she’d just talk to me.

Brody

Normally I live for poker night with my dad buddies. Tonight I’m dreading it. Firstly, because it’s my turn to host. Ms. Billingsly always does a great job of putting a spread out for me and the guys. But poker night means I don’t eat with Clementine which, in turn, means I don’t eat with Winnie.

It’s one fucking night, but right now, after what happened with us in her room, I need to know she’s okay. I’ve tried to get a moment alone with her all day to no avail. My fucking brothers came back over and were in the way. Clementine was glued to Winnie’s side as well.

Now, when I could sneak up there to have a word with her, my fucking doorbell rings.

Walker and Jace come in together, laughing.

“No kids tonight?” I ask them.

“Nah, they stayed with Delaney and Hailey tonight. Something about a movie marathon and a popcorn bar,” Jace says.

“Ah well, Clementine will probably be disappointed, but she had a full day,” I say. “Maybe she’ll get to go to sleep early.”