Brazen and Breathless (Untouchable #6) - Heather Long Page 0,106

got the scholarship and we’re looking at going somewhere cheaper than Harvard.” She gave a little shrug, and I flexed my hands against the steering wheel, my rage akin to acid in my system.

“We’ll talk about it, okay?” I wasn’t going to press it. If she pulled it from her savings, I’d figure out a way to replace it. I already had some ideas about how to offset the college tuition for all of us. Housing expenses I’d take care of, and boom there was huge chunk.

“Okay,” she said with a sigh. “I did get a few verbal shots in, and I didn’t give her what she wanted. But she wasn’t fighting for me, she was fighting because of her image. Which I don’t get, she called me her legacy…”

A headache pulsed behind my eye, because I’d heard that crap when I was growing up, too. I had to carry on the family name. I had to prove myself. I was the legacy.

Backing out of the spot, I glanced over at her. “Frankie, I promise, I’ll always fight for you.”

Her smile might’ve been wan, but it was there again and somewhat brighter. “I’ll always fight for you, too.”

“That’s what matters,” I said, then cut a look toward the building in the review mirror. Maddy Curtis exited with her attorney.

She should have taken my offer.

“Let’s get you home,” I said, keeping it light. “Then I’ll have Jeremy bring someone in to look at getting a hot tub installed. Probably increase the value of the apartment.”

Her groaning laughter was perfect. “I’m so glad I never told you I wanted a pony.”

“A pony?” I perked up. “Does my girl want a pony? I can definitely do that.”

Jake

We swung by for tacos, burritos, chips, the works. We also debated calling in Rachel. Seriously, when the fuck had she become one of us? Didn’t seem all that long ago I couldn’t stand her. To be fair, she still irritated me. But more like my sisters irritated me. My phone kept buzzing while we were at the drive-thru.

“I say we hold off,” Coop said from the backseat. “Rach would show up in a heartbeat, but I don’t know if that’s what Frankie wants right now. She looked like she’d been through the wringer.”

“Fair,” Bubba agreed, and I grunted as I dug my phone and wallet out. “Also, you totally just ordered a dozen bean burritos. Pretty sure that breaks the boyfriend rules.”

“It’ll make her yell at me,” I said, thumbing out my bankcard and then checking my phone. If she yelled at me, it would distract her, and then I could tease her out of the bad mood and have to make it up to her. Archie wasn’t the only one who planned.

Mom: We need to talk.

Mom: I’ve heard some things that I’m not altogether comfortable with.

Mom: Don’t blow this off, Jacob.

I raised my eyebrows.

Me: What’s up? Was tied up with Frankie.

Mom: I need you to come home this evening.

Me: I can swing by, but I’d rather be here. Coop and Frankie have both had a rough time of it.

Arguably, Archie had too, but he seemed less off-center by it.

“Problem?” Bubba asked, and I shook my head.

“No, Mom wants me to go home tonight, but I’m not leaving her. Hopefully, whatever it is can wait until tomorrow.”

Coop groaned. “I haven’t fucking looked at my mom since I found out. I don’t even begin to know how to look her in the eye. Did she know? She’s never once acted badly toward Frankie. Not once. Thank fucking God.”

“Fuck,” Bubba said. “I didn’t even think about that. That would have been awful.”

“Right?” Coop said, then rubbed at his face as we pulled up to the window. “So did she know it was Maddy? Did she not? They used to be friendly, but honestly, I can’t remember the last time they had a conversation.”

“I’m sorry, man,” Bubba said over his shoulder. “That has got to suck. I can’t…I can’t imagine my dad ever doing that to my mom.”

“Be fucked up if Maddy hit on him,” I mused aloud. Had she just targeted our dads because she was jealous of Frankie? What kind of warped Freudian shit would that be?

In the backseat, Coop gagged and punched my seat. “Seriously, man. That’s fucking disgusting.”

“My dad would never do that,” Bubba said with a shrug. “Though, considering his attitude toward her, I gotta wonder if you’re right.”

I wasn’t the only one staring at him. Coop groaned, and I shook my head. “Ignore