out with one of his scrunched-up smiles. Frankie’s gaze was on him, like she felt his pull. Like she couldn’t resist him any more than I could.
“What are you still doing awake, little man?” Could tell she was whispering, and she reached out to touch his cheek before she grabbed his hand when he pointed at her again.
Wondered why the fuck if felt like she was reaching out to caress me at the same time.
“It’s late,” she said.
“Guess maybe he was staying awake, expecting you.” My throat felt tight and heavy when I said it, tension bounding through the tense air.
Those eyes swung over to me, but she was still holding onto Everett’s hand. I wondered if she even knew she was doing it. If she felt this affinity with him, too.
Didn’t try to stop the smile from lighting on my mouth. “What are you doing here? Not that I’m complaining or anything.”
She went to chewing on her lip again, action full of apology and worry and doubt. “I heard what happened this afternoon. That you had somethin’ painted on the porch. Your mama left the store totally beside herself.”
Frankie hesitated, those eyes dim. “It’s my fault.”
“What are you talking about? How is it your fault?”
She gave a regretful shake of her head. “I . . . I think it was Jack. The other mornin’ . . . when we broke up?” She inhaled a heavy breath, and her shoulders hitched high. Clearly her worry extended to my son who she glanced at before she returned her gaze to me.
“When I told him about us, he threw a rock through my car window. Accused you of bein’ a freak. I . . . I never in a million years thought he would pull somethin’ like that. He was irate, Evan. Volatile. I mean, I knew he was gonna be upset, but I’d never expected him to come off like that. He told me he loved me and things weren’t over between us.”
“What?” I demanded, fully caught off guard.
Protectiveness struck like a match that burst into an inferno.
Consuming fury.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Fuck, Frankie . . . did that bastard hurt you?”
“No,” she rushed. “I didn’t want to upset you. Didn’t want to get you tangled up in the mess that I’d already made. I figured he would cool off and see reason. I’m so sorry.”
Guilt creased every line of that stunning face. I reached out and cupped it, that rage back in full force.
“This isn’t your fault, Frankie. No matter what.” My head shook as I tried to process through the information. “Honestly? I’m not sure that it was him. The note that was left? It felt . . . personal.”
She huffed out a laugh that held zero amusement. “Oh, it’s personal, Evan. He thinks you stole somethin’ that is his. He’s been weird about you from day one. The day you got here, he started wanting answers about who you are to me.”
I moved into her space. Had to admit, I loved the sharp intake of air that she sucked in when I pressed up close to her. “Did I take something that was his? Seems to me like he had something that was mine.”
Flustered, she stepped back, fidgeted with the hem of her shirt.
Damn, I wanted her.
Wanted to kiss her and love her and touch her. The way it was supposed to be.
She turned away and started roaming my room. Something wistful and soft filled the atmosphere. She reached out and traced the medals and trophies that still remained on my shelf, tenderly brushed her fingers over the framed pictures of us. I was holding Everett tight when she looked back. “It’s been so long since I’ve been in here. How’s it possible it feels so different and somehow exactly the same?”
I moved over for the bed and sat Everett down on it. On his hands and knees, he bounced around like a frog.
Frankie looked at him. There was so much affection coming from her it nearly dropped me to my knees.
“Our worlds might have spun off course, Frankie, but you and I are still here. You and I are still the same.”
Shadows played across her face, across her body, and fuck, I knew she was asking for time, but I didn’t know how to stand there and not claim this girl as mine.
Not when she’d always been.
Frankie sank down on the edge of the bed. She pulled one knee up so she could face me