Page 140 of Summer Breakdown
“No, n—I need to come. I need you to let me come, Jasmine. Please. Okay? I need—“
“You know how I’m being so nice?” Jasmine asks, her fingers dipping inside her, and Frankie chokes out a laugh.
“It’s beenhours. You haven’t let me come for hours,“ she begs, her neck tensed. “You came twice.”
“That’s because you pulled my pussy to your face and you’re stronger than me.”
“You—uh, you crawled up my body.”
“I’m not in trouble.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know,” Jasmine replies. “That’s why I’m being nice.”
Frankie clenches her jaw and her fingers against Jasmine’s waist as she says, “Nice.”
“Mmm. But next time,” Jasmine whispers, the warning tone creeping between them. She wants Frankie to push her on it. “Next time, I will tie you up, and I will gag you, and I will edge you until you cry.”
“You’re so fucking hot,” Frankie moans. “Until I cry?”
“If you said yes, which you would.”
Frankie comes brightly, but Jasmine is there, her hand against her mouth so she doesn’t traumatise the children. Jasmine kisses her temple as she pulls her fingers out.
Frankie hugs her tightly, rolling them around the bed. Jasmine can feel the rapid beating of her heart against hers. She’s so cute.
“I would,” Frankie says, with a kiss. “I would do anything for you. Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
Jasmine cries the moment she walks into the kitchen. She might have been crying when Frankie made her wait in the hall as she went in. It didn’t take long, and she heard Lani and Marcel giggling the entire time. It was worth it. Balloons dangle from the ceiling, a large gold three and zero over by the window. There’s so many flowers she’s surprised Frankie isn’t sneezing already, and, best of all, her family are right here.
“Happy Birthday!” Marcel shouts, his arms in the air. Lani runs over, and Jasmine lets her because her wheelchair has been decorated and she’s not sure it will move. Marcel is there right after.
“Oh, you’re so cute,” she says, pulling them into a tight hug. “I love you so much.”
“I love you!” Lani says, and Marcel kisses her on the cheek. Lani keeps not so slyly looking at something, so Jasmine follows her eyeline. There’s a four tier pale pink cake, decorated with hundreds of flowers and fruit. It’s utterly obscene and the prettiest thing she’s ever seen. (Outside of Kehlani, Marcel and Frankie, of course.)
Jasmine gasps. “Did you make this?”
Lani giggles, her hands against her face. “Cam-Cam let me put some fruits on.”
“Is this what you wanted to talk to her about?” Jasmine asks.
Lani smiles proudly. “I kept it all to myself! And I told Marcy.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“And Frankenstein. And Ezra helped too.”
Jasmine raises her eyebrow and Lani scrunches her nose. “And Mali and Zach.”
Jasmine kisses her. “Thank you, baby.”
“Do you want breakfast?” Marcel asks. “Frankie taught us pancakes, so it doesn’t even have to be beans on toast.”
“Presents!” Lani squeals, pushing Jasmine towards the table. “Presents first, Mama.”
“Presents?” Jasmine asks, her jaw slack as she sees the stack on the table. There are an unreasonable number of wrapped parcels on her dining table. She looks over at Frankie, who quickly looks elsewhere. She goes to turn the kettle on, and she’s a ridiculous human being, and Jasmine finds something new to love about her every day.
