Brazen and Breathless (Untouchable #6) - Heather Long Page 0,93

day

but was tired when she got in. Everything good with her?

Jake: Dude, relax. Seriously. You’re going to give yourself an ulcer.

And I never knew how much of a thing that could be until this year.

Archie: Ha ha. Is she okay or not?

Jake: She is fine. We talked when she got in.

No complaints that she shared.

Archie: K. I’ll get coffee after I get Bubba.

We’ll see you three at school?

Jake: Arch, if you have a question ask.

Don’t do this fishing bullshit. It was a long night.

Archie: If it was a long night, then tell me what happened.

Jake: It’s not mine to tell, and before you have a shit fit in her direction,

it’s not hers either. Just dial it down a couple of notches.

And maybe grab food too.

Archie: …

Archie: Hangover food?

Jake: That’ll work.

Archie: Done. Do I need to pay to take someone out?

Jake: Don’t. Tempt. Me.

Archie: Just saying we have options.

Archie: Picking up breakfast and coffee for school. Miss you, babe.

Frankie: We need to work on your aim.

Archie: Ha ha. How tired were you after yesterday?

I know you said you were beat last night.

Frankie: My brain hurts. The amount of stuff the company does.

How does one person keep it straight?

Archie: They can’t. That’s why they have teams and reports.

I read the yearly stuff, even if it makes me want to gouge my eyes out,

since technically, I’m a shareholder.

Frankie: I wondered about that. And I have to tell you that

I spoke to your father yesterday. Don’t blow up.

Archie: …

Frankie: I would have said something last night,

but you sounded like you were in a good mood

and I walked into some stuff here that needed my attention.

It wasn’t bad. I’ll tell you everything at school.

Don’t lose your cool. It’s not bad. I promise.

Archie: Were you stuck in a meeting with him or did he approach you?

Frankie: He followed me to my car, but it’s not as bad as that sounds.

Archie: I’ll take care of it.

Frankie: Archie, don’t do anything until we talk.

Please. I knew this would upset you.

But I wanted to tell you before school.

Please don’t make me regret that.

Archie: …

Archie: …

Archie: …

Frankie: I’m sorry I didn’t tell you last night.

Archie: Is Coop okay?

Frankie: He will be.

Archie: You’re okay?

Frankie: I promise. I’m fine.

Though I did kind of tell your dad off.

Archie: I’m sorry. What?

Frankie: I told him he was a shitty father

and he needed to talk to you and not me.

Look, I will tell you when we get to school.

Promise.

Archie: Can I drive you and pick you up tomorrow?

Frankie: …

Frankie: …

Frankie: …

Frankie: Will it make you feel better?

’Cause you’re gonna be late to school if you take me.

Archie: It will make me feel loads better

to know he can’t corner you in the parking garage.

So yes.

Frankie: We’ll talk about it. No promises.

Archie: That is not a no.

Archie: Get your ass out here. We need to go.

I want to be there when they get in.

Bubba: Coming. What’s wrong?

Archie: Just…get in the car. I’ll tell you.

Archie: Grandpa. Tell me we have a plan.

Grandpa: I’m working on it. I have about half the board.

I only need two more members, and then we can remove him.

Archie: What does that do with Frankie’s internship?

Grandpa: Since I’ll be resuming my position until you can take over,

I’ll make sure it’s fine.

Don’t worry, Sprout.

These things take time, but once it’s done?

It’s done.

Archie: How much will it cost me for you to just pack up and disappear for good? Think about a number. You have until the meeting today to make a call. You’re not getting this offer again.

Chapter Eighteen

A Lifetime of (Broken) Promises

Archie and Ian were waiting when we got to school. Coop’s hangover was bad, but we’d gotten water into him on and off all night. That coupled with the morning painkillers, another shower, and some food, and he seemed semi-human. Jake and I’d both told him the exact same thing, we were there for him no matter what. I wanted to apologize for Maddy, but Jake’s words from the night before kept rattling in my head.

That and worry about what Archie would do with regards to his dad had me biting my tongue on all fronts, save one. I sent Mr. Wittaker a text to verify that we were still on with Maddy today. She wanted a face-to-face?

She was gonna fucking get one.

If she wanted to screw up and fuck around with my life? Fine. She’d done it my whole life. That she’d gone after Coop’s and now Archie’s families? Fuck. Her.

Coop still looked a little green around the gills, but he took