“Frankie, you look beautiful.” She’d already told me how much she liked Frankie and warned me not to be a fool.
“Thank you,” Frankie replied, a little shyly, a little self-consciously. She smoothed one hand down her side. It was the same nervous habit I’d seen her make in the hardware store. I wrapped my arm around her, my hand settling low on the side of her hip.
My mother placed a hand on my arm. “I’m glad you came, son. I know it must have been—”
“I’m glad I came too, Mother,” I cut her off, knowing what she was about to say. That being here was difficult for me. But it wasn’t.
I’d been in Frankie’s company for almost a day and a half now. I’d seen her handle herself in the pit of vipers I’d warnedher about. Show kindness to my mother and the few aunts and cousins I could tolerate being around. All while keeping her sass and snark in the forefront. All while being Frankie.
As we stood there, more and more members of my family came up to us, wanting to be introduced to Frankie. By the time the third round of people had come and gone, she’d downed more of the punch than she should have.
I took her empty glass and placed it on the tray of a passing waiter. “How many of those have you had?”
She shrugged. “Three. Maybe four. It is really good. It tastes like sunshine.”
I frowned down at her. “You do know it has alcohol?”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
I didn’t get a chance to answer as Tiffany and Leo approached. Leo slammed his hand against my back as if I hadn’t just punched him. His lip had turned slightly purple and I wondered how he’d explained that to Tiffany and his mother. Thinking about what he’d said to Frankie, I wished I’d hit him harder. “What are you two love birds doing hiding out in the corner? Come join the fun.”
I heard a sharp note of jealousy in his voice and smiled.
“We’re fine,” I answered even as I saw Frankie flag down another waiter for another glass of punch.
“Frankie,” Tiffany purred. “I was just saying how... brave that dress is. It really leaves very little to the imagination.”
“Oh, this old thing? It’s Max’s favorite. He’s a fan of things that are easy to get into. Or out of.”
I nearly choked on my drink. Tiffany’s face turned a brilliant shade of red. I looked down at Frankie, who was looking back at me with a wide-eyed innocence that I knew as absolute bullshit.
I let out a low chuckle, pulling Frankie hard against me. “She’s right. I am.”
Frankie blinked at Tiffany, her head tilting to the side. She took a slow, deliberate sip of her punch, then smiled — the kind of smile that usually preceded a bar fight.
“Tiffany, honey,” Frankie said, her voice dripping with sweet, drunken sincerity. “I love how you’ve managed to make all that work you’ve had done look almost natural. It’s a real testament to your surgeon’s skill. Or does your family own stock in botox?”
Tiffany’s jaw didn’t just drop — it practically hit the floor. I didn’t wait for a rebuttal. I wrapped my arm around Frankie’s waist, hauling her flush against my side before she could drop another bomb.
“We’re going to… go get some air,” I said barely managing not to laugh.
“I’m just being helpful, Max,” she chirped. “You like it when I’m helpful. That’s why we’re here, right? To help with your… problem.”
Only Frankie and I knew the problem she was referring to. Coming her dateless. To everyone else, it sounded like something much more intimate. “Yes, Frankie, you’re helping me with my problem.”
She followed me a few steps before she stopped, her legs wobbling as she tried to keep her balance. “Can’t we stay for dessert? I saw chocolate. Shaped like little mountains, Max. Little mountains we can eat.”
“I’ll get you all the chocolate you want, Frankie.” My voice was thick with the effort of not laughing — and the much harder effort of ignoring the way her backside was grinding against me as I forced her to start walking again.
I didn’t care about the indignant sputtering from Leo or the horrified silence from my aunts. I steered Frankie out of the ballroom, my hand firm on her hip.
By the time we made it to the elevators, she was giggling. The second the doors shut, she turned in my arms, her hands grabbing my lapels.
“Did I say that out loud?” she whispered, her face inches from mine.
“Every word.”
“Good. She’s a snake, Max. A shiny, silver snake.” Her eyes were half-lidded as she watched me.
