Page 88 of Love Overdose: St. Louis

“That’s enough.” Frankie pushed at my chest, laughing. “You proved your point.”

I caught her hand and drew her closer.

“Did I?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes softened. For one quiet second, the room narrowed to the woman standing in front of me.

Then Amelia cleared her throat.

“Somebody’s watching you.”

Frankie stepped away, her eyes landing on Malik while I was still trying to peel mine away from her. Malik watched me sit, amusement lingering across his face. He held out the Spider-Man figure.

“You want me to see it?”

He pushed it farther toward me. Frankie glanced between us. “I think he wants you to hold it.”

I extended my hand, and Malik placed the figure in my palm. The gesture was simple, but Frankie’s expression changed again.

“He doesn’t share his superheroes, even if you bought it,” she said.

“Not even with me,” Amelia added.

“I’ll take good care of him.”

Malik rested his hand on my wrist. His fingers didn’t have much strength, but they remained there as he studied my face. I stayed still. After a moment, he drew his hand back and smiled.

Amelia found a reason to send Frankie down the hallway an hour later.

“His blue bag is in the bedroom,” she said. “Make sure I packed his therapy bands.”

“You packed them.”

“Check.”

Frankie looked from her mother to me.

Amelia widened her eyes. “Go.”

“I know what you’re doing.”

“And yet you’re still standing here.”

Frankie pointed at her. “Behave.”

“I’m always well-behaved.”

“That is a lie.”

She kissed Malik’s forehead before disappearing down the hallway. Amelia waited until the bedroom door opened.

“What are your intentions toward my daughter?”

I had expected the question.

“To continue building a relationship with her.”