Page 84 of Love Under Snowfall

“Ok, fine. Paint me a blurry watercolor instead.” Todd settled into the threadbare chair in the corner of the room, perching an ankle on his opposite knee. He wore black socks with Christmas lights winding around the ankles. The tacky footwear was in such juxtaposition to his cool, fashionable aesthetic that Frankie finally cracked a little smile. “Was he tender? Did he toss you around like the brute he is? What was he packing? I’m not referring to the Glock on his hip, so don’t be coy.”

Her friend sought vicarious action, and she wanted to deliver. He’d bought her coffee and a chocolate croissant after all. Talking about the whole thing would probably make her feel better. But how much should she divulge?

“Can you keep a secret?”

“I am a master secret keeper.” He leaned forward, propping forearms on his splayed knees. Pointing to his lips, he assured her, “Like a steel-trap.”

“All right.” She shrugged, sinking cross-legged onto her bed with the pastry in her lap. “First off . . . I sent Clint packing last night.”

“Was this after the coitus?”

She choked on a flaky bite. “No. No coitus with the sheriff.”

“So then who helped you aromatize your room?”

Frankie worried her teeth along her bottom lip, while Todd’s demanding stare burned a hole through her face.

“Benjamin.”

“Professor Prick?” It was her friend’s turn to choke. She waited patiently as he found his bearings. “Oh wait. Never mind. I get it.” He settled back against the chair and took a sip of his coffee.

“What’s there to get?”

“You guys hate fucked.”

“What? No.” One thing was certain: She didn’t hate Benjamin. Was she disappointed that they wouldn’t hook up again? Yes. Were her feelings hurt? Maybe a little. But she wasn’t exactly harboring stabby feelings toward the guy either. “I don’t hate him.”

"Was this yourfirsttime together?"

Frankie glanced away and took a long swig of her chai, despite how the scalding liquid decimated her tastebuds.

"I knew you were holding out at the nail salon. I have half a mind to take back that half-eaten pastry," Todd scoffed with mock offense. He rolled his eyes as Frankie dragged her tongue up one side of the croissant to lay claim. "It's cute you think that would stop me."

"We agreed the cabin hookup would be a one-time thing, but then last night . . . Whatever. It was just a meaningless fling and now it's over."

Todd sucked his teeth and narrowed his eyes, the wordbullshithiding on the tip of his tongue, then his eyebrows raised. “Youlovehim.”

Frankie barked out a hysterical laugh. “No, I don’t!”

“But you definitely have feelings for him. Warm, sexy, make you tingle kind of feelings.” He waggled a finger at her, confidentin his assessment. “Admit it. I can smell a liar. Even in this sex dungeon candle shop. Yes, I’ll take a triple wick mason jar of the Spank & Spice, please.”

“You’re so dumb,” she mumbled, taking another giant bite to avoid confession. Alas, her flaming cheeks responded for her.

“Are you going to be seeing him again?”

She shook her head, barely registering the buttery flake of her usually favorite treat. While she wouldn’t be seeing him intentionally, the truth was she’d probably run into him on and around campus. Their paths did have a tendency to cross after all.

“Why the hell not?”

“Come on, Todd. You know why.”

“I really can’t come up with a single, solid argument.”

“Then please allow me to list them for you.” Frankie brushed the crumbs from her hands, ignoring the snide judgment on Todd’s face as he watched the wayward flakes tumble to the carpet. “First, he’s a professor at the college I attend—”

“Ah, but he is no longeryourprofessor. You won't even be affiliated with the same department.”

“Sure, but fraternizing with a student could still cost him his job security. He told me he’s up for tenure and something like this could derail the whole thing.”

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