She took a deep breath because she knew the next words out of her mouth were going to be words that neither one of them wanted to hear. “I almost crossed a line last night that I shouldn’t cross.”

The smile immediately dropped from Blair’s face, and she let go of Erin’s arm. “Because I’m the babysitter?”

“For so many reasons. I don’t do casual. I can’t. Not when I have Nolan.”

Blair appeared genuinely confused by this comment. “Whoever said that’s what I want?”

“You’re twenty-two, Blair.” Dating Erin involved elements Blair had probably never considered at her young age. Even people who were the same age as Erin often had no interest in dating a single mom.

“So? How old were you when you got into your relationship?”

“Twenty-two. But we both know how that turned out.”

“Listen, I know I can’t promise you that nothing will go wrong, but—”

Erin put a hand up to stop Blair. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to hear what Blair had to say, but she was afraid if she did, she would end up letting go of all the rules she made for herself when Bianca left. “That’s exactly the problem. For the last year, I told myself if I ever actually dated again, I wouldn’t have the other person meet Nolan until I knew things were very serious between us. Nolan wasn’t as cognizant of what was happening when Bianca left, so he bounced back somewhat quickly. He’s already attached to you. I don’t know what he would do if you ever left.” Erin laughed as she said the words, because she couldn’t believe how she sounded. Blair was supposed to only be his babysitter for the summer. She was putting a lot of pressure on the girl who had just been interested in a summer job. “You asked if this was because you’re the babysitter, but that’s not what it is. The problem is you’re so much more than a babysitter, and if you want to, we’d love to have you in our lives, even after this summer.”

“And I take it in your lives doesn’t involve kissing.”

Erin couldn’t stop her eyes from drifting to Blair’s lips just at the mention of kissing. She forced them back up and Blair smirked at her. “No. I wish it did, but it can’t.”

Blair shrugged. “Staying in your lives is definitely a good consolation prize. Nolan isn’t the only one who’s gotten attached.”