Page 107 of Love Overdose: St. Louis

Relief moved through me.

“My father will be happy.”

“I’m still nervous.”

“You don’t have to be.”

“I know, but I am. This will be the first time Malik meets most of your family.”

“They’ll love him.”

Her hand flattened against my chest.

“I don’t want everyone hovering around him or treating him like he’s fragile.”

“I won’t let that happen.”

“And if he gets overwhelmed, we may need to leave early.”

“Then we’ll leave.”

“We?”

“We’re arriving together. We’ll leave together.”

Frankie grew quiet.

I stroked my hand over her hair.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“Frankie.”

She lifted her head. Enough moonlight entered through the curtains for me to see her eyes.

“I’m not used to someone making things that simple.”

“It is simple.”

“For you.”

“For us.”

Her breath left slowly.

She lowered her face and kissed the center of my chest.

“I like the sound of that.”

“So do I.”

I held her until her breathing deepened and her body grew heavy against mine; then I tightened my arm around her and closed my eyes.

14

frankie