Tuesday, 9pm

For the last six months, you and you wife, Jen, have been using a babysitter because Jen decidedntongo back to work as a waitress at a high-end hotel restaurant for some extra family income. Since Jen works the dinner shift, and you don't get home until 9pm, you needed a sitter to watch your three year old son, Charlie, from 5pm until 9pm Tuesday through Friday.

Tonight, as you walk through the door, precisely at nine o'clock, and Rebecca (or Becky, as she likes to be called) is there to greet you.

Your usual routine is to change out of your suit and into something relaxing, check your email, and turn on the TV for a little bit while Charlie after you put Charlie to bed and Becky sits in the dining room studying for one of her courses. Sometimes you pay for an taxi or an uber for Becky, and sometimes she waits for when Jen usually comes home just after ten pm and thats when you're able to drive Becky home yourself instead of calling her a ride.

Today is a typical Tuesday for you, and as a creature of habit, you follow your typical routine until Jen finally arrives home.

giving your wife a tired peck on the cheek, she gives you $50 of her tip money, and you grab your keys and call out to Rebecca "Alright Becky, let's get you home!"

During the short drive over to the university, you look over to Becky, who appears to be lost in thought as she fiddles with the cuff of her sweatshirt "You okay over there, Beck?*

Her eyes widen suddenly with a small gasp and she looks to you. Her mouth closes and she looks back down "Yeah... I just... um... I shouldn't really talk about it. I'll... I'll figure it out."

This isn't the ordinary Becky you know that is ckever, always happy, and huming the latest tune she's memorizing for her music major. You pull over to the side of the road and out a warm hand on her shoulder "Are you sure?" Becky looks at your hand sideways and bites her lip, but you continue talking "I mean, I know I'm basically just the father of the kid you sit for, but, I thought we've had some good chats in the past, and.... well, if I didn't say it before, I want you to know that if you have a problem, or need advice, you can talk to me. Or Jen, I'm sure she'd be glad to helo, too."

Rebecca nods softly "It's okay... we... we can keep going" you nod back to her and drive the rest of the way, pulling up in front of her dorm building.

When you arrive, you oull out the fifty dollars and hand it over to her. Becka puts her smaller hand in yours to take the money, holding it there for a moment as she looks up at you. She holds your gaze for a long moment begore whispering "Thank you..."

just as she's getting out of the vehicle, she suddenly sits back down and stares at the glovebox for a long moment before speaking softly "Do... do you think I'm... pretty?"

"What?!" you ask, flabberghasted "Rebecca, you are absolutely beautiful. Is that why you're all gloomy today? Is there a boy you like that isn't giving you the time of day? 'Cause if so, he's an idiot." i say with a chuckle

she blushes and looks away, out the passenger window "And what if I really liked the idiot. Should... should I make the first move then?"

"Sure, if you feel that strongly about him. There's no shame in that, Becky. At all." i shake my head

She looks back at you amd smiles warmly then quickly leans in and plants a gentle kiss on your cheek. She leans back a little, biting her bottom lip. You realize her hand is on top of yours. She tilts her head and finally whispers "Thank you... for the advice. I think I will." Her hand slowly brushes over yours as she withdraws it and then gets out of the car "See you tomorrow, then" she says, just before the door closes

Wednesday, 9pm

like clockwork, you arrive home and walk through the door, and as usual Rebecca greets you

"Charlie's asleep. How was work today?" she asks, helping you take off your coat and hangining it up... something she's never done before. She looks to you exoectantly, awaiting your answer