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I instantly disliked her, but I tried to cover it with a smile. I didn't have to like her. I just had to get along with her.
"I'm simply house-sitting for Spencer's neighbor, and the car is what I can afford at the moment."
She glanced from me to Spencer. “Wait, so you’re not actually his neighbor?”
“Naomi!” Spencer said in a warning tone.
She cleared her throat. “Can I hold the little one?”
She glanced around the kitchen and then at Spencer. "And you two were having a date of sorts?"
"Yes," Spencer said, handing Ben over to her. She put her hand under his head and then clumsily brought him to her chest.
"Oh look, I think he knows who I am," she said. "I kept thinking he might forget about me."
"You're his mother," Spencer replied. "He won’t."
"Right," I said, "I'll just clean up in the kitchen."
"No, I'll do it later," Spencer insisted, pinning me with his gaze, and I was rooted in my spot. I felt out of place here with them.
"Are you hungry?" I asked Naomi. What else could I do? "There's still some leftover chicken stir-fry."
"Spencer cooked, I’m guessing. He likes to show off with that."
I swallowed hard. I didn't like this. Was this her attempt to inform me of their connection? Make chitchat or rub it in my face that she'd had Spencer first? At any rate, I felt even more uncomfortable than before.
"Listen, Spencer, I wanted to run something by you. Um..." she began.
"I'm listening." His voice was even tenser than before.
Naomi looked at me. "Can you leave us alone for a bit?"
"Yes. Of course.”
"You can say whatever you need to in front of Penny," Spencer said.
"No, really, I think it is best for me to go. I'll be next door, okay? Just let me know when you’re free."
My legs felt a bit shaky as I headed to the door. Spencer didn't try to stop me again. It was a bit chilly, so I ran over to Taylor's. I was too jittery to call her. The animals were happy to see me. I took Becky out for a walk, then began the evening feeding routine, cleaning up litter boxes all the while wondering how the conversation was going.
***
Spencer
"What the hell?" I askedher the second we were alone. "I told her you could say anything in front of her."
Naomi shrugged, tugging at her own hair. "You might feel comfortable talking in front of her, but I didn't. After all, I just met her."
"Fine. Then spit it out," I said.
She lowered Ben back into his crib.
"I'm having a bit of a hard time. I don't have as many gigs as before. I have to travel more for them. Remember I wanted to buy him one of those Gucci onesies that all my friends’ kids have? Would it be terrible if I asked you to pay for it?”
“I’ll buy my son anything he needs, but that seems like a waste.”
“He’d look cute in pictures. My followers on Instagram would love it.”
