Chapter 31 Freya
FREYA
Ihave a weird night’s sleep. I’m in what is arguably the most comfortable bed in the world, and I should have been sleeping like a baby, like when I was in Cole’s bed the other night. But I find myself tossing and turning most of the night.
I can’t settle or switch my brain off.
I don’t know if it’s talking about my life with Rowan, or just being in Cole’s home, but sleep mostly eludes me. And when my alarm goes off the next morning, I’m waiting for it with bleary eyes and heavy limbs.
But the tiredness doesn’t stop me from throwing the covers off and shuffling through to the bathroom.
The thought of getting into Cole’s kitchen and fixing us both breakfast spurs me on.
It’s been so long since I’ve had something to get up for in the morning.
I really hope I never lose this feeling again.
My fitful night’s sleep is more than obvious when I look in the mirror and find dark, puffy eyes staring back at me. I don’t want to plaster my face in makeup, but I really need to do something to hide it.
I do the best job I can with my concealer before pulling on a pair of leggings and a hoodie I bought before crashing here the other night.
With my hair pulled back into a messy bun, I slip out of the guest room, pour myself a fresh glass of orange juice, and set about getting everything ready.
Cole’s bedroom door is open as I pass, but there’s no sign of him. I assume he’s in his gym, or hiding behind one of the other closed doors that I’ve yet to open. They taunt me every day, but this is his home, and I’d never disrespect him by looking inside without his permission.
It’s almost an hour later when he emerges fresh from the shower and dressed, ready to head to the arena.
“Good morning, Whirlwind,” he says softly as he takes in the disaster that is his kitchen.
When I first started, I was very conscious of the mess I made while I was working. But as time has gone on, I’ve reverted back to my old self, and there are pots and pans and utensils everywhere.
I cringe, taking in the sight of his pretty kitchen covered in my chaos, but when I glance at him, all I find is amused eyes and a smile.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“I did. You?”
Uh.
“Your bed is incredibly comfortable.”
His eyes flash with mischief. “My bed?”
“Y-Your guest bed. You know what I mean,” I say in a rush.
“And there I was thinking you’d snuck into the wrong bed again without me noticing.”
Despite the fact that I know it’s not true, embarrassment rolls through me.
“N-no, I stayed in my own bed all night. I didn’t even leave the room, I—”
“Take a breath,” he teases.
“Sorry,” I whisper.
His brows lift, and I shake my head, a quiet laugh falling from my lips.
What is it about Cole Hansley that makes me feel so light?
We chat away easily as I make our breakfast, and before I know it, he’s heading out to the arena. I don’t say anything because I have no intention of using his car, but I’m surprised he doesn’t leave me his key and get a lift like he did yesterday. But there isn’t so much of a mention of it.
I might need to head to the store today, but I don’t need so much that I can’t walk.
It takes me longer than it should to clean up, and once I’m done, I write myself a list before finding my sneakers and grabbing my purse, ensuring I’ve got Cole’s credit card tucked safely inside.
I hate using it and spending his money, even if it is food for him. It still feels wrong.
It was the same when I was with Rowan. He was big at splashing the cash just to show everyone how much he had.
If I put up an argument or dared to use my own money to buy something, he’d get incredibly mad, claiming that I was embarrassing him.
I realize now that it was just about control.
He didn’t like that I could take care of myself. He wanted me to be dependent on him.
I’m just about to head out when a buzzing by the front door starts up.
I frown and move closer.
I quickly discover it’s an intercom. Cole mentioned that I should get the app that connects to it, but that seemed like an invasion of privacy, even if I am the one who is here the most.
Lifting my hand, I press my finger to the button that I assume will connect me with whoever is on the other end.
“H-hello?”
“Good morning, Miss Price. How are you today?”
“Melvin, hi,” I say softly, unable to hold back my smile. “If you’re calling for more goodies, I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait until this afternoon. I need to head to the store before—”
“Oh no, Miss Price. I’d never call for food, even if your brownies yesterday were the best I’ve ever eaten.”
Pride rushes through me. I know he’s probably just saying that to make me feel good about myself, but I can’t deny that it works.
“I’m so glad you enjoyed them. Did Cora like them as well?”
“Oh, yes. Her eyes lit up when I showed her. She’s kept some safe to share with the grandkids after school later.”
“I love that. I’ll be sure to keep the goodies coming.”
“Well, I’m the one with the goodies this morning.”
My brows pinch. “Oh?”
“I have a delivery for you, Miss Price.”
“O-okay,” I stutter. “I haven’t ordered anything, though.”
“Someone has most certainly ordered something.”
“Can you just send it up?”
“Sadly not. I’m afraid you’re going to need to come down for this one.”
“This is all very intriguing,” I muse, wracking my brain for what could be waiting for me.
“I think the word you’re looking for is exciting.”
“I’ll be right down,” I say before releasing the button and walking out of the apartment with my head spinning.
It has to be Casey. Other than Cole, it’s only my parents who know I’m here. But they don’t actually know where here is. I’ve never given them an address.
As the elevator descends, my confusion mixes with excitement. Convinced I’m about to come face-to-face with my friend, I rush out the moment the doors open with a smile.
But…she isn’t there.
It’s just Melvin, waiting for me with a smile that rivals mine.
“Hi,” I squeak, looking around for clues.
I feel like I’m being played here. But Melvin wouldn’t do that. He’s too sweet. Too genuine.
“Miss Price. How wonderful to see you.” He beams at me, and my suspicions rise even higher.
“What…what’s going on?”
“You have a delivery.”
“Yeah, you said…” I look around again, but there isn’t a box, or a bag, or anything. Just Melvin and the immaculate entrance to Cole’s fancy building.
“Oh, this is exciting,” he sings before rushing back to his station and revealing that he does, in fact, have a box.
Hesitantly, I take it from him and slide it from the protective sleeve.
“What the—” I blurt as I stare down at my first clue.
My hands tremble as I read the embossed writing on the top.
Range Rover.
My eyes jump, and I stare through the one-way glass to the parking spots outside.
“Oh no,” I say, placing the box down and backing away. “No, no, no.”
“Miss Price,” Melvin says softly, as if he’s talking to a terrified animal. “It’s a gift from Mr. Hansley.”
“I-I…I don’t want it. I don’t need it.”
“He warned me you might say that.”
“Why is he making you do this?”
“He wanted to be here for it, but he didn’t want to wait until later. He wanted you to be able to use it today. Apparently, you need to go to the store.”
“I’m walking,” I argue, taking off toward the doors.
“Miss Price,” he calls after me.
“I’m sorry, Melvin. But I can’t accept this. I won’t accept this.”
I storm through the automatic doors, really wishing that I could throw them open and cause a scene, but despite the inferno erupting inside me, everything is calm and perfect.
I don’t look back—it wouldn’t matter if I did, thanks to the one-way glass—but I know Melvin is watching as I march down the sidewalk, past the shiny, new car waiting for me. I give it a death glare and keep going.
It’s not until I round the corner that the heat of his concerned stare begins to fade. I can’t say the same for the anger inside me, though. Cole bought me a car. What the actual hell?
He can’t just buy me a car.
That isn’t what people do.
I’m his chef, not his…
I’m his chef. Period.
By the time I get to the store, I’m out of breath, and my cell is buzzing constantly in my purse.
I know it’s him. I know Melvin called him the second I walked away. I also know that I’m probably distracting him from what he should be doing right now, but I’m finding it hard to care.
How could he blindside me like that?
I grab a cart, but I don’t register the aisles or what I’m throwing in it as I march up and down. I’m so lost in my own thoughts that I startle when I crash my cart into someone else’s.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sor—L-Levi?”
“Freya, hi,” he says, smiling at me as if we’re long-lost friends. We may have exchanged a few messages since our date, but that would be a bit of a stretch. “How are you?”
A mess.
“Great,” I say, forcing a smile on my face. “You?”
“Yeah, good. Just busy. Work has been crazy. I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to find time for a second date.”
“Oh, no. Don’t worry about it. I’m busy too, with my new job and all.”
An awkward silence settles between us. It wasn’t like this the last two times we were together, and I can only assume it’s because of my current situation.
“Did you catch the game the other night?” he asks, steering the conversation to safe ground. “It was a tight one, huh? For a moment there, I didn’t think they were going to do it.”
“Yeah, it was a great game.”
He glances at my cart, his eyes darting between the items I’ve collected so far. “I’m actually at a loose end for an hour or so. Did you want to finish up here and go and grab coffee or something?”
The people pleaser inside me wants to say yes. I hate turning people down or disappointing them. But right now, the last thing I want to do is go and have coffee.
“I’m really sorry, I’m not going to be able to. I’ve got to get this lot back and then I’ve got a full afternoon.”
I cringe at my own lies. The truth is, I have very little to do for this evening’s meal. But I am in no mood to socialize, especially while my cell continues to buzz.
“No problem. Always worth an ask.” His eyes drop to my purse hanging at my waist. “I think your cell is ringing.”
“Yeah, it’s my boss,” I explain.
“And you don’t think you should get it?”
“I absolutely should,” I say, opening my purse and pulling it out.
I do my best to hide the screen. The last thing I need is for Levi to discover who my boss is.
“It was great bumping into you. We’ll sort out a time for another drink,” I say quickly before I swipe the screen, reluctantly put the cell to my ear, and walk away.
“Don’t you have a job to do?” I hiss down the phone, keeping my voice quiet enough in the hope that Levi won’t hear.