Page 54 of When In Doubt

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.