Freya rewards me with her sweetness. She dotes on me, tending to every scratch and cut. Giving me little kisses on each injury.
Sensing eyes on us, I glance over to see her mother watching our exchange. “I think that’s for you.”
Freya looks over her shoulder. “We need to get home.”
I don’t push it. She’ll talk to Cate when she’s ready. The decision is Freya’s. My girl has mommy issues. I sling the bag of ice in the nearby sink. “Let’s go. You want to ride with me or am I following you?”
“Follow me. I don’t want to make an extra trip to get my car later.”
“Freya, can we talk?” Cate finds her courage. The woman is a mirror image of Freya. Same dark hair. Same height. Only Cate is thicker and older.
“There’s nothing we need to say to each other.”
“I left Theo.”
“I don’t care. Though I’m not really all that surprised. Leaving is what you’re good at.”
Fuck, my baby is ice cold when she wants to be.
Cate casts her eyes to the floor. “I deserve that. I know you’re angry with me.”
“Like I said, I’m ready to leave. I learned from the best.” Freya breezes by her mother quickly, but deep down I know she’s hurting.
I don’t acknowledge Cate. Freya would see it as a betrayal, and I don’t need to do anything else to get on her bad side.
“They released Zuko,” Yara tells us as Freya grabs her jacket.
“That’s good.”
“Did you talk to Mom?”
“Nope,” she pops the P.
“Frito,” Whiskey starts in with that stupid ass nickname he gave her.
“Don’t.”
“Alright.” He holds his hands up. “I’ll see you tomorrow, man. Bright and early.”
“I’ll be there.” I don’t spot Crow around. He probably went to pick Zuko up from the station.
I walk Freya to her car then get in my truck.
I follow her to our apartment. It’s damn good to have my wheels back. To have my life back. Steady job. Steady woman at my side.
I park next to Freya outside our apartment. We need to move. Have a fresh start. A new place that isn’t tied to our past. I don’t know if she’d be down with that, but I think a change of space would be good for us both. I know it’s too soon to broach the topic, so I keep those thoughts to myself for now.
“You good?” I question once we get inside.
“Glad Zuko was let go.”
“I mean about Cate being around.”
“It’s whatever. If Yara wants to welcome her back, that’s her choice. I want nothing to do with her.” She tosses her jacket over the back of the couch and goes to the fridge. “We need food. I’m starving.”
“We can order in.”
“Or we can go out. You haven’t been out to eat in years.”