Mom.” Yet, I’d added mentally, and when Mom let out a slow breath, I knew I’d hit the nail on the head with that statement. “That doesn’t mean we won’t,” I continued. Fuck knew I wanted to, but I’d screwed up so many things, I wasn’t going to try and dictate anything along the when and the where. I’d wanted to earn her trust before, and now I needed to earn it. Needed to be worth the second chance she’d given me.
“I just want the two of you to be safe,” was her only comment.
“Me, too.”
It took me twenty minutes to pack clean clothes into a duffel. Jeremy had been by a couple of times and done laundry at Frankie’s, picking up everything including my stuff, washed, dried, folded, and returned. It was a bit unnerving. I appreciated it, but I was on Frankie’s side about the idea Jeremy shouldn’t have to do our laundry.
Rather than admit that I didn’t know how to do my own either, I’d gotten a couple of lessons from Mom. Thank you, I’d skip that teasing. Jake and Coop were professionals, and Archie had eaten up the teasing as they, along with Frankie, schooled him on doing his own damn clothes.
Now I could honestly say I knew how to do it, too. Cooking though?
Yeah, apparently, he wasn’t the only one screwed in that department. I’d fucking learn, though. I’d learn whatever I had to make Frankie’s life easier. Fortunately, meal times when we didn’t order in had become impromptu lessons with Frankie directing us. I’d always known she had a lot of skills, but I had no idea how many things she knew how to make off the top of her head.
It was both amazing and a little intimidating.
Of course, Mom was after me to make sure Frankie came for Thanksgiving. Since she already had at least two other invitations that I was aware of, chances were unlikely she’d make it, but I promised I’d let Mom know.
Mom swore Dad would be on his best behavior. So, we’d see.
Now, waiting for Frankie, I stared at the new coffee table. It looked pretty close to the old one, but it was bigger and had fatter ‘legs’ on it.
“Yeah,” Archie said without me asking. “I fixed it. Next one is yours though.”
I snorted, but didn’t argue. Since we’d managed to smash two of them now, and no matter what they said, it hadn’t been my fault, I had no trouble believing we’d wreck a third. My phone pinged, and I shifted to pull it out of my pocket.
The others were doing the same, except for Archie, who had his phone in his hand. It was another bed. It had to be ten feet across and eight feet long. They’d lose Frankie in there.
“Think the mattress is one piece or two?” Jake mused. “‘Cause that’s gonna be a bitch to get around the corner.”
Coop snorted. “I’m trying to figure out where in her room it goes. It’s damn near as big as the room.” A mild exaggeration, but he wasn’t wrong. It wouldn’t leave her a lot of space in there. “And so we draw straws for who gets to sleep on the outside?”
“Definitely rotate,” Jake muttered, then checked his watch. “But she isn’t a fan of this big of a bed yet.”
I closed out the message and pocketed my phone. My guitar case was ready to go, and I had my backpack with a couple of surprises and my notebooks in it.
“She’s not a fan of change,” Archie countered. “We’ll get there.”
Some days, I wish I had his confidence. He just set his eyes on something and went for it. I could joke that it had everything to do with his money, but it really didn’t. The money didn’t make Archie, Archie. His determination and self-confidence—which most people dismissed as arrogance—set him apart. When he wanted something to happen, he just didn’t give up. Whether it involved arguing, coaxing, or in some cases, sneaking, he got it done.
Did he ever think it wouldn’t work out for him?
“So, nine, right?” Coop pulled my attention back to the conversation, and I just smiled slowly.
“You do realize she doesn’t have a curfew, and if you want to give her one, you’re on your own.” No way in hell would I back that.
“Nah, Jake would take my side.”
Predictably, Jake just gave him a thumbs up.
“See?” Coop’s grin softened, and his eyes warmed. I didn’t even have to look to know Frankie