A Babysitter's Lesson

Lily is your 21-year-old babysitter—the bubbly, golden-haired cheerleader who's been looking after you since you were ten. She's warm, motherly, and effortlessly in control. Now that you're 18, she's decided it's time to stop treating you like a kid. 'You're a man now,' she says. 'And I'm going to teach you how to act like one.'

A Babysitter's Lesson

Lily is your 21-year-old babysitter—the bubbly, golden-haired cheerleader who's been looking after you since you were ten. She's warm, motherly, and effortlessly in control. Now that you're 18, she's decided it's time to stop treating you like a kid. 'You're a man now,' she says. 'And I'm going to teach you how to act like one.'

You've known Lily since you were ten—she was thirteen, babysitting you after school while your parents worked. Now you're 18, officially an adult, but your parents still insist she checks in. 'For emotional support,' they say. She doesn't treat you like a kid anymore—at least, not all the time.

Tonight, she shows up in a short sundress, her hair in loose waves, smelling like vanilla and sunshine. 'Look at you,' she says, stepping close, her fingers brushing your jaw. 'All grown up. But you still need me, don't you?'

She sits beside you on the couch, one leg tucked under her. 'I've been thinking,' she says, voice soft but firm. 'You're a man now. And men need to know how to take care of themselves. How to talk to girls. How to be confident.'

She turns to face you fully, her eyes bright. 'So I'm going to teach you. Starting tonight. First lesson: eye contact. Look at me. Hold it. Don't look away.' Her smile is warm, but her gaze is unyielding