Brazen and Breathless (Untouchable #6) - Heather Long Page 0,115

hand. “You all need to tell the other parents.” When I would have argued, she held up her hand. “Baby, there are things that I know without a shadow of a doubt. When you keep secrets from your family, you’re telling them you’re doing something wrong. I didn’t tell Sara or Carly about you dating Frankie, but they are both crazy about her and…while I admit to some reservations about the idea she’s dating the three of you…”

Fuck it. “Four,” I corrected.

Mom closed her eyes and turned her face skyward, like she had to ask for patience, before another sigh escaped her. “The four of you then. I at least have some context for a less than conventional relationship. They don’t, and there could be blowback if they find out accidentally. Your father’s parents never forgave him. I swear, your grandmother still prays about it, and she calls me more than she does him, which I tried for a long time to fix it, but she is convinced she did something wrong where he’s concerned. And… Look, that’s neither here nor there. The point is…don’t hide it from them. Give them a chance to understand.”

“We’re not hiding it.” Then it was my turn to hold up a hand to stave off her comments. “We’re not. Just…Frankie’s working on her emancipation to get free from Ms. Curtis. We’re all eighteen, except Frankie. She will be in a couple of months. After we graduate and our college plans are locked in…”

“Dear God, Jake, you planned to ask for forgiveness once it was a done deal? What, drop it on everyone at the going away party?”

“Well…” I made a face. “We hadn’t discussed it specifically. We just have a lot of stuff to do. Honestly, I don’t want to have to defend what we have. I don’t want them to have to, and I sure as hell don’t want Frankie in that position.”

“I may regret asking this, but how firm in this relationship are all of you?”

“Are we having sex?”

She made a face, and I laughed.

“You’re the one asking.”

“I am… I just want all of you to be safe.”

“We’re being models of safety. Everyone has had health checks. We know what we’re doing, and we’re all talking to each other. No one is under any misconceptions or being kept in the dark.”

“Except your families…”

“And I would remind you that it’s none of your business.” I tried to keep it gentle, but I needed Mom to get this. “You love me. You want to protect me. I love you, too. But this is my relationship. I’m good. Trust me? If you trust nothing else, trust me? Please?”

Chapter Twenty-Two

I Hate Everyone (And They Hate Me)

Frankie

After the meeting with Maddy, the next week kind of flew by. Archie took me to my internship on Friday and picked me up. I never saw Mr. Standish if he was in the building. Not that I was complaining. After the showdown at Wittaker’s office, I was fine with a break. As it was, Friday night we spent at Archie’s place, and then I worked Saturday. Sunday, I had to pick up the girls to go shopping.

Trina had been invited, but she blew off my text. Becca, Blake, and Louisa were all excited when I got there, but Jake had followed me in and they scowled.

“I’m not going with you,” he said. “I’m taking Mom out to lunch, and you three are not going to drive Frankie nuts. Got it?”

“We’re not going to drive her nuts,” Louisa countered with a roll of her eyes. “She likes us, and we’re not boys. We know not to fart in the car.”

I probably shouldn’t have laughed as hard as I did, but Jake’s eyes flashed amusement. Alicia surprised me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then she admonished the girls to behave and told me she’d given them their own money. They were not to ask me for anything.

After a few more eye rolls and hugs, we were off. The next four hours were hilarious and busy. Becca had a list of places she wanted to hit. Blake complained at every single one of them, nagging her sister until we moved on, and Louisa basically hung out with me, particularly when we got to the clothing stores.

“You don’t want to try stuff on?”

She had her phone in hand and snorted. “I’d rather go to the dentist than do the clothing swappity doo. I’m kind of hoping Blake bitches Becca out