Page 72 of When In Doubt

“I do want to.” I’m as quiet as he is.

“Good.”

“See you around, Oscar.” I give him a wobbly smile.

“Bye, honey.”

One more crooked grin, then he’s gone.

Chapter Twenty-Three

OSCAR

Harvey noses around in my lap.

“What do you think?” I ask him. “Is dinner too obvious?”

He blinks up at me, eyes shining.

“You know, you’re not being very helpful.” I’m trying to figure out where to take Freya on our second date. The one I haven’t quite asked her out on yet.

I want it to be perfect, but I don’t want to freak her out with something too over the top.

Fuck. I scrub a hand across my beard. It’s been two days since we went for lunch and all I can think about is her face when I asked to kiss her. That flash of fear before she tried to cover it up. She would have done it, whatever she thought I wanted.

What did she think would happen if she’d told me no?

Whatever I do, I can’t push. She could either shut down, or worse, go along with anything I say because she thinks I’ll be upset with her otherwise. I have to prove to her that the ball’s in her court, at least until she feels more comfortable.

I switch on the television and idly flick through channels, landing on the news. The wildfire we’ve been monitoring is finally getting some coverage. It still doesn’t seem too bad, but we might end up having to go out there.

“You’d better hope this doesn’t turn into anything,” I say to Harvey. “Your grandma’s out of town. I don’t know what I’m gonna do with you if I get called out.”

He twitches his nose.

I sigh. “Not exactly full of bright ideas are you, bud?”

Why do I bother?

I manage another ten minutes before my need to check on Freya wins out. I’ve been trying to give her space, but I can’t wait any longer.

OSCAR

Hi

My heart ratchets up to about four times its usual pace in the few minutes it takes for her to reply. What if she doesn’t want to talk to me? Maybe I freaked her out that badly.

FREYA

Hello.

OSCAR

How are you?

Good start. Very casual.

FREYA