Page 69 of Strong and Wild

Shit.I open the door.

“Can I borrow a couple bucks?”

Her eyes are like black holes.

“Are you high?”

“That’s a rude thing to ask.”

I turn around and squint at the clock on the microwave. “It’s four in the morning, Anna. What the fuck?”

“I know, I know. I just got a new job, and I need some money for gas. I work the third shift.”

“You don’t have a car.”

“I know. But my Uber driver needs money for gas...”

I rub my forehead. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Okay. So, can I have it?”

“Where are you working?”

“Well, I don’t have the job yet, but I need the money. If you’re not going to give me money, then I need a place to crash.”

I try to remember what Freya said about boundaries.

“Anna, you can’t be here when you’re high.”

Just then, Freya comes around the corner wearing my robe. Seeing her in something of mine makes my heart hammer.

“Rhys? What’s going—”

“It’s just my sister.”

Freya heads back into the bedroom, and Anna’s face contorts. She looks pissed.

“Just?Wow. Thanks,bro.” Anna sneers.

When Freya returns, she’s dressed.

“I’m going to head home. Thanks, uh, for dinner.”

“Freya, you don’t have to go.”

“It’s fine. You have to get up early anyway.”

“Oh! She doesn’t have to go, but I do? She has a bed already, it’s across the hall!” Anna shouts.How is she this amped at four in the morning?

I was hoping I could get a decent goodbye from Freya. I was looking forward to kissing her again, but instead, she steps between Anna and me and slips back into her apartment before I can even respond.

And just like that, the private bubble we were in bursts.

“That’s fine, if you don’t want to give me a place to stay, I’m sure there’s plenty of other men that will happily take me in and let me earn some money. Jesus, my own brother plays in the pros and won’t even give me a cent of his million-dollar signing bonus.”

“That’s fucked up. And fuck you for putting that on me. This is your choice.” I’m pissed at her for giving me an ultimatum and for waking up Freya and ending our time together early.

“Well, right now, it’s your choice.” She holds her arms out wide. “What’ll it be?”