Page 59 of Break Me, Daddy

“They hate me,” Frankie said after a lengthy silence.

“Nobody hates you.” Conviction rang out, strong and true in Lottie’s voice. “They’re just… worried.”

“Yeah.” Frankie let out a snort of derision. “Worried I’m going to break Holden’s heart again.”

“That doesn't mean they hate you.”

“Just that I’m not good enough for him?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

“Frankie.” Shifting, Lottie placed her hands on Frankie’s shoulders, gently but firmly turning her away from the ocean. Even in the dark, Frankie could see the love shining in her best friend’s eyes. “All of that stuff in your head? That’s all just bullshit you’ve been telling yourself to keep Holden at a distance. Not a single word of that has anything to do with how the people in there feel about you or your relationship with Holden.”

“You didn’t see the way they looked at each other when he called himself my Daddy.”

“What do you mean?”

Jerking out of Lottie’s hold, Frankie paced down to the end of the deck and back again, nervous energy pumping through her veins. “They all raised their eyebrows and they just, I don’t know, theylookedat each other.”

Lottie frowned. “You’re right. I didn’t see that. But it doesn't necessarily mean anything. And I can promise you it doesn’t mean what you think it means. Nobody hates you and nobody thinks you’re not good enough for Holden.”

“They should. Because they’d be right. I’m not good enough for him. He deserves someone he doesn’t need to worry about all the time. Someone who isn’t constantly one bad day away from a nervous breakdown. Someone who can love him the way he deserves to be loved.”

Narrowing her eyes, Lottie seemed to think that over for a minute before grabbing Frankie's hand and dragging her back toward the door.

Before Frankie could ask what she was doing, Lottie had the door open and she stuck her head through the opening. “Daddy?”

Glancing over from his spot on the couch, Braden smiled, his entire face lighting up at the sight of her. “Yes, Lottie-bug?”

“Approximately how many hours a day would you say you spend worrying about me?”

“Well, I’d say twenty-four, but I do occasionally sleep,” Braden replied with a laugh. “So whatever twenty-four minus my sleeping hours equals. Why?”

“Just proving a point. Thank you!” Closing the door again, Lottie turned, her expression smug. “See? Every Daddy worries. It’s like, part of the job description or something.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. Holden?—”

“Holden loves you,” Lottie interrupted quietly. “Why are you trying to make it more complicated than that?”

“Because itismore complicated than that!” Frustrated, with Lottie, herself, everyone, Frankie threw her hands in the air and paced down the deck before turning and heading back to Lottie. “What happens when he realizes in a year, five years, ten years that I’m so much more work than he thought I would be? Why the hell do you think I dumped him the first time around?”

“Ah… guess we came out at just the right time.” Ivy’s eyes were wide as she stepped through the open door, followed closely by Silver and Ruby.

“Gang’s all here. Fucking great.”

“We made Cordelia stay inside.” Closing the door behind them, Ivy offered up a lopsided smile. “Since she can’t control her face.”

It was overly protective, but Frankie couldn’t help but love them for it. “Thanks. I’m fine though, really. I’m sorry I made a scene.”

Tossing her head back, Silver let out a rich, throaty laugh. “Darling, I’ve witnessed you making a scene. That was nothing. But the fact that you think that pitiful display was anything close to a scene tells me you’re not feeling much like yourself. So sit and tell us all about it.”

She didn’t sit, choosing instead to continue pacing the length of the deck as the rest of them settled into the comfortable Adirondack chairs. “I don’t even know what you guys want me to say.”

“You could start where we came in.” This from Ruby, who cocked a brow as she sipped a glass wine that matched her name. “Especially since Silver and I weren't around for the first go-round between you and Holden. Why did you dump him, exactly?”

“Oh, yes, that’s a great place to start.” Despite the obvious solemnity of the occasion, Lottie’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Even I don’t know the whole story.”

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