Page 27 of Dirty Dancer

“I could just leave.”

“Yep,” Freddie said as he wandered in. “If you keep shouting like that while we’re hungover, I’m going to say someone is going to help you get the hell out sooner rather than later.”

He wasn’t quite staggering. Nor was he hungover. The clarity in that blue-eyed gaze wasn’t focused on me, however, but rather on Theo.

The little shit in question frowned. Probably didn’t think the argument would turn this direction. Grateful for the backup, I washed down the rest of the danish with some coffee and rose to refill my cup.

“You don’t even know what we’re arguing about,” Theo finally settled on a new course of battle. Ugh, I owed Ms. Stephanie so many apologies. I really hoped I’d never been this bad to her.

“And I don’t care,” Freddie said. “You don’t want to do something. So you’re sitting here whining like a little bitch about it and demanding someone else fix it so you don’t have to because you think no one else should be in charge of you.”

“So?” Right, time to antagonize Freddie apparently. I debated stepping into it, but Freddie didn’t seem angry. Hell, he didn’t even look particularly annoyed. Instead of addressing Theo’s demand, he opened the fridge and took out the orange juice.

“So,” Freddie said. “If you don’t want people making choices for you, stop demanding they fix your shit too. If you don’t need the help, prove you don’t, and move on. Or here’s a thought…shut up.”

Theo’s mouth fell open and it took everything I had not to laugh my ass off at the stunned look on his face. While Theo searched for a response, I pulled another mug out of the cupboard.

“You want coffee, Freddie?”

“Not yet,” he said. “I’m going to wait for Boo-Boo to get up and then we’ll have lattes. I could eat though.”

“There’s more danishes there,” I told him. “Didn’t grab donuts yet. Figured we’d do that tomorrow.”

I carried my mug back to the table where Theo was still staring at Freddie, who opened the cap on the orange juice jug and downed about a third of it. Since the only two people present were me and Theo, I didn’t say anything.

After pulling out a couple of the cold danishes, Freddie carried them and the OJ over to the table. “Think we should make breakfast for Kel when they get up, too?”

“Only if you’re volunteering,” I said, before taking another bite of my own. Kel liked cooking and he really liked cooking for our girl, so I wasn’t taking that away.

“Point,” Freddie said before he finally focused on Theo “So, you going the shut the fuck up route?”

The kid scowled. “I don’t want to be assessed.”

“Well, nobody does.” Freddie shrugged. “But you don’t want to be stupid or helpless either. So, get assessed, figure out your weak points, then strengthen them.”

“Great, so now I’m stupid?” Was that hurt in Theo’s voice?

“Did I say you were stupid?”

“You just said I don’t want to be stupid and helpless. I’mnothelpless. I’mnotstupid either.”

“Okay,” Freddie said, almost too agreeably. “So, why are you so scared of meeting—who is he supposed to be meeting?”

I almost snorted a laugh at that bland delivery. “Educational assessment from the district learning center.”

“Ugh,” Freddie said, making a face. “Right. Is it here? Or does he have to go to them?”

“Pretty sure we decided to take him there, but that’s just cause we don’t need anyone else hanging out in here. We wantto give him as clean and safe an opportunity as possible.” I shrugged. “Liam made the arrangements.”

“He’s some creepy old guy,” Theo admitted. “I saw him last week when Doc swung by the learning center to discuss the testing options. I told him then I didn’t want to do it.”

“What did Doc say?” I had my own ideas, but I didn’t assume with Doc anymore. I’d learned that lesson.

“Just that assessments weren’t about passing or failing. I shouldn’t worry about it and I wouldn’t be alone.”

“So Doc picked up on the fact you didn’t like the place.” Freddie scratched at his jaw. It wasn’t a question. “Is it because it’s a guy and not a woman?”

I didn’t say anything, just sipped my coffee and kept an eye on Theo over the rim.

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