Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
OSCAR
Iroll over, trying to stifle my grunt. I’ve been in and out of sleep all night. My brain’s too wired to let me relax. When I open my eyes, I’m faced with the cause of all this, sleeping three feet away from me, long eyelashes brushing against her cheeks.
A strand of hair falls across her face, torturing me. Maybe I could just push it back. She probably wouldn’t even notice. Maybe then, I’ll finally get some rest. I turn onto my back, glaring up at the ceiling. What the fuck is wrong with me?
The sheets on her bed rustle and she lets out a soft sigh, and I have to hold back a groan. This has been the problem. Any time she moves, any sound she makes, my whole body locks up. I’m hyperaware of every detail of the woman lying next to me, our beds only separated by a few inches.
Is it fucked up to admit that when she told me we’d have to share a room, my first reaction was excitement?
A small part of me was disappointed when we came in to find the two beds.
Obviously I’m not a creep, I’d never make a move on her like that, but I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t want the chance to be close to her.
My phone buzzes next to me and I snatch it off the nightstand before the sound can wake Freya.
Mom
Here you go
What’s going on?
She’s attached a contact card which I copy into a new thread.
Oscar
Just needed to ask her something
I texted my mom in the night when I first had the idea. I’m hoping Freya doesn’t mind surprises.
Mom
Is it about Freya?
Oscar
I’ll see you this evening
Mom
Hm.
I look to my right, checking to make sure she’s still asleep. It’s seven thirty and sunlight’s staring to filter in through the dingy motel curtains. I don’t want to get her hopes up in case my plan doesn’t come through. I open up a new message thread with the number my mom sent me.
Oscar
Hi, this is Oscar Murphy, Valerie’s son
I’m in Denver right now with Freya. I thought I might bring her by to see you on our drive back, unless today’s a bad time?
Unknown Number
Oscar! What a lovely thought, I’d be thrilled to have you
What is Freya doing in Denver?
And why are you with her?
Never mind, tell me when you get here.
A location comes through along with instructions on where to park. With everything ready to go, I put my phone back on the nightstand and return to my ceiling-staring.
A few minutes later I hear Freya let out a long sigh.
I force myself not to look. There’s some shuffling, and then soft footsteps rounding the foot of my bed as she heads to the bathroom.
Okay, so I guess it’s just a no sleep kind of day.
At least my job means that I’m pretty good at functioning tired.
It won’t be the first time I’ve had to make a long drive after a sleepless night.
While Freya’s in the bathroom, I get up.
I grab my clothes and start to get changed.
I’ve got my jeans on and am just pulling on my shirt when I hear a squeak from my left.
Freya’s in the doorway, lips slightly parted.
Her eyes dart around, trying to look anywhere but at me, but I don’t miss the way they keep flitting back to my chest.
“I… oh, sorry,” she stammers, voice hoarse.
“You’re good.” Maybe it makes me an asshole, but I take my time working the buttons.
“I thought you were still asleep.”
Her chest rises and falls in heavy breaths and I preen.
She likes what she sees. I know the feeling.
She’s still in the pajamas I picked up, a big white T-shirt and some flannel pants.
She looks fucking adorable. I wonder what it would be like if the shirt was mine.
Fuck. The thought of Freya waking up in one of my shirts…
Maybe the one from the inter-department football game last year, with my name on the back.
I turn away, scrubbing a hand down my face before I embarrass myself.
“I’m gonna go wash up, you want to head out after?” I ask, still facing the wall.
“Yeah, sounds good.”
I grab the toothbrush and toothpaste and head for the door. “Hey, do you mind if we make a stop on the way?” I ask, pausing to face her.
“That’s fine.” She nods. “Where do you need to go?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Her brow furrows. “What kind of surprise?”
“A good one.” She doesn’t seem convinced. “Do you trust me?”
She chews the inside of her lip. The question sits between us, bigger than this one moment.
“Yeah.” She smiles, meeting my eyes. “Yeah, I do.”
Freya sits bolt upright in her seat as we turn onto the street. “Oscar?” She gasps as the house comes into view.
“Told you it was a good surprise.” I grin.
“This is… You shouldn’t have.”
I flip my turn signal and pull into the driveway. “I absolutely should have.” I nod toward the front door where Elsie’s standing, a wide grin splitting her face. “Go say hi.”
I’ve barely put the car in park when she shoots out, running up to the door.
Elsie pulls her into a fierce hug, and my chest feels tight.
Fuck, this is the best idea I’ve had in a while.
I follow her out, catching the end of their greeting as I step onto the porch.
Elsie turns that same smile to me before I get a hug of my own.
“Thank you,” she says quietly.
“It’s nothing.” I step back and she gives my hand a quick squeeze.
“It’s not nothing.”
She turns to the door before I can reply and ushers us inside. It’s a small house, with hanging flower baskets mounted on either side of the porch. Elsie leads us into a cozy living room with crochet blankets draped across the backs of both armchairs, as well as a couch pushed against the far wall.
“Can I get you anything?” she asks.
“I’m good,” I reply.
“Can I have a hot chocolate, please?” Freya answers.
It’s the first time I’ve seen her ask for anything without getting in her head about it.
She seems different here with Elsie, more comfortable.
She settles herself onto one side of the couch, curling her legs under her. Yeah, this was definitely a good idea.
Freya studies me as Elsie heads into the kitchen.
“You okay?” I ask.
“What are we doing here?”
I shrug. “Thought you’d like to see her, and it’s basically on the way.”
“But… why?”
I stare her down and say the truest thing I can think of. “Because I wanted to make you happy.”
“You tell Joyce to go to hell yet?” Elsie calls through.
Freya chuckles, looking down at her lap. “Not yet,” she replies, “maybe one of these days.”
“I’ve told you, you should try it.” Elsie comes back in, handing Freya a mug before sitting beside her. Freya moves closer until their shoulders are pressed together. Elsie doesn’t even seem to notice.
“I dunno, I’m pretty good at ignoring her at this point.”
“Oh yeah?” Elsie says. “Last time we talked it seemed to be bothering you.”
I scowl. Elsie smirks at me as she catches it.
Freya takes a long sip of her drink before replying. “I mean, yeah. She’s definitely infuriating, but it’s like you said. She’s just one person.”
“I’m really glad to hear that.” Elsie squeezes Freya’s knee and she leans into the touch, turning inwards until they’re practically cuddled together.
They settle into easy conversation. It’s nice to see her like this, so open. I hope one day she’ll feel like this in Cedar Creek. Or with me.
“I have some new projects I want to show you,” Elsie says after they’ve been chatting for an hour or so.
They’ve made a valiant effort to include me, but they’re in their own world.
After twenty minutes, I started doing a sudoku on my phone so that I wasn’t just watching them.
“Oscar, can you help me carry some things down?”
“I can help,” Freya says, sitting up.
“No, no.” Elsie stands, patting Freya’s shoulder. “He might as well use those muscles for something useful.”
Freya frowns, head tipping to the side in confusion. “He’s a firefighter.”
“I know, Little Peach. I’m just messing with him.”
I follow Elsie up the stairs into what was probably once a spare bedroom, but has now been taken over by supplies for every kind of craft possible.
“Jeez,” I say in wonder, “and I thought my mom’s stash was big.”
Elsie just laughs. “And this is it after I had a clear out.”
Fucking hell. Maybe she should have turned the florist into a craft store herself. She seems to have all the inventory already. “What needs taking down?”
“What were you doing in Denver with Freya?” I turn to see Elsie by the door, arms crossed, eyes lasering holes through me.
Right. I guess I should have expected this.
“She had a stand at Denver Yarn Festival,” I reply evenly.
“I know.” She looks me up and down. “What were you doing in Denver?”
“I was helping her.”
“Why? Did Valerie ask you to?”
“No.” I sigh. Jesus Christ, why does everybody think I need instruction from my mother to do something kind?
“So, you just, what? Volunteered?”
“Yes?”
Elsie assesses me. I let her, hoping she sees whatever she needs to.
She’s important to Freya, I want her to like me, to approve of me being in Freya’s life.
Not that I need her blessing, but I know Freya values her opinion.
If I want to pursue something, which I’m becoming more certain with every second we spend together that I do, having Elsie on my team would certainly help my case.
“You like her?” Elsie asks.
“Yes.”
“Are you gonna do something about it?”
“I expect so, yeah.”
She taps her nails together. “How much do you know about why she’s in Cedar Creek?”
The question catches me off guard. “I know you offered her the lease, and that she’s always wanted her own store.”
She eyes me carefully, choosing her next words. “And what do you know about why she left Connecticut?”
The question stumps me. “I figured it was just a good opportunity.”
“It was…”
“And?”
“And.” She pauses, seeing that I don’t know, and deciding how much to tell me. “And, it’s not my place to say.”
“Is she in some kind of trouble?”
“No, no, nothing like that.”
“Then, what?” I press, my heart racing.
“She just wanted a fresh start.”
“What does that mean?”
“She’ll tell you when she’s ready, but you need to be careful.”
“Elsie, you’re killing me here. Is there something I need to know?”
Elsie steps forward, taking hold of my hands.
“Look, I think it’s really great that you have feelings for her.
I know you’re a good person, and I know your mom would raise hell if you put one foot out of line.
” She’s right about that. “Just take it easy, alright? Be gentle with her,” she says with a soft smile.
I wince, wanting to know more, but sensing that this is all she’s going to tell me. “I can do that.”
Freya startles awake as I turn the engine off, looking around to get her bearings.
She nodded off about two hours after we left Elsie’s and stayed down ever since.
She frowns at her apartment steps before looking back at me.
It’s still daylight out. We stayed for lunch with Elsie, but after yesterday, I’m not surprised she needed the rest.
“Hi,” I whisper.
“Hi.” She matches my tone. There’s no need to be quiet, but something about the moment feels fragile.
“I didn’t want to wake you. You seemed tired.”
“Yeah, I guess I was kinda wiped.” She gives a chagrined smile.
We sit in silence, just looking at each other. It feels like something’s shifted. Maybe it was sharing the room, maybe it was the way she looked at me when I took her to Elsie’s, but I feel like maybe I’m not the only one in this. Maybe.
“Okay, well, thank you again. So much. It was really great having you there.” She unbuckles her seat belt and goes to slide out. I follow suit, meeting her by the tailgate. “Where is everything?” She frowns at the empty truck bed.
I scratch the back of my neck. “At the store?” I say sheepishly.
“You unloaded it all?” Her voice comes out a little squeaky and I almost laugh. I can’t tell if she’s pissed or not.
“Uh, yeah,” I say carefully, “you were asleep.”
“How did you get in?”
I tug at the cuffs of my shirt. This is possibly where some line-crossing happened. “I got the store keys out of your purse.”
“You went through my purse?” She crosses her arms.
“You’re making it sound way worse than it was. I just opened it and grabbed the keys.”
She eyes me with a hard stare that has me squirming. “Okay, then.”
“Okay.” I breathe a sigh of relief.
“But, I thought your mom would have raised you better than to go looking through a lady’s things,” she says with a prim smile.
“I think my mom would have been madder if I’d shaken you awake to make you unload tables with me.” I smirk. “You want to call her and ask?”
She narrows her eyes, but I can see the glint behind them. “I suppose not.”
“Exactly.” I take a step closer. “Now if you don’t mind, I need to go pick up my son, and you need some more sleep.”
Her face morphs into something softer. She pulls in a deep breath, like she’s gearing up, then it happens. She moves into my space and rises up on her toes, wrapping her arms around me in a tentative hug.
It takes a second for my brain to stop short-circuiting, but once I’ve got it together, I pull her into me. Her body is soft and warm from sleep, and I can’t not notice how her head molds into the crook of my neck.
I’d happily stay like that for hours, breathing in her scent. But almost as soon as it happens, she pulls away.
“Thank you again.” She takes a step back and I swallow a groan. “For everything.”
“Anytime.”
Shit, this girl is gonna fucking wreck me.