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She hummed in the same way she always did when they were lying to her, and she knew it but didn’t call them out. “Call me sometime. I’m happy to help with anything either of you need while she gets everything from the storm sorted out. I understand you need space, and I’ll respect that, but that doesn’t mean I’m not here for you.”
“Thanks. I think we’ve got it, and I know you’re always here if any of us need you.”
Katrina tilted her head to the side, and Freddy developed serious sympathy for insects that found themselves in an entomologist’s lab. “Okay, but I’m here for whatever. Anytime you need me.”
Sighing, Freddy leaned in to hug her. “I know, Mom. I have no idea how you did it with five of us, but you’re a good mom.” Mom hugs held special power, and Freddy spent a second soaking it up.
“Each of you is unique, Freddy. Sometimes I worry that you got lost in the shuffle too often. You were never the squeakiest wheel, but that doesn’t mean you don’t still need attention.”
Freddy pulled away from her. He knew she loved him. He’d never doubted that, but it was still nice to hear her say that he mattered. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Oh,” she turned to grab a paper bag he hadn’t noticed her set on the side table. “There’s leftovers for Sabrina and cake for both of you in here. Have fun playing video games.”
Accepting the bag of food, Freddy wondered how Katrina Taylor had become such an incredible force. He felt lighter again and looked forward to an evening of Assassin’s Creed and shit talk.
Chapter 14: Sabrina
Sabrina reclined on the couch, controller in hand, as Freddy’s avatar parkoured across ancient rooftops on the screen. She glanced over at him, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“You doin’ okay?” She tried to keep her tone casual, but he’d been off since coming back from family dinner.
Freddy sighed, his fingers never missing a beat on the controller. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Sabrina paused her game and turned to raise an eyebrow at him. “Really? We’re lying to each other now?”
“No.” Freddy’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t say anything more.
“Spill, pass, or die,” Sabrina prompted.
“You couldn’t kill me if you tried.” Freddy relaxed as he challenged her, but Sabrina wasn’t worried.
“You’re about to enter the market with all the ninja guys where you die every single time. I won’t have to do much.”
Freddy hit pause so both sides of the screen were frozen. He kept his gaze on his lap as he said, “My brother just pissed me off, but Holly was nice about, and then Mom was all understanding and sent home the leftovers and cake, and it was just weird.”
Sabrina might not understand families, especially ones as big, wealthy, and intense as the Taylors, but she knew Freddy would refuse to share anything meaningful if he felt like he was being stared at. Unpausing her game, she exited their quest and wandered aimlessly around the map. “What did Patrick say?” she asked like the answer didn’t matter.
Freddy sighed and did the same with his own game, though he fast traveled to a different city. “Uh, well, you know how I kind of froze the other day. I mean that morning. After the tree.”
Sabrina had no idea what he was talking about, but she let him keep going.
“When you kissed me?” he finally blurted.
She froze. “Oh, that.” Mentally, she raced through how her moment of insanity could have anything to do with his family or something Patrick would say to him. Had he told them about it? Fuck, she would die from embarrassment.
“Yeah, um, I. I mean, my reaction,” he stuttered and chewed on his bottom lip while keeping his eyes focused on the screen.
Sabrina, on the other hand, couldn’t rip her eyes away from Freddy. That tiny part of her that remembered the joy of childhood hope sparked to life. The rational, adult part of her tried to snuff it out, but it wasn’t working.
She encouraged Freddy to keep talking, hoping he wouldn’t notice that her character was just standing there, not moving. “Uh huh.”
“I’m sorry about that. You caught me by surprise. That, uh, that was only the second time that’s happened to me.” The flush that bloomed across his face ran the entire way from his shirt collar to his hairline.
“You’ve only been caught by surprise twice? Or you’ve only turned into a statue twice?” she tried to add a little levity to the second question but was pretty sure she failed epically.
Freddy’s face got even redder, and his character began sprinting laps around the village he was in. “Um, my second kiss. I mean, I guess not even. Technically, uh, it was the first time someone kissed me, so um, I just didn’t. I mean. I’m just sorry I didn’t kiss you back or whatever.”
The fuck? That was Freddy’s first kiss? No, he said it was his second, but the first time someone kissed him. Holy shit. Sabrina’s brain was skipping like a needle trying to play a scratched vinyl record. What was she supposed to say to that? Why hadn’t he kissed more people? There were so many questions. Damn. Where did she even start?
