“Probably, if she were home,” Frankie said, smothering a half-yawn. “She left a message this morning that she had to go out of town for something for work. I don’t know. She won’t be back until this weekend.”
What a bitch. Mrs. Curtis was just a shit mother. Yay that she wasn’t there which meant one obstacle out of the way, but Frankie deserved a hell of a lot better.
“Okay, well, then we don’t have to worry if she won’t like it.” I opened the driver’s side door of Frankie’s car for her. “Pizza?”
“Um—isyourmom going to be okay with you staying out this late?’
“Mom knows I was planning to hang out with you. She’s cool with it.” I held up my phone. “And she knows how to reach me.” Since I said I might crash on Frankie’s sofa if we went too late, she’d given me a long look but finally nodded. So, yeah, Mom and I knew what was what.
“Then, yeah…though if I pass out on you, I’m sorry in advance.” She smothered another yawn and guilt took a bite out of me. If she was this damn tired, I should let her sleep.
I would, but I was selfish too and I wanted this time.
“No sweat,” I promised. “Go home. I’ll go grab the pizza.” I swiped over to the app where I already had the order ready to go. Before she could get in though, I caught her arm. “Frankie?”
“Yeah?”
“We’re going to figure this out, you and me.” It was as much an oath as anything. “But three things you need to know as facts.”
Her green eyes were troubled as she studied me. “Those are?”
“I’mnotdating Maria. I haven’t in a while. It was over a long time ago and I coasted. Should have cut her loose before and that shit is on me.”
Her nose wrinkled and that was fair. Maria wasn’t bad, but she was never going to be Frankie. Just dating her because she was there was pretty damn shitty.
“The other two things?”
“I hate you dating Frenchy.” I raised my free hand at the instant mutinous expression on her face. “I don’t like it, Frankie. Never going to like it. He’s not good enough for you.”
“You don’t evenknowhim.”
“I don’t have to know him.” This time, I narrowed the distance and cupped her chin. “No oneis good enough for you.” Then I dropped a kiss on her lips before I could overthink it. The simple brush was definitely not enough. It would never beenough. Didn’t matter. “Not even me.”
The stunned look on her face seemed to echo the shock inside me. Nothing about that kiss screamed passion, but the contact branded me. I wanted more.
“The third thing,” I said as she blinked up at me. “I want you. I’vealwayswanted you. I thought you didn’t want me the same way. Maybe you don’t… but Frenchy isn’t just getting you by default. There’s competition here and I plan to win.”
She ran her tongue over her lower lip. “Jake…”
“What? You forget that I like a good fight?” I tried to inject some humor into my voice, but I was too damn serious for that.
Rolling her eyes, she tilted her head back. “You guys are determined to drive me crazy.”
“Not at all,” I promised. “Now. In the car. You need to go home and shower. I’ll be there in a few.”
That earned me a sour look. “You’re bossy.”
“Yes,” I agreed with her. “I am. In you go, baby girl.”
The endearment slipped out, but I didn’t regret its escape. It suited her. She flushed, pink staining her cheeks and it was adorable. But I pocketed that particular description for now.
“Straight home. I’ll be right behind you. Ten minutes?”
She blinked up at me as she snapped the seatbelt into place. “Ten minutes.”
After I closed her door, I retreated to the Jeep and waited for her to back out and leave before I got in the car. The drive to the pizza place didn’t take two minutes. Fortunately, they weren’t busy and our pizzas were being cut, so it didn’t take long for me to carry the boxes out and head for Frankie’s.
Tracking the time, I actually pulled into the slot next to Frankie’s on the far side of the lot closest to her apartment in under ten. Then waited another minute before I headed up. I’d promised her ten minutes.
