Chapter 28
FREYA
“No, no, no, no,” I chant as my engine dies and I begin a slow, painful roll to the side of the road.
She didn’t want to start this morning. That should have been my sign to call an Uber. But no. I trusted that she’d get me to Cole’s place in time for breakfast, and I hopped in. Bad decision.
The car rocks as others drive past me; a couple even beep their horns as if that’ll help the situation.
It’s not an overly busy road. Thankfully, I’m only a couple of miles from my parents’. I haven’t hit the busy city traffic yet.
Resting my head back, I close my eyes and pray for a miracle.
I know it isn’t going to come, that isn’t how my life works, but still, I reach for the key and turn it.
She tries, she really does. But there’s nothing.
“Argh,” I cry as I reach for my purse sitting on the passenger seat.
I dig around inside until my fingers brush my cell, and then I pull it free.
Memories of messaging Cole last night linger in my head. How can they not? The things he told me…the thought of him standing in his bedroom, watching me sleep in nothing but my lacy lingerie...
Surely, he was just teasing. He can’t have done that.
He…
Shaking my head, I find his contact, but my thumb hovers above it, refusing to make the call.
He’d come for me in a heartbeat; I know he would.
He’ll be awake and in his home gym.
I’ll totally ruin his morning.
After weighing the options, I close my contacts and open my Uber app instead.
I’m a fully grown woman who can sort out her own problems.
My first priority is getting Cole his breakfast so he’s fueled up for training. My car can be dealt with after that.
I’ll be a big girl, and I won’t even call Dad. I’ll just speak to the garage and ask them nicely to collect it. It’ll all be fine, and I’ll more than likely be on the road again before the end of the day.
I continue lying to myself as I book my ride. Thankfully, it’s only a few minutes away, so by the time I’ve sorted my stuff out, the Uber driver’s pulling up behind me.
“For Freya?” I ask, pulling the back door open.
“Uh…yeah,” the driver says, looking between my car and me with a deep frown. “Are you just going to leave that there?”
“Trust me, if I could move it, I’d be driving it right now,” I point out as I drop into the back of his car.
“Someone is on their way to get it,” I lie. “But I really need to get to work.”
“Right,” he muses before putting the blinker on to pull back onto the road.
Once we’re moving, I find Cole’s contact again and finally make the call I wasn’t brave enough to do before.
“Freya, is everything okay?” he answers, already sensing that things probably aren’t.
“I’m going to be a few minutes late,” I explain.
“Why? What’s wrong?” I can hear him moving in the background, and I really don’t think it’s him continuing to work out. “What do you need? Where are you?”
“Everything is fine. My car broke down, but I’m in an Uber, and I’ll be there soon. I just didn’t want you to worry.”
“Worry?” He balks. “Did an Uber just pick you up from the side of the road?”
My chest tightens.
“Yeah. It’s fine. If the traffic isn’t too bad, I might even be there right on time.
” As I say this, I look at the clock. It’ll be amazing if that happens, but it does make me wonder if he’d have even noticed if I were a few minutes late.
It’s not like he sits in the kitchen, looking at his watch and waiting for me.
Damn it. I’m screwing this up.
“I’d have come to get you. Why didn’t you call me?” My stomach knots at the hurt in his voice.
“I didn’t want to interrupt your morning. You have a routine and—”
“Bullshit,” he snaps, making me jump. “I’d have forgotten about all of that and come and got you.”
“I know,” I whisper like a terrified child. “I just didn’t want you messing up your routine because of me.”
“Fuck my routine, Freya. Your safety is more important.”
My heart wants to soar at his words, but I know he’s only saying them out of concern for the woman who cooks his meals.
“Everything is okay. I’ll speak to the garage once I’ve sorted breakfast and—” I don’t need to look up to know the driver is glaring at me. I lied to him, and he knows it. “It’ll all be fixed by tonight.”
“You’re damn right it will. I’ll take you home tonight,” he states, leaving very little room for argument.
“O-okay.”
“No more rideshares to or from work, Freya. I mean it.”
I nod despite the fact that he can’t see me.
“I’ll see you soon,” he says, but the line is cut before I get a chance to respond.
I slump back in the seat, all the air rushing from my lungs.
The driver’s attention burns into me again, but I don’t look up. I might feel bad about lying to him, but he isn’t the one I’ve truly disappointed.
I should have just called him. But…there isn’t a single reason why I should take priority for him over his job.
“Your boss sure sounds protective of you,” the driver points out, unable to keep his mouth shut any longer. “When you said you couldn’t be late, I thought he was going to be an asshole.”
I shake my head, keeping my eyes locked on my lap.
“N-no, he’s not. He’s…incredible.”
My cell buzzes in my hand, and I startle.
Seeing Cole’s name, I open it immediately.
Cole: Share your location with me.
No, please, no thank you. Just a demand.
Something flickers inside me. Something I haven’t felt for the longest time.
Defiance.
The need to reject his demand burns through me.
A smile pulls at my lips. It’s been so long since I’ve felt the need to do the opposite of what everyone expects of me. I thought…I thought I’d lost it.
But despite it being there, I don’t allow it to take over. Instead, I do as I’m told and share my live location with him.
Cole: See you soon.
“Thank you,” I say as I open the car door and climb out. As we drove into the city, the rain started. It’s heavy and cold, but I can’t find it in me to rush. I need a few seconds of nothing.
I stare up at the almost fully glass building Cole lives in as rainwater covers my face and my heart pounds steadily against my ribs.
I haven’t heard anything else from him, but that doesn’t mean my stomach isn’t knotted at the thought of seeing him.
Yesterday was a lot. Last night was even more. And this morning…
I blow out a slow breath through pursed lips before taking off.
The instant I step up to the automatic doors, they open for me, and I discover the man responsible.
“Good morning, Miss Price.”
I smile at Melvin.
“Good morning,” I sing back, ignoring the fact that he refuses to call me Freya like I keep requesting.
“I thought I was going to have to come and drag you inside for a moment there. Is everything okay?”
I look at him, taking in his kind eyes and soft smile. I bet he’s a fantastic grandpa.
“Of course, I get to see you. How could anything be wrong?”
“Such a charmer. No wonder Mr. Hansley likes having you around.”
“I think that’s the food,” I laugh.
“If you make meals as well as you bake cookies, Mr. Hansley is one very lucky man.”
“Anything to stop him from burning this entire building down,” I tease.
“I do like my job here,” Melvin muses.
“Do you have any mail for Cole?”
“No, but there is a warning notice about elevator maintenance I need to deliver.”
“I can take it.”
“You’re a good girl, Miss Price.”
He passes the warning notice over, and I glance down at it.
The penthouse elevator is due for scheduled maintenance and will be out of action for a few days next week.
“I’ll make sure he knows,” I assure him. “I’m making brownies today. What time are you here until?”
“I’ll work a double shift if it means I get treats, Miss Price.”
“Please, call me Freya,” I beg for the millionth time. I know it’s not going to work, but I try nonetheless.
He smiles at me fondly, silently confirming my suspicion. “I should get going before I’m even later than I already am. My car broke down,” I explain before he has a chance to ask. “And Cole is angry at me because I didn’t call him for help.”
“Ah, I see. Mr. Hansley likes to take care of those who are important to him.”
I tilt my head to the side as I study the older man. I can’t help but wonder what Cole might have done for him to say that.
“So I’m learning. I’ll see you a little later.”
“Have a good day, Miss Price. I’m looking forward to your brownies already.”
With a smile, I step into the elevator he’s called for me.
“You too, Melvin,” I say before the doors close and I’m carried to the top of the building.
I let myself in, and as soon as I step into the apartment, the scent of coffee hits me.
My mouth waters as my legs carry me forward.
“You have no idea how much I need that,” I say the second I find Cole sitting in his favorite seat at the island with two mugs of coffee before him.
He reaches out and slides my mug a little closer.
“Thought you might,” he rasps. “Good to see you made it safely.”
I raise a brow as I take my first sip. “You say that as if you weren’t tracking my every movement.”
“I don’t trust strangers.”
“Do you trust anyone?” It’s meant to come out like a joke, but Cole’s serious expression lets me know my words hit wrong.
“You. And because I trust you, I don’t trust anyone else with you.”
My mouth opens and closes as I fight to find words to reply with.
“You’re not getting an Uber to or from work ever again,” he states firmly.
“It’s fine. My car will be fixed today and…what?” I ask when he just glowers at me.
“Have you spoken to the garage yet?”
“Uh…no. Why?”
“I’ll sort it,” he states.
“You don’t even know where my car is,” I argue.
“I know enough. I’ll sort it.”
I want to argue, but the determination in his eyes stops me from saying anything but, “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
He nods in acceptance before asking what’s for breakfast, as if I don’t send him weekly meal plans to approve.
I finish my coffee before making a start. He’s got just over an hour before he has to be at the arena, and he needs a whole load of fuel to get him through the morning.
As I work, the conversation shifts to the week ahead. The Vipers have a home game tomorrow night before back-to-back road games at the end of the week.
I know I lived on the road for a few years following Rowan around, but I’m not sure how Cole copes with the constant coming and going. I’m not sure I’d know which way was up if I lived half my life away from home.
Our time together passes quickly, and before I know it, he’s dressed and ready for practice with his duffel bag slung over his shoulder.
“Can I have your car key, please?” he asks, holding his hand out before leaving me in his apartment.
I hesitate, hating that he’s taking on my issue, but I know I don’t stand a chance of refusing.
“Thanks. This is for you,” he says, trading my key for another newer one.
“Uh…I’m not taking this,” I argue, attempting to shove it back at him.
“Yes, you are. Use it if you need to go anywhere today.”
“But…you need it.”
“Killer is on his way to get me. He’ll drop me back later. I don’t want you stuck here without a vehicle.”
“I don’t need to go anywhere.”
“Well, just in case,” he says firmly before marching toward the front door.
The bang of it closing echoes around me, leaving me wondering what the hell he’s going to do.
With a shake of my head, I march toward the sink, ready to clean up the mess we made before I embark on meal prepping.