Babysitting Mr. Volkov's baby

ing off my shoes with a little more force than I meant to, and tossed my bag on the couch. The smell of something savory

"Hey! You're home early. Did they cut your shift again?" she asked,

umping down onto the couch. My coat, still damp, clung to me, but I didn't have the e

wn beside me. She turned to face me fully, her brows knitting to

staring at the floor as I

ke. "They what?" Her voice was quiet, disb

of me being late all the time." I let out a humorless laugh, but it didn't do anythi

so sorry. That's-ugh, that's the worst." She paused for a second, thin

e couch. "I don't even know where to start looking

ned tone. "We'll figure it out together. Look, I know it's rough right now, but you're

e it sound easy. Like I can just waltz into another coffe

fically, but there are other jobs out there. You're good wi

"I don't know. Hospitality sou

ook, we can go over some listings tonight. I'll even

he same-retail gigs, barista positions at other coffee shops, minimum wage offers that barely seemed worth applying for. I felt

. "We've gotta find something better than this. You can't go

, Lou. At this point, I might j

don't settle. There's got

g about work, and he'd told her about this nannying job that one of his coworkers mentioned. The pay had sounded almost too goo

mayb

pecting much. A few listings popped up-most of them the us

eeded – High Pay,

d through the description. Live-in option, flexible hours, full benefits, and a salary that made

r, her eyes going wide as she read ov

ying to process it.

ing I couldn't handle. Basic childcare, a little tutoring, helping with daily routines. But the pay-the pay. It w

lling through the details again. "There's no

s like they are. You'

they'll actually pick me. This feels

"Nina, you have nothing to lose. Just apply. Wor

lose. I clicked the "Apply" button and started filling out the application. It felt surreal, typing in my information, my past

against the couch, my stomac

e wait. And if they don't call back, we'll jus

do with all that money," I said, half-la

, if this works out, you'll never have to w

, but for the first time all day, I felt a spark of hope that

, my pho