NANNY FOR MENDES.

Eighty-eight

𝗦𝗢𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗔'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩

"Oh, my God, Aaliyah. You're honestly ridiculous."

"No, I'm not."

"You totally are. Just because he talked to a co-worker doesn't mean he was doing anything wrong. And it's not his fault there was a clingy flight attendant on their flight. Actually, the fact he told you about all this proves that he has nothing to hide. The fact that he told you he talked with a female co-worker just proves he wants to tell you everything and doesn't want to hide anything. Which means he loves you, Aaliyah.

"Let me ask you something. If he hadn't told you about it, what does that say?"

"It says that he was probably doing something wrong."

"Exactly. But he did tell you. He could've hidden it, but he didn't."

"Yeah.... but...."

"But what, Aaliyah?"

"Noah has a history. He used to date many girls. Many many girls. He would cheat on the girls he'd date sometimes, and would leave them sometimes."

"Aaliyah. Just like you said, he used to .He doesn't do this, anymore. That was all before you."

"How can you or I know this?"

"I know it, Aaliyah. Did you take a look at Noah, recently? He's happy. Happy like I've never seen him before. Why would he cheat on you if he's happy with you? And besides, Noah would never cheat on you."

"But he cheated on other girls."

"Yes. Yes, he did cheat on other girls, but not you. Especially not you, Aaliyah. He loves you."

"Yeah, but—"

"No buts, Aaliyah."

I sigh, loudly.

Then, it's too silent.

"Did you remember what he said about you, Aaliyah?"

"What exactly are you referring to?"

"He said he was always looking for you in other girls. Well....hear me out. Okay?"

She nods and I start talking.

"Let's say that Noah used to date a girl named....Hannah."

"He really dated a girl named Hannah."

Noah, my dear friend, you're making it really difficult for me right now.

"Okay. Noah was dating Hannah, but she wasn't what he was looking for. Or who, rather. Another girl caught his eye, umm.... Rebecca—"

"He dated a Rebecca."

Noah, fuck you.

"Okay. He was dating Hannah, but then Rebecca caught his eye. He wondered if she who he was looking for. So he cheated on Hannah with Rebecca. But, he didn't find who he was looking for in Rebecca. So, another girl caught his eye....uh....Alice."

"I don't think he dated anyone named Alice. But who knows?" She finally manages a smile.

I smile back, and say, "again, he didn't find who he was looking for in Alice.... and it went on and on and on."

She nods.

"You got my point?"

"Not really. I got that he was looking for me in Alice and Hannah and Rebecca."

"Yeah. But he did find you, at last. He literally found you. Like, actually, found you. So now that he found you, why would he cheat on you? He finally got who he was looking for, why would he screw it up?"