Irresistible Compulsions

||Ch. Seven||

Especially when you didn't get home until half past two and had to clock in at eight.

Dylan and I ended up hanging out in his ute for a while after we demolished an embarrassing amount of Macca's. We chatted for about an hour before heading home to a relatively quiet house—most of the party-goers had either left or passed out on couches and spare beds.

It didn't take long for me to shower and crash out before waking up to my blaring alarm a mere four hours after nodding off, a criminally short nap in my opinion.

My shift wasn't too bad today but trying to get ten people with Alzheimers showered and dressed before breakfast in the span of an hour and a half is a mission to say the least. The fact that half my residents have caught the flu didn't exactly help.

It's just past two p.m. now and I'm finally free—clocked out and sitting in my car, massaging my temples in attempt to try and tame the pounding behind my eyes. I've spent the past couple of hours with a pounding headache that feels like my brain is sloshing around inside my skull.

I groan as I start the engine, silently praying I'm not coming down with something. Swallowing's already starting to hurt, and my saliva feels like sandpaper as I gulp.

My music blaring over the speakers is interrupted by the buzz of an incoming message.

I glance at my phone mid-reverse and instantly wince.

Shit. I forgot. I promised to babysit Scout tonight.

Scout's mum, Kate, lives a few houses down. She's a single mum working full time who's recently decided to start online dating. Scout's adorable—the kind of adorable that makes your ovaries ache if you look at her too long.

Kate's asked me to babysit a few times over the years. At first, it was a side hustle for extra cash after school. But once I started nursing, I told her not to worry about paying. Truth is, I like hanging out with the little rugrat. Pus, I feel for Kate, I can't imagine it would be easy being a single mum.

Today on the other hand, I'm not exactly jumping with joy at the idea of entertaining a five year old. I'd planned on popping a couple paracetamol tablets and curling up into a ball on the couch.

Deciding I don't have the heart to cancel on Kate and ruin her first night of trying to jump back on the horse, I toss my phone onto the passenger's seat and mentally prepare myself for the long afternoon ahead.

••• ••• •••

Kate dropped Scout off about an hour ago.

After making her a snack platter, we sprawled out on the living room floor where we're now colouring, Finding Nemo playing softly in the background.

The paracetamol might've helped the headache, but it hasn't done much for my sore throat and the stuffy nose that's quickly making breathing through my nostrils a luxury.

"So, how was school?"

"Goooood!" she beams, giggling as she adds, "Tommy held my hand today when we went down the slide."

I can't help the proud little smile tugging at my lips.

"Uh huh... and who's this Tommy boy, hmm?"

She perks up, eyes wide with giddy excitement.

"He's a boy in my class... he's really funny."

"Oh my goodness! You've got a crush!" I tease, grinning as she abruptly stops colouring, cheeks flushing bright red.

I reach forward and scoop her into my arms, tickling her as she tries to wriggle away, giggling breathlessly.

"What's going on in here?"