The moment Marianne steps away, Freya glances towards Chris. “I’ve heard a lot about you,” she remarks.
He gives her a cryptic half-smile that has me tensing a little. “Wish I could say the same about you.”
I kick him under the table, but he doesn’t so much as glance at me. “Jessa said you moved into her building?”
“A few weeks ago,” Freya says. “We only met recently, which is probably why you haven’t heard much about me. But Jessa and I became fast friends.”
“I can see that.”
Why does he sound so… disapproving?
“I’ve been through something similar,” Freya continues. “So I feel like I can help out our girl here.”
Chris frowns. “Something similar?”
“Um, listen, Chris,” I say quickly. “Freya knows about… my problem.”
His eyes go wide. “You told her?”
“Don’t worry,” Freya says quickly. “Her secret is safe with me.”
“I should hope so,” he says, turning to me. “J, what are you thinking telling a perfect stranger about—”
“Hey,” Freya interrupts. “I’m not a stranger anymore. I had her back last night.”
“Last night?” he says without looking at Freya. “What happened last night?”
I’m quickly realizing that this brunch was a mistake. Neither Freya nor Chris have any context. I should have met with them separately, eased them into this first meeting.
My decision-making has really not been stellar lately.
“Listen, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to worry you,” I say, grabbing his arm. “Anton… he’s been visiting me.”
“The fuck does that mean?” Chris hisses.
“He hasn’t hurt me or anything—”
“But he’s threatened to?” he guesses.
My eyes fall shamefully to my fingers resting on Chris’s forearm. “Yeah. He wants his phone back.”
“Well, then give it the fuck back to him,” Chris says immediately. “I’ve hidden it away, but I can get it out for you.”
“Ohh, you have the phone,” Freya says, putting the pieces together. “Got it.”
Chris throws her a glare before turning it on me. “What the hell were you thinking, J?”
“I was thinking perfectly fine, thanks,” I say, getting defensive. “I trust Freya.”
Annoyance flickers across his face. “Fine. Trust her all you want. But that doesn’t take care of your other problem.”
“It’s not the problem, Chris—it’s the solution. He needs that damn phone. It’s important to him. He said as much to me. He’s not going to hurt me as long as I have it.”
“But he will keep dropping in unannounced and scaring the bejeezus out of you? Gee, what an upgrade.” He shakes his head in disbelief. “Just give him back the phone, Jess.”
Freya and I exchange a glance. Of course he catches it. “What? What is it?”
Freya speaks before I do. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to return the phone.”