knew it!” she squeals excitedly, her round cheeks pulling back as she smiles. “You saucy minx. You two are having The Sex, aren’t you?”
“No!” I exclaim defensively, feeling a hum begin inside me just at the mention of sleeping with Santino. “No, this is purely a friendship thing. I just feel like a shite because Friday after our meeting, he wanted to celebrate the contract and my job offer, and I kind of rejected him.”
“Why did you reject him?”
“Because he’s bloody perfect!” I nearly shout because I’m so fucking sick of being confused by him.
“He’s got a lot of nerve!” Freya tuts in solidarity. “Doesn’t he know we women only want men who are damaged so that we can project our insecurities on them and feel superior in our less awful fuckedupness?”
“Right!” I reply with a huff. “And I don’t need a distraction like him in my life because I’m here for you. And the baby!” I smile at Freya’s belly that I swear gets bigger by the day. “This is my do-over with you and Mac. I’m here to be the sister I should have been over the past decade or so.”
“Tilly.” Freya says my name in a chastising tone that gives me an instant sneak peek of what she’ll sound like as a mother. “You do not owe us anything more than your love and affection.”
“What?” I ask with a confused laugh.
“When you offered to come here and help us out, it wasn’t so you could chain yourself to my leg and pay your dues. You’re not punching a clock, and we’re not going to accuse you of not caring the minute you don’t log forty hours!”
“I know that.”
She clutches her belly firmly, her nostrils flaring with determination. “Then don’t use me as an excuse for your fear.”
I inhale sharply at her very pointed words. She must take pity on my shock because she reaches forward to touch my leg soothingly. “I just want you to see that we are doing quite well here. And we love having you here. I have greatly enjoyed the experience of living with a sister, but none of that should come at the expense of your own happiness. You’re quite capable of having it all, Smarty Spice.”
She shoots me a very Freya-like wink, and I expel a soft laugh. “All that may be true, but I’m not sure Santino is the man to take that gamble with. A leopard doesn’t truly change his spots.”
“If you say so.” Freya huffs and hits me with a knowing look. “Although, you somehow managed to change yours, didn’t you?”
I groan exhaustedly. “It’s not the same thing.”
“It’s not that different, Smarty Spice! It’s not unheard of for people to change. You’re sober now, so the idea that Santino might not be the Lord Voldemort manwhore we all took him to be could be a faint possibility.”
I bite my lip as I ponder that thought for a moment and then quickly shake it away. “Well, it doesn’t matter anyways because we’re just friends. And I’m only going over there for a quick chat because he did a lot for us with this deal and I don’t want to be a total cunt. Just a quick apology, then I’m out of there.”
“If you say so,” Freya replies with a sneaky smile. “Where should I tell your brother you ran off to?”
I swallow nervously. “Just tell him I went out to the markets. I’ll probably shop on my way back, so it won’t be a complete lie.”
Freya nods excitedly. “I’ve got your back, sis.”
I drive my car over to the building I remember Santino pointing out the other night after dinner. I could text him and tell him I’m coming over but after being such a prat, I think this warrants a bit of an unexpected gesture.
That is…if he’s home in the middle of a Sunday. I mean, it’s just venturing on one o’clock. If he has a date for the night, surely it wouldn’t start until later, right? Unless he had someone sleepover last night. And she’s still there now? Oh my God, that would be humiliating.
My hands tighten around the wheel, and I wonder if I should turn back now and save myself all the trouble. But then I remember how thoughtful he was to draw up that contract and how thrilled Freya was to sign it and scan it over to them right away. Santino didn’t have to help us, but he did, which means I didn’t