Nanny for the Neighbors

by Lily Gold

“She’s a witch,” Cyrus says faintly. “What the hell. She’s been crying for about six hours straight. Are you saying all we had to do is pick her up?”

“They’re not Tamagotchis,” I say reproachfully. “You don’t just feed them and clean their poop and then ignore them until they die.”

“I see where you’re getting confused; see, we actually all slept with her simultaneously.” He pauses. “Many, many times.”

If I’m honest, I’ve been kind of infatuated with Beth ever since I first met her.

She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

“Did you know our neighbor was so fit?”

He rests his chin on top of my head, looking over my shoulder, and I freeze.

When your external environment is controlled, it’s much easier to control your internal one.

Jack’s hand shoots out and wraps around my wrist, keeping me in place. “I have a crush on you,” he blurts out.

“Missed you too, Bethie.”

Beth looks up at me, her brown eyes gleaming like cinnamon under the soft lights.

I hate it. I hate that I’m not strong enough to just be myself. I hate that I’m such a people-pleaser that I’ll change my whole personality just to be liked; but for the life of me, I don’t know how to stop it. It just happens.”

An odd wave of emotion surges up in me. I want to be that person. The person cooking her dinner and massaging her feet and kissing her when she’s sad. I want to take care of her.

There’s something about the idea of being completely surrounded by men, hemmed in and filled on all sides, getting touched all over, that makes my stomach throb with need.

“Honey, you could dress in a bin bag and I’d fancy you.”

“You want more, honey?” Cyrus asks by my cheek, his voice deepened to a low rasp.

I think I’m going to spontaneously combust if someone doesn’t touch me soon.

“Oh, Cy has a lot of experience chucking women around,” Jack says cheerfully.

“Quit talking and help me undress her,” he orders,

“You were hiding that under your jeans?” I say incredulously.

“Can you take it, honey?”

this man could do pretty much anything to me at this point, and I’d probably beg for more.

“See you soon,” he murmurs. “I’ll miss you.”

“C’mon, Bethie,” he says, right in my ear. “I’ll take care of you.”

“Okay, love?”

“Fuck,” he mutters. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“She’s fine,” I cut in. “Just too turned on to walk.”

“She’s not interested,” I say flatly.

She wants you to piss off.” I pause. “So piss off.”

“You didn’t have to do that. He wasn’t really bothering me. He was just flirting.” “Yeah, well, that bothers me.”

Tony’s probably giving your friend a handy in the bathroom right now.”

“I have a really bad memory. Can you show me?”

I want you in my bed tonight.”

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met,” he slurs, winding the curl around his finger.

I’ve thought about her a lot this weekend. I can’t get her face out of my head.

She looks an absolute mess. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman more beautiful.

“Oh. Sorry. You’re very comfy.” I wipe off his shoulder. “Did I drool on you?” “Don’t worry. This is a very absorbent shirt.” I glare at him. His mouth twitches.

It turns out, when he’s relaxed, he’s a genuinely sweet, gentle guy. Every day, I like him more and more.

I can barely look at him without butterflies exploding in my stomach.

“You’re the sweetest woman alive,” he mumbles against my cheek. I smile. “Prove it.”

“He’s one of the kindest, gentlest, most well-disciplined men I’ve ever met.”

He’s not a bad parent. The only bad parent here is you.”

but I never dared to dream that she wanted me just as much as I want her.

“How long?” she whispers. “Since I first saw you,” I admit. There’s no point lying, anymore.

I lean in so my breath tickles in her ear. “Better stay quiet,” I mutter, biting her earlobe.

“Stay. Quiet,” he growls in my ear.

“We love you,” he says, pulling back to look me in the eyes. “I love you. We’re not going anywhere without you.”

None of us want to leave you. I can’t even imagine a life without you.”