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My head is swimming with all the what-ifs I’m too distracted to answer.
I need to get some cameras set up around here. And in Freya’s apartment too.
Speaking of the Hellcat.She gently knocks and pushes the ajar door open. She ignores the mess and focuses on me.
She walks right up and wraps her small arms around me, holding me in a tight hug for longer than usual. “What do you need right now?”
Behind me, Anna quietly scoffs, and Freya startles, pulling away and glancing behind me.
“Oh. Hey.”
I cannot for the life of me understand out why Anna has such a problem with Freya. She seemed to like her after the night Freya took care of her. They should get along great knowing how similar their personalities are, but I suppose sometimes that has the opposite effect. I’m able to read Freya’s body language enough to know she’s uncomfortable.
“Hey, Anna, can you give us a sec?” I say.
“Sure! I’m going to take a shower. So good to see you again, Freya! Bye!” It’s overly bubbly, which adds to the weird tension in the room. As if she thinks Freya won’t still be here when she gets out of the shower.
I wrap my girl in my arms again, letting the shitty night fade away.This is home.
My face dips to her neck, and I breathe her in. “There’s one thing I need. I really hate to ask, but do you mind if Anna stays with us tonight?”
Silence. Did she hear me? I pull from the hug.
“I’m sorry, Rhys. I’m not comfortable having her over.”
I stand to my full height, looking her in the eye.What the hell?She can’t be serious.
“What? Why not?” Why is she doing this now? I just want one thing to be easy today.
“Come on, I don’t want to fight tonight.”Who’s fighting?
“There’s no fight. Why would you let me stay, but not her? You have the room. She needs somewhere safe to go, and I’m not telling her to go back to whatever shithole she’s living in. She’s still shaken up from the burglary. All I’m asking for is one night.”
“I get it. I just...”
Her stare remains fixed on a wall.
“Talk to me.” I bend to get face-to-face, and she blinks, no longer dazed. My eyes are wide, searching hers for an answer. Why wouldn’t she want to help my sister out?
“Anna’s sober.” I know she is because she called the cops to report the theft—she would’ve been way too paranoid to do that if she wasn’t.
It’s like something snaps, her hands ball into fists, and her jaw tics.
“I can’t have her in my home.”
Is she for real?
“Why? That’s kinda fucked up, Freya. I need you to do me a solid.”
“This is a limit for me. I told you at the restaurant that day, I can’t go through this again. I can’t. If this isn’t going to work... Look, I’m happy to go to a hotel and pay for a room for her, but she can’t stay at my apartment anymore. We can go with her to the hotel, we’ll get two rooms. One for her and one for us. Would that work?”
My blood pressure rises along with the volume of my whisper-yelling so Anna doesn’t hear us. I can’t believe she’s choosingnowto push this grudge based on her history with her ex. It’s bullshit.
“Anna isn’t Kyle. You asked how you can help, this is the only thing I’m asking of you. The only thing!”
“I am, I’m willing to help you. We can all stay at a hotel. I just can’t take her in.”
“You’re a safe space for her! She needs safe spaces. She trusts you—I trust you!”
