Page 50 of About the Green

“Can you give me a second,” I say to Gracie, before standing and picking up the phone that’s now dialing out in my hand.

“Nina, what did you do?”

She makes an offended sound, “Why do you assume I did something?”

“You sent me this text, and it can't possibly be because you found what you want to dress up as for Halloween.”

Nina takes the opportunity to squeal about what was supposed to be an insult. “Oh, I'm glad you asked. I actually have a really great plan. I'm thinking of going as Morticia Adams, but like the pink version. A pink Morticia.”

“Right. Think about that, Nina,” I droll, “What did you call me for?”

“You called me,” she whines, “I just sent you a text.”

“Yea, a text that very clearly hints at somethin’ that we both know you're not supposed to be doin’ right?

There’s some rustling that increases on her side before she says more clearly into the phone, “But you told me to tell you, so that you could do something about it.”

Looking around, I walk farther around my house to make sure my daughter can’t overhear what it’s going to be a conversation that is much too inappropriate for a girl her age. “I meant before you did what you've clearly done.”

“Oh, okay. Well, I forgot that part.” There’s more rustling followed by a thump. “Um, and also it's kind of hard to tell, I mean, like your lectures get long and sometimes I just kind of tune them out, but this one I feel like I did nail pretty closely to the intended meaning, right? I mean, come on, I did let you know what you asked me to do, and as your partner, I feel that—”

I have to stop her there to clarify, “We're not partners.”,

“But we are. We're working together.”

“No, no, no, I'm workin’. You're doin’ whatever the fuck this is, which could actually fuck both of our families over.”

She’s breathing harder. “I don't think so. It hasn't in the past.” There’s another thud. “And who cares? They're just men.”

“Just—” I take a breath for calm, looking at my daughter to see if she's still enjoying her book and eating her snack, which she is. “Nina, if you're not in any danger, please—”

“But I was. He was giving me super creepy vibes.”

“Was he giving you creepy vibes? Or was he just not fawning all over you like most men do, who have some sort of kink for young women?”

“A kink you also clearly have,” she says under her breath but her phone manages to catch it since she’s still rustling with whatever she’s doing in Atlanta. “I don't know, maybe the first one only? It's hard to tell.” She pouts, and I rub my head trying to find any sort of patience or calm in dealing with this woman.

“Nina, I'm gonna get off the phone now. If you could, I don't know, not do what you've been doin’ for the weekend, at least, til I get back.”

“Get back?” She shrieks and it peaks her mic. “You're not in Atlanta?”

“Nah, I'm not.”

“Oh,” she says with a tone that makes me extremely nervous.

“Don't even think about it,” I say, more firmly but I can only be so intimidating from a completely different state.

“Think about what? I haven't thought anything… Enjoy your weekend,” she says, hanging up.

That's not a good sign.

That's not a good sign at all.

I stare at my phone after the call has ended, wondering what bullshit I'm going to come back to with Nina finding out that I'm not around to reprimand her or keep her in check.

Chapter 18

I wasn't lying when I said this guy was giving me super creepy vibes.