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“I’m not going to race with her on the bike,” Ian argued.
“I don’t care. I don’t want her hurt.” Jake whirled and went toe to toe with Ian. “You should be careful with her, she’s not dressed for your bike.”
I had a headache.
Coop sighed, eyeing the pair before we locked gazes, then he rolled his eyes. I almost laughed, almost. As it was, a half-chuckle escaped. None of this was funny.
“You’re just pissed because she said yes to letting me take her home,” Ian countered. “Get over it…”
“You’re an ass,” Jake snorted.
“You’re a prick,” Ian countered. “What else is new?”
A throat clearing had all four of us turning. Jeremy stood there, his expression somewhat severe. “Miss Frankie, is everything well?”
No. No it wasn’t, but I didn’t want the guys to get into trouble. “Ian is taking me home, Jeremy, because I can’t get my car out of the drive. I hope you don’t mind if I leave it here for now.”
“Of course not. Though I am happy to make up a room for you, away from everyone if you’re looking for quiet, or I can call a car for you.” Again, his focus was locked on me.
Ian shuffled. “I got it, Jeremy.”
“I do not believe I was talking to you Mr. Bubba.” The fact Jeremy could deliver that address in a straight face was a testament to his professionalism. We’d all cracked up the first time he’d greeted Ian that way, but over time—the formality stuck. “I believe Miss Frankie has had quite enough of you four at the moment.”
He wasn’t wrong, but the fact he included Archie in thefoursaid no way did he not know I’d stayed the night before.
I was never escaping at the rate we were going.
“What if…” Ian began, and I twisted to glance at him. “What if I take you home, and if your mom is there, we come back and you can take Jeremy up on his offer?”
“What if she just stays?” Jake countered. “Then we don’t have to worry about anything happening on the bike, and you can get some rest—though I don’t blame you if you don’t want to stay here.”
“Guys…” Coop said with a sigh, and I held up a hand.
“Stop.”
That pulled all their attention.
“Seriously, stop. I get it, you all care. You all want to fix this, and you all seem to think you can make decisions for me better than I can make them myself.”
Jake opened his mouth to argue, but Coop elbowed him, earning a glare instead.
“I don’t want to stay, I’d rather drive myself out of here and just be alone…”
Ian’s face fell and guilt stabbed me all at once.
“Fine,” Jake said. “Coop, grab people. They can move their damn cars.” He pivoted and stalked off, Coop a half-step behind him.
Jeremy regarded me for a moment. “The offer for the car or the room stands, Miss Frankie. Would you like me to wait here with you until the young gentlemen have gotten the cars moved?”
The offer was sweet. “Thank you, Jeremy.” Of everyone here, even knowing he had to have known, I didn’t blame him. “But I’ll be fine.”
“As you say.” He inclined his head. “I’ll be just inside.” The last he directed at Ian before he turned and re-entered the house, leaving Ian and I alone.
“We could just go right now,” Ian offered.
The hell of it was, the idea tempted me. “I don’t really think that’s fair to you,” I admitted.
“I don’t care about fair to me,” he said. “I care about you. I care that you’re hurting and I’m part of the reason why.” He held out his hand, and it was hard to miss the bruises on his knuckles.
