Page 5 of Christmas in Coconut Creek

“Just proposed,” he added. “Still waiting on an answer.”

Oh, gameabsolutelyon.

“I recently found out that I’m the other,otherwoman,” I explained to the confused and slightly horrified stewardess. “He has me, and then a boyfriend back home, and then his boyfriend has a girlfriend—I don’t know if polyamory is for me.”

Frankie offered a fake laugh, and put hisverylarge, tan hand over my much smaller one on the armrest in a loving gesture. I couldn’t even attempt to move my wrist; the weight of his palm kept me pinned underneath him.

“I love when you get territorial with me, honey.” He turned his attention back to the attendant. “I always make sure she’s well satisfied.”

“I’ve never had an orgasm in my life,” I announced, smiling at her and then mentally patting myself on the back when Frankie’s eyes shuttered closed. “I’ll have a Coke too, and the barbeque chips, thanks.”

The stewardess shoved the cart forward as Frankie pulled down my tray table, cracking open my soda for me in an act of truce and pouring it into the tiny plastic cup of ice. “Thanks,” I hummed around a chip.

“You’ve really never had an orgasm?”

This guy was unbelievable. Persistent,overt—if he really was the tamer of the two, I didn’t even want to imagine the roommate. “Of course Ihave,” I said. I wasn’t about to have him thinking that I’d never been in a sexual situation in my life. “Not that a man’s ever gotten the job done.”

Frankie shifted in his seat, slouching lower, legs taking up more room in front of him, if that was even possible. He shoveled a handful of popcorn into his mouth and stared ahead, as if he was content to stew on that confession for the rest of the flight. Of all the comebacks he had for everything, he chosethatto let linger in the silent space.

I cleared my throat when he tipped his head back and pouredanotherhandful of popcorn into his mouth, baring his neck and Adam’s apple that I couldn’t help but watch bob up and down.

“So, tell me about this throuple you’re in. I’ll need some more information about the company before I can make a decision.”

“I don’t share,” he said matter-of-factly, gaze finding mine out of the corner of his eye. It would be much easier to pretend I didn’t feel a heat at my neck over that declaration if he wasn’t so easy to look at. “They’re actually thereasonI desperately need a girlfriend at this point. I don’t know how much longer I can pretend we don’t live in an echo chamber and the walls aren’t made of looseleaf paper.”

“Oof, that bad?”

Frankie ran a hand down his jaw. “Tally’s got thisghost moan,like she’s stuck in the in-between when she’s getting fucked. I half think one night I’m gonna be dragged from my bed by the ankle to perform a seance.”

“Ghostmoan?” I arched my brow. “I can’t even imagine what that sounds like.”

“Well it’s kind of like…” Frankie started cooing softly next to me.

“Oh, God, no.” I giggled nervously as he continued growing louder and more animated. “Frankie—stop.” He didn’t, adding an extra octave instead and groaning like a spirit experiencing coitus. “Frankie,” I whisper-shouted, slapping my hand over his lips. “You’re going to get us ejected.”

He finally stopped, moans giving way to raucous laughter that I attempted not to condone, but the way his eyes crinkled around the edges and his dimple stood out made me soften.

“Now you see why I don’t want to be alone anymore,” he joked. “This past week in Colorado Springs was my reprieve.”

“What was in Colorado Springs? Don’t tell me—an exorcist?”

“I wish.” He took a sip of his drink. “A job, actually. An interview. I’mretiredfrom the Army, by the way,” he said pointedly. “But a flight school out there is looking for seasoned pilots to train their incoming classes. I know a guy who knows a guy.”

“So this Hook(Up) thing—you were just trying to get lucky. No strings attached, hopping on a flight home the next day.”

“Ugh, I know. And with my luck, she followed me right onto the plane.”

I scrunched my nose playfully.

“I don’t know.” He sighed. “Doesn’t everyone have that sort of forbidden fantasy? Go out on a business trip and get swept up. Fall in lust.”

I turned to face him again, inflicted with surprise. “Um, hello? Are you the same dude that was moaning like the Grudge two minutes ago?”

“I’m full of surprises.”

“I’ve noticed—and I’m a teacher inPine Ridge, so going away on business isn’t exactly a luxury I’m familiar with.”

“So you have more of a teacher/bad student, ‘smack him around with a yardstick for not doing his homework’ fantasy.”

---