. hands on the button

[freddie beaumont]

Freddie’s eyes roll at her getting there remark about musicians. His lips pull into a smile as he feels her loosen up around him. Her banter being more friendly than before, reminding him of how they used to be whenever around each other. “As hard as it is to believe, I’m working for Beaumont hotels,” he sighs, a bit dramatically to tease her. The Freddie she knew (who he still is, just a little bit more mature) hated the idea of ever working. The Beaumont money seemed endless, why did he need to work hard? But those thoughts fizzled out once the reality of the real world set in for Freddie. It wasn’t a forced lifestyle, more of an intriguing legacy. “Don’t mistake that for me putting my wild side behind me, though. It’s still here, and never going away.” He feels comfortable enough with the new vibe between them now to drop his right eye into a wink. The pair cheers their glasses and Freddie watches the way her glass touches her lips with appreciation. Their waiter makes his way back with the water and Freddie makes a point to fill them up to the brim. “Here,” he slides the water towards Aisha. “We can be semi-responsible,” Freddie snickers as he takes a sip of the water, this was anything but responsible (drinking wine and being with Aisha in such a close proximity) but he didn’t seem to care. As forbidden was they were, Freddie held a soft spot for Aisha. So hearing of her struggles does pull at his tainted black heart. As he was going through changes in his own life, he often forgot about those around him. It was selfish, he knew. But he didn’t regret telling her the truth - he did think of her and did not forget she existed. “You’re welcome,” Freddie nods and chooses not to dive any deeper since seeing the emotions all overcome Aisha. She now knew of his open invitation for speaking about her feelings. “Hm, besides Vegas? Working. Going out with friends, some dates, seeing my parents or Georgina,” he shakes his head at how boring his own words sound. “I did do a yacht trip before Vegas. That was fun. You know me, I’m spontaneous. Except now I have to add working into being spontaneous,” Freddie chuckles and thinks about how different things used to be. “You can’t tell me all you do is sit around and scroll social media.” Though she was a mom he couldn’t fully believe that’s all she did. “Have you seen Cora? You’ve been out here all summer..this can’t be your first night out in a while, is it?”

[aisha van buren]

At the mention of Beaumont Hotels Aisha snorts. The predictability of it all, his destiny from birth. The Beamonts' exasperation at their son's playboy lifestyle becoming more and more clear to see as the years slipped by. She's surprised they haven't tried to reign him in sooner, but she's also surprised that it sounds like he's finally acquiescing. As if reading her mind, he assures her he's the same old Freddie. A luxury she could not afford. "Oh, you'll end up like all the rest of them. A devoted family man and husband in public, a pretend workaholic; then a philandering bastard behind clothes doors." Their world was full of such types, men who left their perfect trophy wives at home to sleep with mistresses young enough to be their daughters. "You, CEO-to-be. Never thought I would see the day Fredster, congratulations." It was a slow transformation that Tate was undergoing too, morphing from a college dropout party boy to a suited and booted corporate type. She had known it would happen, but that didn't stop if from feeling sudden to the blonde, who was as work-shy as ever, even if motherhood had proven a task. She downs the water he slips over to her, pushing the glass back towards him to refill on her behalf. Things tended to happen around Aisha, glasses refilled, mess tidied, crying babies picked up, and she had no intention of allowing that to change. She feigns an exaggerated yawn at his list of activities, rolling her eyes. "That's more predictable. You can't plan spontaneity, that's over for you now." She shrugs at his question, knowing that in truth her life was a thousand times more boring than his. "I do look after my own child sometimes, believe it or not," she says, more defensively than she intended. She doesn't want to admit the truth, that he's the last person she slept with, all those years ago. There were no dates for her to speak of, no exotic trips or wild adventures. She did just sit around on social media, for the most part. Feeling sick with the realization of what her life had become, she sips yet more wine, looking out to sea to avoid looking at him. "Cora's coming out to see me soon. I've been busy, you know what it's like, everyone and their mother stops by during the summer since we've got the best guest facilities."

[freddie beaumont]

He occasionally hated that his life was already planned out for him. They key word - occasionally. The moment his parents found out he was a male, it was slated. Becoming a part of the Beaumont legacy is where Freddie's destiny was proving to be. Freddie would never say that out loud, though. He cherished the money and the lifestyle he was fortunate to be brought up into. But sometimes he wondered what it would be like to have zero responsibilities. That life probably would lead him to a lot more trouble and teeter a line he shouldn't be crossing. Freddie snorts at her mention of marriage. “Me? Married?” He lifts his full eyebrows up as he throws the question back at her. “Never saw myself as the married type. Don’t tell my parents that though. Their precious legacy can continue on with Georgina,” he murmurs as he thinks of his baby sister. Still shocked to him how fast each of them had grown up, it seemed like yesterday his parents were altering his world by announcing they were expecting. “Thanks, Aisha. Cheers to semi-growing up, that’s what I’m going to call it.” He clinks his glass with her and winks once more. He then reaches for the bottle and empties the remainder into each of their glasses. He takes that moment as well to raise a hand to the waiter and scribble a ‘check’ symbol in the air. Freddie tops off their waters that they each drank surprisingly fast. “Drink some more of this water and we can get out of here. Maybe take a walk down toward the water, yeah?” He alternates between the water and the last bit of their final glass. “Unless you’re still ready to murder me…then I can just take you home.” Freddie gives her a softer smile as he jokes with her. Freddie's hand grasps the check from the approaching waiter before she can disagree. As per usual, he doesn’t care to check the itemized receipt- just signing and giving the helpful waiter a respectable tip. Once filled out, his back finds the chair and his full attention back upon Aisha. “Hey, hey, I never said you didn’t take care of your own child,” his hands come up in full defense but in a calm manner. Freddie partially despises that he’s so curious about what’s going on in her life. Who’s she slept with, who’s taken her out and much more. It was easy, this was easy when she loosened up and felt more comfortable around him. And that thought alone was something he wasn’t sure he should continue to entertain, especially given that Tate threatened him a lot the first time around. “Yeah, yeah, I’m far too familiar with it,” he thinks of how often people came in and out of his parent’s summer home during this particular season. “Nice that Cora’s coming to see you. I ran into her not too long ago, actually. And no, I didn’t hit on her, if that’s going to be your next question,” Freddie chuckles as he looks to the sky to see the sun was now fully set. "So you haven't seen someone more exciting than me this summer, is what you're getting at?!"

[aisha van buren]

They both know that Georgina wouldn't be considered a full heir, not when she had the temerity to be born a girl. "You will," she says, and she's confident she's right. Tate had been a commitmentphobe for most of his life, only to immediately fall at the first hurdle as soon as he'd met Rosie. She had learnt to be less shocked by men changing their behaviour as soon as they met the right person, just as easily as she had learnt that she was unlikely to ever be that right person for anyone, too uppity and sharp tongued to be anyone's idea of home. The wine was making her melancholic but she clinks his glass and drinks more anyway. He orders the check and she makes no word of protest or gratitude as he pays it, though she watches him carefully. Freddie had a natural ability to take charge that would serve him well at work, as she had experienced first hand. After years of playful but chaste flirting, they had started their faux romance with her promising that it was just that, a little show, a distraction. For weeks that's all it was, PDA at nightclubs where at most they got a little handsy, or her phone full of staged photos of them locked in a kiss. All until the fateful  night they had been drinking about as much wine as they were now, and she had finally agreed to head back to his hotel suite. As much as she had tried to suppress the memory, Freddie had made her do the one thing she had never done before or since; he had made her beg for it. Cheeks flushing at the memory, Aisha downs her full glass of water, hoping it'll cool her from the inside out. "You think I'm going to go frolic in the sea with you?" She scrunches her nose up, though she stands, collecting her bag with a sigh. When she speaks she speaks more loudly, gesturing her sunglasses around the patio area so everyone knew they were being talked about, "but only because I can't sit and watch these desperate girls eyefuck you for another second." Feeling better now that she's embarrassed a few people, she leads the way out of the restaurant and down towards the beach, musing over his questions. She has to decide how honest she wants to be, and she decides that the only answer is not at all. "You're welcome to hit on Cora, she needs the distraction. I've seen a few people more exciting than you... my dentist, for example. I also watched paint dry for a few hours, that was far more exciting than bumping into you." Despite the jabs she gives him a rare smile. "What about you, who have you been seeing?" she asks, emphasising the word with air quotes.

[freddie beaumont]

"You do know I've been pretty determined to prove everyone wrong my entire life, right?" Freddie threw his head back laughing at the thought of how much he's put his parents through. It wasn't a secret that the Beaumont heir was a trouble maker. Newspapers, gossip tabloids and online websites blasted Freddie's name in big bold letters at any mistake he tended to make. It definitely helped that money could buy a lot of things. Including some legality issues. It wasn't just the issue of his behavior that Freddie cared about proving others wrong. Even though he was born to fulfill a spot in his family's legacy, but he wanted others to know he was worthy of the title. While he was notorious for having fun, Freddie did work hard and had a sense of pride when it came to his ability to do so. The waiter takes the check and smiles briefly at the two before nodding his head as a simple thank you. "I'd only be interested frolicking, as you put it, in the sea if you offered to take some more clothes off," Freddie points out as he drinks the last bit of his water but continues on, "And considering you eliminated that option the minute I sat down with you, there will be none of that." Freddie wouldn't lie, watching her make a scene did something for him. He didn't care that everyone's eyes were now on them as she placed her sunglasses on and all but stalked out of the restaurant. Why her drama turned him on? He would never know, but it did, the want was there for him and making his heart beat just a little bit faster. Freddie grins and mumbles under his breath far from her ears, Aisha, Aisha, what am I going to do with you? Freddie catches up with her as he gives one glance around the restaurant and their obvious staring. His hand out of habit touches the small of her back. She doesn't make a comment though when he leaves it there for longer than a few seconds. Just a simple touch has him thinking about the night he finally got Aisha to beg for him. Freddie's lips pull into a smirk as he thinks of how loudly she moaned his name and begged him not to stop. Freddie drops the smirk fast so she can't tell what he's thinking, the woman was notorious after all for calling his bluff. The beach has cleared out once they've made it close to the water. Minus the few people who were taking their time to get some pictures of the orange that remained in the sky, it was just the two of them. "Nah, I like Cora but she's strictly my party buddy. We can't let those lines cross sometimes, I'll gladly flirt with her though" he remarks as she gives him the permission. "Mhm, that sounds so fun. Not." He rolls his eyes before adding, "sounds boring. Glad I came to rescue you." He does love to see the smile form upon her lips. One of his own follows behind hers. "Oh nothing serious. A few girls here and there." He gives the shrug of his shoulders, for once he's not up for bragging about his escapades. "And what's with the air quotes?" He laughs at her ridiculous gesture of the quotes.

[aisha van buren]

Oh if Tate could see them now. Looking around, Aisha has spotted some familiar faces within the crowd and she knows it's only a matter of time before the gossip spread and her little brother would be blowing up her phone. It was uncharacteristic of Tate to get involved in her relationships, as he was usually indifferent to her partners at most, more often feeling actively sorry for them having to deal with her. But there was something about her and Freddie that set him off, and Aisha wasn't entirely sure which of them Tate was trying to protect from the other. True to form, Aisha completely ignores the waiter as he takes the check, her eyes still fixed on Freddie though they narrow as he speaks. "Do you want us to strip down and get it on right in front of all these people's salads?" she asks sarcastically, though actually it doesn't sound like the worst idea.  Free from the restaurant, she briefly wonders if this is such a great idea. There was a magnetic pull between them that was stronger than she remembered, likely strengthened by the absence. In truth she had spent more nights than she'd care to admit reliving their rendezvous in her head, her breathing shallow and her skin hot. Feeling his touch on the small of her back sends a jolt of electricity through her whole body, and she hates that she craves more contact, hates that he's so tall and strong and that he smells so good now that he's up close. She's relieved to hear that he wouldn't go there with Cora, and that relief is infuriating too. "I don't think she'd go there with you anyway, I've warned her off. Big of you to flirt with her, though, and so out of character for you." Torn between wanting to throw a tantrum and wanting to throw herself at him, Aisha instead slips her Oran sandals off, feeling the sand beneath her toes and scooping her shoes up. Now that they're away from the crowds she sits down, looking out across the water and trying her best to hide how much she's enjoying his company. "You might as well sit." She snorts at his question. "What do you think I mean? You don't really see women, you just lead them on and take what you want from them, when you then can drop them. The Freddie Beaumont special."

[freddie beaumont]

Freddie’s eyebrows come up as he ponders the idea of them stripping down in this very restaurant. As much as he loved the ‘scandalous’ thought of seeing Aisha naked again, he didn’t care for the backlash that would come with it. No doubt Tate would get word of their rendezvous. He recognized a few people at the surrounding tables, which wasn’t rare for Montauk. The city group they ran in, infiltrated here just like their usual city spots. They’re wandering eyes and smirks making Freddie aware of what could be said. He made a mental note to text Tate tonight before he assumed the worst of Freddie. “They don’t deserve a free show, and we’d give them a good one.” Freddie drops his right eye to wink at Aisha. He allows her to lead them further onto the beach and away from the restaurant crowd. The sky was turning darker and darker as the minutes passed between them. She’s got her back towards him and he uses this moment for discreetly scanning her body. Her toned legs and bottom the most visible things to him with her oversized shirt not allowing him to steal glances of much more. His imagination still worked though and he knew what lies beneath her clothes. Could they keep fighting this spark that was between them? Freddie takes her invitation to sit beside her. “Hope you can handle being this close to me,” Freddie grins at her as he looks out towards the sea. It bothers him that she speaks so poorly of his “dating” life. Sure, he was a commitment-phobe but he didn’t treat women poorly. Every woman he took out, actually complimented him on his little gestures. It didn’t matter it didn’t last long, he went into every situation with clear expectations and honesty. And he loved sex. “What’s so wrong with just having fun?” He questions her, an annoyed tone following with his question. “I’m not that much an asshole to women as you all make me out to be.”He feels the need to defend himself. “I’m always open and honest about what I want. And is it really wrong to like casual sex?” Freddie mumbles as he crosses his arms to chest.

[aisha van buren]

The water is lapping ahead of them and Aisha stretches out her legs, her limbs light from all the alcohol. The sand feels glorious under her skin, which is a smooth bronze after her full summer in the Hamptons. "I'll manage," she says, her tone as aloof as ever though the booze makes her do something unthinkable; without thinking, she leans against his sturdy frame, her head against his shoulder. It's even easier to breathe in his cologne, mixed in with the smell of the salt air, an intoxicating combination that makes it so that she can easily overlook her own out of character behaviour.   There it was again, that bitterness towards him that she didn't even realise she had been harbouring. He's correct in his self defence, and he's correct that she knows he's correct. For all their playboy tendencies, both Freddie and Tate operated with a level of respect towards their bedmates, and she had heard from plenty of people that they were both always honest and upfront about their intentions, seeking out clear and qualified consent. Maybe because they both had sisters, or maybe they were just decent. So for once Aisha regrets her sharp words, knowing them to be coming from a misplaced emotion. She had experienced that too, and it was she who had gone back on her word when they first slept together. Swallowing down the distaste she felt from being wrong, she couldn't bring herself to apologise so she just changed tact. "Don't you ever think of more? Aren't there things that interest you about women beyond what's between their legs?"

[freddie beaumont]

Freddie welcomes her head upon his shoulder. At first his body reacts with disbelief, that she was the next one willing to touch him. It wasn't even an hour ago that Aisha was making her boundaries abundantly clear. But again, he masks the shocked emotion with allowing himself to be comfortable. Something brews in his stomach as he feels the warmth of her body pressed ever so slightly against his. He feels the contact from her sun kissed cheek on his shoulder and upper arm, their height difference even more noticeable as her barely reaches up to his shoulder. A few minutes of silence passes between them after her managing comment, Freddie breaks the quiet with a cheeky comment. "I will admit, it's nice when you're not arguing with me," his chuckle deep as he watches out at the sea again. Freddie finds his other hand circling the sand on the opposite side of Aisha. He confesses it's been a while since he actually came down to sit by the beach. Most the time he spent his days and nights in Montauk either tucked away in a luxurious home beside a pool or at the various restaurants and bars in the beach side city. Breathing in the fresh air and the ocean scent reminds me of how often they were down here as kids. Each of the kids with their nannies in tow as they frolicked into the freezing cold water, without a care in the world. It wasn't that anyone broke his heart, or that he was hurt in any other way that made him afraid of commitment. Truly, it was the lifestyle around him. Everything fell into the palm of his hands and he was a sucker to temptation. Well, when it benefited him. For years, he watched the people around him have a loveless marriage only out of convenience. His relationship with his parents was a great one, he held no ill feelings towards either of them. But it was their lack of love that made him resent it. And made Freddie feel as though it was something he could live without. "Of course there are," he answers honestly. He takes a deep breath before speaking again. "I've had some really great relationships," he throws up the air quotes as she did earlier, "I love women, and not just for sex. I've had genuine feelings towards a few, which you can make fun of me for saying, I don't care." Freddie knows that information he shares will either stay between them or make their way in the ears of others. The second option not really bothering him all that much anyways.  He wonders if she'll think that maybe she was one of the few that he developed feelings for. "I've seen every single male in my family fuck up a relationship in this lifestyle," his hand gestures towards the two of them. "I may be an asshole, but I don't want to be that guy. So, it's best to just avoid and stick with what I know." Freddie murmurs as he thinks of his grandfather, father and uncles. "So yeah, just having fun is what I like," he finishes his thoughts.

[aisha van buren]

Now that it was getting dark she was happy to be with him. Since having Aria, Aisha had become something of a shut in, originally because she was so busy with the newborn. But it had morphed into something less healthy, her postpartum depression convincing her that pregnancy had ruined her body and that everyone was gossiping about her. She'd go full weeks without leaving the apartment, sitting with the baby and ignoring her family's pleas to even just go for a walk around the block. So she's still anxious now that she's forayed back into public, and where she was once so fearless, she had started assuming the worst could and would happen if she wasn't careful. "Don't get used to it," she murmurs, though before she can help herself she continues to blur the boundaries, scooting even closer to him and draping her long legs over his so that she was practically in his lap. As he says he's had some great relationships her stomach churns, and she determinedly avoids his eye contact. The idea of him being more emotionally invested in some of the girls he'd seen over others makes her feel a dizzying combination of emotions that she can't immediately identify; there was a desire to scoff, yes, as he predicted. But she also feels a stirring of envy, and something else that was harder to pinpoint... when she realizes that it's hope, she practically wants to throw up. "Then why don't you at least try with some of them?" Her tone is forced into being casual, knowing he's likely to read into it anyway. She mulls over what he's said. It's true that most of their social circle married for convenience, to keep their wealth in the same pools and maintain a specific public image. There were exceptions, such as her own father, who definitely followed his heart-- with disastrous consequences, such as the glaringly obvious fact that she and her half sister Charlotte were almost exactly the same age, practically to the day. "I understand what you're saying, but what happened to all that big talk back at the restaurant?" She deepens her voice to do a pantomime impression of him, "I'm Freddie, I've been determined to prove everyone wrong my whole life... yet, you're still doing what people expect of you."

[freddie beaumont]

Freddie can't help but feel content sitting here with Aisha. The beach, her company and the few drinks he had back at the restaurant paired well for a good night. If this were any of the girls he was casually seeing, he was certain this would be the moment that he pulled a move. He's got a slight buzz on from the wine but even with the buzz he knows it's not the right time to do the same with Aisha. No matter how much he wants to bring her closer and relive some of the fun they once had, his head screams at him no. He hates that his mind goes back to Tate's threatening words of not to mess with his sister. Freddie wouldn't admit it out loud but whatever this was between him and Aisha was different than his usual messing around. He ponders her words about trying to be more with his lot of women. Part of Freddie wants to ask if she means for him to try with her. Though it's in a deeper part of him and maybe one he wouldn't say out loud. At least not right now. He can tell she's forcing herself to act differently, but he won't bring it up. "Now you sound like everyone else," he mumbles as he processes the statements more. Maybe someone would come along to change the way Freddie felt about relationships, but for now he would be the creature of habit he always was. Casually dating and being honest about his expectations. She's right about him and his prove everyone wrong lifestyle. But this part of him was sensitive. "What if I prove everyone right?" Freddie finds himself rebutting back. "Let me ask you this, when we had our whatever-you-want-to-call it, did everyone stick their nose up at the idea of you being with me?" Freddie already knew the answer to this question but he wants to hear it. Despite him being a great friend and brother, his reputation with women was always going to be there. "And then, my next question. Would anyone woman be able to overlook a past like that?" He asks before she could answer his first question.

[aisha van buren]

Aisha was on the wrong side of tipsy, or she wouldn't be being so loose with her body language. She had a supreme amount of control over her own physical reactions, which was how she had been able to resist Freddie's allure for so long - though not forever. Once that seal had been broken it had become much harder to resist him at all, and finding excuses to slip off to hook up with each other had become one of her favorite games to play. If she wasn't so sure that they were going to be overlooked, Aisha isn't sure she'd be able to resist kissing him right here, right now, though the threat of imminent gossip is enough for her to put that particular thought on pause. "I sound like everyone else because sometimes, just rarely, everyone else has a point." She's not sure why she's pushing him so much on this point. It wasn't like she had had tried to pursue anything serious with him, in fact they had tried to keep it the opposite. But maybe because she had been forced into growing up she was feeling bitter that others weren't being made to do the same. As he speaks she knows he's right, and she leans back, her legs still draped across his. "They did, but everyone would change their tune immediately if you seemed more serious with someone." This was also true, as the common opinion amongst their social set was that he would have to settle down sometime. She snorts at his question. "With your puppy dog eyes and a diamond ring bigger than their head? Yes, I think most women would find it within themselves to look past it. Maybe not the women we know, who'd personally know ten other girls you've hooked up with, but someone more... average, I'm sure she'd be delighted."

[freddie beaumont]

"Sometimes, it would be nice to have someone agree with me," Freddie responds, knowing very well that he was the only one who would ever agree with his ridiculous ideas. Freddie teases her with his tone, and brings his elbow to touch against her sides. Though she's practically leaning on him, he's felt the need to touch her more. With the many eyes close by and Tate in the back of his mind, the little small touches like this would have to do. His 'beliefs' or customs with women were often punch lines within their social circle and everyone always said the same thing - Freddie will change his mind one day. The conversation has turned a lot deeper than he anticipated, particularly between the two of them. If he was being honest, he can't remember the last time he had such a serious conversation with someone other than Georgina. A sigh escapes his lips as he feels the buzz from the alcohol start to make his head hurt. He silently curses himself that he didn't think about asking the waiter for a to go wine bottle. Freddie knows that his tolerance is more significant than Aisha and that if they were to drink anymore, he'd be carrying her over his shoulder. He chuckles to himself as he plays that image in his head. Oh, how Tate would just love that. Freddie knew her answer before she even would admit it herself. Their little dating stunt got a lot of attention and he could only guess what was said about him behind closed doors. "I'm not so sure about that, honestly," Freddie responds while also shaking his head. If he was to date someone, it would have to be either as she suggested - an average girl or one from his social background that didn't care about how many notches were on his bed post. "This sounds so fucked up when I said it...but I don't think I could be with someone more average, as you put it. No way. Not with my family." The fame that came with the Beaumont name was one to scare just about anyone away. "Okay enough about me and my dating life. Tell me something else about you," he questions her as his eyes linger to her face and stop to stare at her lips a little bit longer than they should.

[aisha van buren]

If she were more sober, Aisha would be working a lot harder to feign indifference. If she were thinking rationally, she would know that tomorrow she would wake up mortified, thoughts of her leaning against Freddie, practically begging him to start dating seriously... it would be too much to bear. Thankfully, she was not sober and was not yet thinking of tomorrow. The feel of his elbow against her sends another internal shudder of desire through her slight frame and she's dizzy with it, having to really force herself to focus on the sea as it lapped at the shore ahead of them to maintain sanity. "I really didn't expect to see you today," she murmurs softly, instinctively nestling closer against him as if for body warmth, though it was a perfectly comfortable temperature. Freddie protests her insistence that he date someone "normal" and she's inwardly thrilled that he does so, not just for her own self benefit but because she truly was such a snob. It offended her when people moved between classes, as Aisha had wholesale bought into the belief she was raised to support, that nothing good came from dating down. There were many practical reasons for this beyond just snobbery, however, and they come easily to her now. "You never know what someone really wants from you when you have so much." He asks her about her dating life and she finally pulls away from him, even only slightly. The wine makes her more honest. "My dating life? It died the day I gave birth." She sighs, tilting her head at him. "Be honest. Would you date a girl with a one year old at home?"

[freddie beaumont]

He internally groans as she nestles closer into him. It's like he has no control over his body, as he finds his arm reaching around to her shoulder to bring her fully into his body heat. She started it, he thinks to himself as he loves the way her body feels up against his. Her familiar scent drifts into his senses and he feels a tiny bit warmer, which he chalks up to desire.  "So we're being nice to me now, huh?" Freddie pulls her in closer and rubs the top of her head with his other free hand. Freddie loosens his grip on her shoulder and allows a tiny bit of space to form between them again. Almost as if he were challenging her to be in charge of their next touch. His parents would be thrilled for him to date just anyone, as they were desperate to see their son settle down from the 'promiscuous lifestyle' as his mother constantly put it in recent discussions with Freddie. "You really don't. And too much money is involved when you usually find out the truth," he murmurs as he thinks about a future where he married someone normal. Again, his stomach twists at the thought. But when he thought about himself with Aisha? He hated that it turned in a different way. "I wasn't just asking about your dating life, just saying." He feels guilty after hearing her words. They are full of bitterness, even if it's the truth. "Would I date a girl with a one year old who looked as hot as you? Uh, is that really a question?" He asks her, dumbfounded that she even said those words in the first place. "Yes. But I would have to date first, that is."