a Greene

?" I asked, half amused, hal

a soft

y look as though someone that fa

ing. Thankfully, Mrs. Stanfield didn't seem

hat I meant, ma'am.

ast saw him in person. Probably when he was thirteen or so. As you already know, the boy is frightfully busy. I haven't even

chatting, leaving me spe

never bragged about

st out

ng than I ever could. Besides, I never thought anyone would care whose nephew he was." She paused,

o my cheeks. "I-I mean... well... he's a goo

oying my spectacularly flustered sta

moment watching him on television, even though he looked absolutely terrifi

ed that about him too. He see

outh, I realized I sounded far

lips curved int

eas are spawning

want, I coul

let her

its own. "Mrs. Stanfield, it's just a celebrity crush, nothing more. He's simpl

g here for a while with his crew anyway. They're filming his

ght my a

, rea

u much about the film. You'l

erably that I coul

all find out when i

widened. "He's going to be a special guest

red a

ai

ming my specialty wheneve

e's here anyway, he agreed to it," she continued.

even know what to say.

ith the idea when she heard Alex was coming. It's all just for fun, and anyone can participat

described it. It actual

s quite fun

me straight out of my daughter's wonderfully

e quite amusi

und. She's loved tormenting him since they were children. Put

g behavior. Me

A sharp ache pierced my che

brother.

hat hap

led me back. I blinked quickly, figh

iblings and cousins usually

much. She even organized a couple-dance comp

-dance co

ation would include anything like that. I'd assumed it would

hat meant he had to dance in front of everyone." She shook her head fondly. "I'll make an official announceme

ctually sound

Brynn told me you used to be a ba

ing into my voice. "It's been far too long since I stoppe

matter. It's only mea

ident enough. But th

he party. You've worked here for nearly three years, and you're one of the fi

I'm just not sure what to do about my son.

problem? Brin

rties or noisy places, so I'll probably have t

at? He's only six and alread

ult sometimes genuinely frightens me. I'm

. Mrs. Stanfield s

t them now-they grew up in the blink of an eye." She sighed, nostalgia softening her voice

y dreading the day Ruslan would become an adult. More than

ldn't grow into some

Mrs. Stanfield reminded me. "Rusla

Well, I'll se

o whatever corner of my mind they had crawled out from. I was so lost in them

as far too late. I brac

creeched

" The familiar voice cam

I rea

ned out from the passenger seat

hat an incredibly stupid w

ething else while crossing the fr

ander's friend, mortification burning through me. "

ne last once-over, apparently checking for inj

d over his nose as he drove away as casually as though he hadn't nearly sent my soul

moment, wiping the s

t this entire time? Or had he sim

ixon-the mother of Justin, one of Ruslan's friends. She t

pent half the month at the Dixons', and I trust

t, that meant I suddenly

tely text

. I haven't had proper

ing to let the wor