Page 65 of Emma

Freya adjusted the strap of her bag, then glanced around. “Good practice today.”

Emma nodded. “You played well. Your passing’s getting tighter.”

“Thanks.” Freya hesitated. “I’ve been working on it.”

Freya’s tone hinted at ‘I’m trying to impress you’, but Emma understood. A lot of kids wanted to impress their teachers, especially when it came to sport. The fact that Emma was her sister likely didn’t make any difference. Emma glanced towards the changing room door, then back to Freya. “Are you heading home now?”

Freya nodded. “Ben’s waiting in the car. Carmen has a late shift.”

Emma tried to keep her smile natural. “Right.”

Another pause. Another breath.

Freya shifted her weight and looked up at her again, seemingly a little braver this time. “Did the meeting on Friday go okay?”

Emma cleared her throat. “It did. I mean, it was a lot. For everyone. But yes, I think it went okay.”

“Nia said um…that maybe you’ll write to me.”

“I will. If you’d like that.”

“Yes, please.” Freya nodded enthusiastically. “I would. I really would.”

Emma exhaled a quiet and controlled breath. Her heart was still pounding, but the fact that Freya hadn’t bolted and hadn’t put up a wall meant everything. Then came the enthusiasm Emma hadn’t expected. God, her heart was pounding for different reasons now. Freya…wanted Emma in her life. “Could I ask a quick question?”

Freya tilted her head. “Sure.”

“How would you prefer it? Letter, email, voice note, carrier pigeon?”

“Not voice note.” Freya shook her head and laughed. A real, deep, belly laugh. “I hate them.”

“Me, too.”

“And I’m scared of birds, so please don’t send a pigeon to my house.”

Emma grinned. “God, I’mterrifiedof them. The way they get all flappy and dive-bomb at you when you’re out shopping.” Emma shivered. “Gives me the creeps.”

“Are we both scared of them because we’re sisters, miss?”

Emma opened her mouth to respond, but she didn’t know what to say. Even though it had been confirmed, and even though Emma knew she was allowed tobeFreya’s sister, she still felt…out of sorts about the title. “Maybe.”

“How about we go with email?”

“Email it is,” Emma said, trying to sound relaxed and not like her lungs were deflating with relief. “I’ll send something this week if that’s okay?”

“Okay.” Freya threw a thumb over her shoulder and glanced back at the double doors that would lead to the car park. “I should go. Ben will be waiting.”

“Of course.” Emma stepped back and smiled. “Have a good evening, Freya.”

Freya backed up, only stopping when she collided with the doors. “Miss?”

Emma’s eyebrows lifted. “Yeah?”

“You don’t have to call me ‘Freya’ like I’m just a student, you know.” Freya’s gaze softened. “Not when it’s just us.”

Emma’s chest tightened. “What should I call you then?”

“Maybe just Freya.” Freya gave a tiny, almost-embarrassed smile. “Like…in a normal voice. Not a teacher voice, just a sister voice.”