Page 55 of The Executioners Three
Freddie didn’t know why she told Theo all of this. Maybe it was because she didn’t feel like she deserved his gratitude, or maybe because the guilt was finally boiling over.
Or maybe it was just because he looked like a wreck and shefeltlike one. There was something comforting in that. Either way, she reached the end of her story and, face still in her hands, she mumbled, “So you see? If I had just been more forceful, then maybe she would never have gone down that trail and whatever attacked her—”
A hand landed on Freddie’s shoulder. She broke off.
“You know everything you just said is really stupid, right?” Theo bent over and tried to meet her eyes.
“Uh…”
He smiled—the first smile since Freddie had walked in here. It was nice. “Most people would’ve gone by and ignored her, Gellar. In fact…” He straightened, pulling Freddie upright with him. “I bet peopledidgo by and ignore her. But you didn’t. You saved her life and I’m grateful.” He shrugged. “I don’t have much family left.”
“Huh,” Freddie replied. Not her most clever retort, but it was hard to think straight when Theo was looking at her like he was right now. He had a very intense stare (clearly, that ran in the family).
Plus, his fingers were still on her shoulder. They were warm.
“Do the police know what happened to her? Or the doctors?” Freddie was relieved she sounded like a normal human. She didn’tfeellike a normal human with his hand touching her like that.
“They’re saying it was a wild animal. Maybe a wolf.”
“That was not a wolf.” The words slipped out before Freddie could stop them. But Theo didn’t contradict her. If anything, he seemed to agree.
His hand was still resting on her shoulder.
“Whatever it was,” he said slowly, “I’m not sure we’ll know for certain until Grandma wakes up. My aunt is kinda preoccupied with something else right now.”
Not just your aunt,Freddie thought. Something was bothering Theo too—something more than his injured grandmother. Something that explained the shiner swelling around his left eye.
“What happened to you?” she asked softly.
Theo’s lips parted, as if he might answer. As if he wanted to. But a heartbeat later, he only wagged his head. His hand fell away.
For some reason, Freddie wished it hadn’t. “Hey, Theo,” she said before he could retreat within himself. “Can I ask a favor?”
“Maybe.” A smile flitted over his lips. “Although my favors don’t come cheap.”
“Is that so?” Now Freddie was the one smiling. “Well, how much would this cost: I need you to call me when your grandmother wakes up.”
“Ah.” His smile dissolved. “ThatI will do for free.”
“Oh.” Freddie swallowed.
“Here.” He crooked over and yanked a spiral-bound notebook from his backpack. After flipping to the last page and slipping a pen from his blazer pocket, he offered both to Freddie. “Write down your phone number.”
“Oh,” she repeated—although it came out a bit squeakier this time. This was the second instance in one week that she had given her number to a boy. And sure, Theo only wanted it because she had just asked him to call, but something about the way he was looking at her made it feel different.
Remember your vow to Divya! STAY STRONG.
Freddie was extremely careful not to brush Theo’s fingers as she took the paper and pen. Then, after scrawling down Sabrina’s number, she glanced up. “What’syourphone number?”
“No number,” he murmured, watching Freddie and not the paper. “I lost my phone last night.”
“Does that have anything to do with the black eye?”
“Maybe.”
“Okay.” Freddie ripped her gaze away from his. Heat was gathering in her belly, and she liked it a little too much. “Well, here’s my ICQ name, just in case.”
“ICQ?” He laughed. “Who the hell uses ICQ?”
