Page 42 of It's Not Home Without You

“He jumped at me.”

Dex shook his head and laughed. “Seriously, you okay?”

“No, I’m not okay.”

“You wanna talk about it?”

“That depends. Am I talking to Dex the civilian or Dex the cop?” I reallyneeded someone to rant to right now before I went back and did something Imightregret.

“Doesn’t work that way.”

“Then no, I can’t talk. I might say somethings that could later be used against me.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Let’s justsay, if someone’s tires get slashed, it wasn’t me.”

Dex’s shoulders dropped, and he shook his head.

“Actually, can you give me a ride to Rusty’s?” I asked. I needed Rust. Dex and Emma were reasonable; I didn’t need to see reason. Sometimes you justneeded to rant, and someone to rant with you, even though you were wrong.

Not saying thatI was.

“That Icando.” He steered me toward his parked car. We were almost in his car when an older gentleman stopped us.

“Hey, son, you are coming for dinner tonight?” The man looked familiar, but I guessed it was because he looked like an older version of Dex, same brown eyes, but his hair was shorter and graying. He had a bouquet of roses and French bread.

Ew, roses.

“I think I’ll make it. Dad, this is Freya. Freya, this is my dad.”

I extended my hand to shake his. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

When I smiled at him, something in his eyes flashed. I thought it was weird, but then since neither Dex nor his dad said anything, I decided it was my imagination.

“See you later, Pops,” Dex said while I waved at him and got in Dex’s car.

“I gotta say, I was never a fan of cop cars, but riding in yours feels like old times.” Dex threw his head back laughing. My distraction ended as soon as Rusty’s house came into view and I remembered why I was madin the first place.

Shit, I needed to go to the bank. I needed to get a check and take it to Mr. and Mrs. Fucking-perfect-for-each-other.

I said thanks to Dex and stopped myself from barging into Rusty’s house. We weren’t at that level of coolness, yet.

Damn you, Jana.

Okay, it wasn’t Jana’s fault. It was all mine.

Jana eyed me warily when she opened the door. “Freya, is everything okay?”

“Is Rusty here?” I was seconds from blowing up; I needed to vent now.

“No, he had to go with his dad to Superior. He’ll be here later.”

“Aw, man.”

“Do you want to come in? I made lasagna.”

“If you insist.” I barged in. She was nice to me,feeding me, making me forget I ever hated her.

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