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Fake or not, it’s a fucking good kiss.
She molds her lips to mine, her body relaxing against me, and I tighten my grip. One of her hands slides around my neck, pulling us closer. With my free hand, I flip Derek off as I claim Frankie’s lips again.
Her tongue sweeps across my lips, and I pull away, remembering who else is in our audience. I risk a glance to the side, but Derek’s already gone. I set Frankie’s feet on the floor and take two steps back. Now I’m the one who can’t make eye contact with her. Frankie is a better actress than I think anyone gives her credit for. There’s no way she was as into that kiss as it felt. The way she leaned into me, pulled me into her, says she trusts me, maybe even likes me a little. But just yesterday, she almost dropped her coffee when I coughed as she walked through the lobby. Confusion roils in my gut.
“Hey, Dad?” Liam steps up to my side. “You, uh, ready to go?”
Liam hovers behind Frankie, looking back over his shoulder as his friends break out in laughter. I can’t tell if he heard Derek’s taunt. God, I hope he didn’t.
Frankie takes a couple of steps back, shoving her hands in her jacket pockets. “Where’s Emma?”
“Over there.” Liam tips his chin toward the girls still clustered around the cardboard display of Garrett Garland’s new movie. Emma gives me a giant thumbs up from across the hallway, and my stomach drops.
I have to sort this out before the situation spirals out of control. Before Frankie has yet another reason to be afraid of me. “Give me just a second, Liam.” I snag Frankie’s elbow and pull her down the hall, away from teenage eyes and ears.
“Shit. Frankie, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I did that for. Derek just gets under my skin, you know?”
Frankie isn’t reacting in any of the ways I was expecting. I assumed she would be scared, or maybe angry with me. I was prepared to talk her down out of another anxiety attack. Instead, she’s staring up at me, fingers on her lips, swaying slightly from side to side.
“Frankie?”
“This is going to work.” A grin splits her face.
“Going to work?” I know I usually play dumber than I am, but right now I’m lost. “What’s going to work?”
“This.” She points to each of us. “We can do this. I can do this. I can totally fake date you. And Derek will have to believe it now, after that—” She stops grinning, choking on the word. “Okay, ground rules.”
“Wait, wait, slow down. You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be mad? Did you see how pissed he was? He totally bought it. I mean, I’ve tried having a fake boyfriend before, you know. But it didn’t work because he was actually fake. It never occurred to me to try a real life fake boyfriend.”
What the actual fuck? I’ve never seen Frankie this animated.
“Frankie?”
“I know we only talked about you being my date for the… but if we… he would have to back off if I had a…”
I’m so confused, my confusion is confused. “Frankie?”
“But you’re an actual real, live person, and he knows you. This is totally going to work. He has to believe it after that.” She finally stops to take a breath. Pink splotches bloom on her cheeks when her eyes meet mine.
Is this the same person who’s been hiding behind her dyed orange hair and down-turned eyes? I’ve never been able to match the bright and obnoxious way she dresses with the quiet mouse personality. Am I finally seeing the real Frankie?
“After what?” I can’t help goading her—this new version of Frankie is fascinating and adorable. Besides, I want to see if she can turn a brighter shade of pink.
She bites her lip. “After, you know. That.”
I shouldn’t do it. I shouldn’t tease. I should apologize, be respectful, and give her space. Instead, I lean close and the teasing words are out before I can stop myself. “You mean when you attacked me with your lips?”
“I didn’t!” Frankie’s pointed finger is perilously close to my nose.
“You did.” I smirk, catching her hand before she can poke me. “You kissed me first.”
She tries to tug her hand free, but I don’t let go.
“I was trying to stop you and Derek from getting into a fight!”
“I’m not saying it didn’t work, Frankie. I’m just saying that you kissed me first.”
