Page 84 of Faux Real
“Like the first day we met,” she says. “You said ‘I would never date a pretentious snob like you’ or something like that.”
Shit. I did say that. Idiot.
“Well, that was before I got to know you,” I say. “Opinions can change.”
“So you don’t think I’m pretentious anymore?” she asks, her eyes flitting around my face. “Really?”
“I think that most people are products of their environment,” I muse, choosing my words carefully. “And your environment kind of sucks—”
“Gee thanks,” she scowls.”
“But!” I hold up my fingers. “That doesn’t meanyousuck.”
“No?” she asks, the corners of her lips quirking up into a small smile. “Interesting. Maybe you judged me a little too quickly, hmm?”
“Oh no, my initial impression of you is still dead on,” I say with a cheeky smirk. “Youareuptight, a little pretentious and youdefinitelycare way too much about your image but that’s notallyou are, I’ve learnt that recently.”
“You’re really bad at giving compliments, you know that?” she notes scrunching up her nose. “I think I’m a little offended right now.”
“Don’t be,” I say, my phone ringing. “It’s unrealistic for people to only have positive qualities. We’re all a little messed up, love.” I flip my phone around. Why is he calling me? It’s past his bedtime. “Freddie?” I say, answering the call, ignoring Kennedy’s curious stare. “Fred? Are you there?”
“Ollie,” Freddie sobs, his voice trembling. “Ollie, they’re fighting again.”
“Shit,” I say, standing up, my jaw clenching. “Where are you right now, Freddie?”
“Under my bed,” Freddie cries. “I’m scared, Ollie. I don’t know what to do.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “Is he drunk?”
“I think so?” Freddie hiccups. “Do you want me to check?”
“Fuck no,” I say, my blood boiling. “Stay in your room, okay? Don’t go downstairs. Promise me, yeah?”
“I promise,” he blubbers. “Can I sleep in your room tonight? Please, Ollie! I won’t touch anything, I swear.”
“Of course, mate,” I say, sighing. “You can stay there whenever you want.” I pause. “Listen, Fred, I think you should call Grant or Eleanor, maybe they can come and get you for the night.”
“They didn’t answer,” Freddie says, the distant bickering of my parents booming through the speaker. “Ollie, when are you coming back? I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Freddie.” I close my eyes, guilt washing over me. “But I’m never moving back into that house. I can’t.”
“I don’t want to be alone with them,” Freddie sniffles. “Can I live with you? Can you take me, Ollie? Please?”
My heart seizes.
“Freddie, I’d take you if I could, but I can’t,” I whisper. “I’m sorry, mate, I really am.”
“But you can try, can’t you? Maybe dad will say yes, maybe he’ll say yes.”
I swallow away the bitter taste in my mouth. “Dad loves you, Fred, he loves you too much to let you go,” I lie. “He’s not a bad person, he just has a very stressful job and sometimes he overreacts, but you’re safe, Freddie. He won’t hurt you, I promise.”
And he won’t. No way would Alton Knight risk his image by engaging in child abuse.
“I don’t like him, Ollie,” Freddie whispers. “He’s mean to me. He told me I’m stupid. I’m not stupid, Ollie. I’m not stupid.”
“Of course, you’re not stupid,he’sstupid for even suggesting that.” I ball my hand up into a fist, taking steadying breaths. “You’re a bright kid, Freddie, you’re just a little different, that’s all.”
“Dad says different is bad.”
