She pats the spot next to her on the dark leather chaise. I take a seat next to her and try not to come across as awkward.
“Please call me Kelli.”
I nod. My hands are feeling sweaty. I resist the urge to tap my foot nervously.
“So Katie you are a senior, in Kai’s class. Are the two of you good friends?”
“We are familiar,” I answer softly, stretching the truth a little.
“You worked for the Millers why did that end?”
Okay so I have to lie here. “They are going to need someone new when I go off to college in the fall so they wanted to get Chase acquainted with someone new.”
“Well that could be a problem; Khloe already thinks you are her new best friend. But Kai says you are perfect for the job. I can pay you one-hundred and twenty dollars a week. I take it that you don’t have a car of your own.”
“No, that would be an issue. I can try to work it out with my mom though.”
“Nonsense, you can ride with Kai from school and he can drive you home and when he isn’t able my husband or I would be glad to.” She smiles graciously when I tell her that would be perfect. “Well then…let’s go eat.”
Kelli serves a side salad with baked spaghetti and garlic bread for dinner. It is delicious. Khloe insists that I sit between her and Kai for the meal. He seems to be a bit uncomfortable. I accidentally brush knuckles with him and he flinches away from my touch as though I am dirty. It shouldn’t hurt my feelings but it stings a bit.
After we are finished eating, Khloe has her way and drags me away to her room to play.
Her bedroom is every little girl’s dream. There is a beautiful castle mural painted behind her canopy bed. Khloe has everything I ever wanted growing up…a dollhouse, any Barbie you can think of and a trunk full of dresses. She has to point out everything, and names all of her dolls and stuffed animals off to me in rapid succession. I will never keep them all straight.
She is insistent upon giving me a makeover. I am hesitant but I can’t say no to her little pout face. “I pwomise to make you pwetty.” Her hands are clasped in front of her as her bottom lip sticks out in the perfect puppy dog sad face.
“Okay, make me pretty,” I tell her and close my eyes as I sit cross legged by her pink light up vanity. I always wanted one of those too.
When she is finished, she begins clapping quite pleased with the job she has done.
“Now Khloe fix Katie hair.” She is so serious as she gets out her combs and bows, I almost laugh but I’m afraid I will hurt her feelings. No wonder Raven is so enamored by this kid.
One second Khloe is dragging her brush through my tangled mess on my head and the next she is yelling at Kai to come play. I look over to see him watching us from the doorway. I have no idea how long he has been watching us.
“For a minute, but then mom says it is bath time for you.” He walks into the room seeming more relaxed. His hands are shoved in his jean pockets and he doesn’t have any idea how cute he looks right now perched on the edge of his sister’s bed.
“I made Katie pwetty. Kai be frog so Katie can kiss you and make you a pwince.” Her little green eyes are sparkling with excitement. “Pwease Kai, be frog.”
I feel a bit nervous about what she just said. I am in no way kissing Kai in front of his baby sister.
“’Mere Kai, ‘mere,” she says to him sweetly.
He must have a hard time saying no to her as well. He comes over standing behind me. “Katie knows a lot about frog lips,” he jokes.
I discreetly give him the finger.
“Up Katie.” She pulls on my hands until I get up.
Khloe directs us telling us how and where to stand. Kai swallows hard and brushes his hair back behind his ears. He grins at me and licks his lip. Oh my god! Does he really think we are doing this?
Just as he tilts, his face towards mine Khloe saves the day, yelling, “Wait you need your pwincess wand Katie. You break spell then kiss Kai frog.” She goes over to her toy box and starts digging through it.
Kelli comes in and tells Khloe it is time for her bath. She wants me to assist her because I will be bathing Khloe the nights I watch her.
Kai’s mom goes over an extensive list of don’ts, Khloe has really sensitive skin when it comes to anything with a fragrance. I feel like I should be taking notes.
Kelli watches on as I read Khloe a bedtime story after I dried her hair, got her into her pajamas, and assisted brushing her teeth. Khloe’s eyes flutter as I get halfway through Cinderella. I put her into bed and tuck her covers in around her.