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Unsure how to respond, she shrugged again and sipped on her water to buy herself some time. Freddy was standing at the top of the stairs, half turned to go down and get ready to leave. She felt his eyes rove over her as she leaned her ass against the edge of the built-in desk.
“I didn’t mean to push.” Freddy shifted his weight from foot to foot. “I just wanted you to know you should. Or at least you can.” He grimaced. “I know it’s a giant love fest since Veronica has Zach and Patrick’s got Holly, but we could make fun of them together or whatever.”
“Maybe sometime.” No way in hell was Sabrina going to intrude on a Taylor Family dinner, but she appreciated that Freddy wanted her there. Unfortunately, she didn’t fit with his family, and she knew it. Keeping her distance allowed them to respect her work without seeing how little she knew about things like fancy table settings and wine pairings. She was careful to dress professionally for their Monday meetings and spoke thoughtfully and clearly around everyone she worked with. It was exhausting, but it was only once a week, and this job was worth it. It was more than she’d be able to keep up with during a family meal, though. For one thing, she’d been taught how to act in a professional meeting. No one ever showed her how to behave at a family gathering.
“Okay.” Freddy turned to continue down the steps as Sabrina thought. He was the only person who saw the pieces of her she’d tried hard to leave behind in Nebraska, but they didn’t seem to bother him. Or did he just hide his judgement and stick around out of pity? Either way, she knew he only saw some of what she hid. He knew her father died of an overdose, but Freddy had no idea Sabrina’s mother still walked across the discolored carpet where they’d bleached away his death.
Without consciously deciding to, she followed him downstairs to the living room and watched as he dug through his duffle, which was still on the armchair.
“How come you always worked at my place instead of from here?” she asked before thinking it through.
Freddy had been sorting through a giant wad of crumpled paper and stiffened before turning back to her with a pained look.
The way he stammered out an apology for invading her space was the last response Sabrina expected. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to assume...”
Then she realized how he’d interpreted her question and rolled her eyes so hard she damn near fell over backward. “You’re an idiot. I loved having you there, just like I love working alongside you here. I was just curious why we always worked at my place instead of yours. Today felt just like any other workday.”
Freddy’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but he still looked unsure. “Oh, uh, well... I guess I just figured it was easier? I mean, you had a great setup...” he trailed off.
Sabrina studied his face, trying to read between the lines. She couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to it than that. Did he pity her and not want to shove his wealth in her face?
As much as she longed to be a part of the Taylor family, to feel that sense of belonging, she wasn’t naive enough to believe it could really happen.
Swallowing past the lump in her throat, Sabrina forced a smile. “Well, I’m glad you felt comfortable there. I like working here, too, though. More than I expected.”
Freddy returned her smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Thanks, Rina. I appreciate that.” He glanced at his watch and grimaced. “I really do need to get going, though. I’ll see you later for some Assassin’s Creed?”
Sabrina nodded, stepping back to give him space. “Absolutely. Now go, before you’re late and Patrick gives you shit for it. I’ll have the game ready when you get back.”
With a final wave, Freddy headed out the door, leaving Sabrina alone with her thoughts and the sinking feeling that nomatter how close they became, there would always be a part of Freddy’s life she couldn’t touch.
The Taylors were loaded, and Sabrina knew her little cabin was a far cry from the luxury surrounding her here.
Chapter 13: Freddy
Freddy arrived at family dinner, his mind still reeling with the day’s successes at work. He handed his receipts to Greg and settled in at the table, his thoughts drifting to Sabrina and the graceful way her fingers flew across her keyboard. He’d much rather be having dinner with her at her home. UPS hadn’t delivered the stuff he’d ordered, but considering how he was spending his evening, that was fine. They could decorate tomorrow.
Looking around the clean, modern house he grew up in, he wondered what had changed from his childhood. Back then, thishouse felt comfortable, like he belonged there. All five kids had torn around tracking mud, spraying water, leaving belongings strewn about, and generally being carefree kids.
While their family had renovated rooms to turn the upstairs into two apartments since everyone moved out, the first floor had always held his dad’s office, and the dining room had always doubled as a conference room. So what changed? Was it the lack of noisy shouting? Did it feel colder simply because it was always tidy now? Or was it him? Had Freddy changed and grown up to see the same building through different eyes?
Whatever the cause, Freddy preferred the relaxed comfort of Sabrina’s cabin with linoleum from forty years ago, indoor-outdoor green carpet covering the floor of her front porch, a loveseat with enough of a dip in the middle for them to always end up leaning against each other while gaming. He might have taken advantage of her by working at her place every day, but he would make up for it now. Maybe they should replace his deep leather couch with a loveseat like hers. Knowing that the place where they’d bonded was gone hurt, but Freddy was determined to turn his cold house into a home where they both felt comfortable, even if he had to rip out the hardwood floors and replace them with hideous linoleum.
“So, Freddy,” Katrina began, passing him a dish of green beans, “how’s Sabrina? She never joins us. I hope you’re inviting her like I asked.”
Ducking his head to hide the grin spreading across his face at the mention of her name, Freddy couldn’t hold back his praise. “She’s taking it all in stride. It’s crazy how nothing tears her down. I mean, a freakin’ tree crashed onto her bed where she’d just been sleeping, and she still offered me coffee when I got there. Oh, and wait till you hear the feedback on the newest user manual guides. She reorganized the diagrams and written instructions so they flow better, and is making a pointto emphasize the logic checking tool that’s key for our next update. You know that since she’s been writing our manuals, the number of requests for support has dropped by more than eighty percent.” He looked over at his brother, Patrick while adding, “That’s a huge part of how you’ve been able to get us civilian contracts now, too, right?” That was what Patrick cared about most. For him, the way each person’s work impacted the company was the bottom line, and Freddy never wanted Patrick to doubt how valuable Sabrina was.
It caught Greg’s attention too. “We could use more contracts that don’t require the level of support the government demands.” He pointed his fork at Patrick. “With how many people Holly’s convinced you to hire, we’re going to need the extra income.”
From the head of the table, Nathan grumbled, “Considering the recent media attention, you’d think the government would pay us more.”
Greg shook his head and countered, “The leaks negate any goodwill we might have earned.” He gave Patrick an accusatory look, and Freddy felt bad for having sent the conversation in that direction.
“Oh, you won’t believe what Renner did in Seattle,” he broke in to break up the argument before it got heated. “He was such an ass to the guy behind the counter, I thought he was going to get us both arrested, but then I stepped up with my charm,” Freddy arranged his face in the confident smirk his public persona demanded, “and saved the day. That’s how we got back so fast on that red-eye fight. I charmed the pants off the gate attendant, too.” It would be better if he could remember what she looked like, but he could make it up. It wasn’t like his family would know any better.
He regaled them with more stories from their trip being careful to keep them light and funny.
“Hey, Freddy?” Greg broke into the conversation as he looked up from the pile of receipts he’d been flipping once he finished eating.
