Unable to stop myself, I scroll back up, past the other guys and to Cole's image.
“Yeah,” I mutter to myself. “Really hot.”
Casey: It’s going to be a huge campaign. Everyone is going to have their eyes our men.
Freya: Doesn’t that bother you?
I ignore the bit she says about “our” men.
Casey: Nope. They can look, but only I get to touch.
I love her confidence, both in herself and her relationship. I can’t help but wonder what it might feel like to be so sure of everything.
Casey: So, how are things?
Freya: Good.
Casey: Just good?
The need to confess to what happened not so long ago burns through me. But I can’t. Especially not over a message. If I’m going to attempt to explain what happened, then it’ll have to be in person.
Freya: My car died.
Casey: Oh shit. I thought she was going to go on forever.
Freya: You and me both.
Casey: You need a car shopping buddy?
Unease swirls inside me. I know Casey won’t judge me for driving around in a car that Cole has paid for, but it still sits weird with me.
I have enough money to go and buy my own. Money isn’t the issue here.
It’s my pride and need to take control of my life that’s making me fight against this. I should just be grateful and say thank you.It’s an incredible gesture and gift. He’s taking so much stress and worry off my shoulders. I just…I don’t want to get used to it. I don’t want to rely on him. I’ve relied on a man before, and I never ever want to be in that position again. I’m just finding myself again, putting myself first. I want to continue down that path and discover exactly who I am and what I’m capable of when I don’t have a man holding my puppet strings.
Freya: I don’t. Cole bought me a car.
The ticks have barely turned blue when my cell begins ringing.
“He bought you a car?” she shrieks.
“Yeah,” I say, slumping lower in the seat.
“Did you know?”
“Nope. He blindsided me with it earlier.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “I got mad. I might have shouted a bit,” I confess on a cringe.
“You shouted?” Casey laughs. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you shout. Ever.”
“Okay, raised voice at best. I was stunned, Case. This man has given me the opportunity of a lifetime. I get to spend my days in this incredible penthouse with this insane view. And now he’s buying me a car. It’s too good to be true.”
“It’s true, Freya. Cole appreciates you, and he’s showing it the only way he knows how.”
I think about that for a moment. Cole may not have fully dived into his past, but being a kid who bounced around foster care and kids’ homes, I can’t imagine he had a lot in the way of money. It makes sense that now he has more than he can spend, he uses it to support others where he can.
