Page 24 of Summer Breakdown
“That’s okay. It’s nice seeing someone enjoy their children.”
Jasmine hums. Frankie pushes it because she’s selfish and she can.
“Do they always get on?” She swirls the paintbrush until yellow foam appears, then wipes it off because that’s too much paint.
“Yes.”
Frankie starts painting, leaning closer, and Jasmine hugs herself more.
“Has Kehlani always been in a wheelchair?”
“Yes.”
A flower appears on her cheek, and it suits her. Frankie thought she was hot—the hottest woman she’s ever seen—and it’s still true, but she’s also sweet. She’s flowers and hearts and light wrapped up in an insatiable body and a wicked tongue. She can tell it purely on her children alone. Jasmine’s hair blows with the passing of the fan, getting caught in the wet paint on her cheek. Frankie touches her lightly, pulling the hair away, but she catches Jasmine’s jaw tense all the same.
“Do—”
Jasmine sighs. “Frankie.”
Frankie swallows. “Yeah?”
“What are you doing?”
“Painting your face.” Jasmine looks at her, takes a deep breath, then spins again. Frankie is done. She’s got no flowers left.
“I’m done.”
Jasmine rolls her neck and then looks through her purse. She hands Frankie a twenty between her fingertips, like she didn’t take four minutes to paint some flowers. Like she’s the staff or something. She is the staff, but that’s not the point.
“Jasmine.”
“Yeah?” she replies, but she’s not looking at her. She’s not looking at anything, and she’s not good at pretending she is. Maybe she’s not trying to hide her hatred from her. Perhaps she wants it out in the open.
How do I get you to like me again?
“Can…” Frankie starts, then she can’t think of anything to ask her. She wants to know so much, but she has no idea where to start.
How are you? Have you been out with anyone since me? I miss you.
Look at me.
“Do you want to go to the quiz?” It’s all she has, and as Jasmine huffs out a laugh, she knows it’s not enough. She crumples the note in her palm.
“Do you think I have a humiliation kink?” Jasmine asks, her ridiculously pretty face staring right at her. Frankie can’t figure out if it’s a rhetorical question or not. Probably. Every time she’s spoken to her today has been with barely concealed disdain. Frankie wants to reply anyway, if only so she doesn’t walk away.
Frankie swallows, then remembers who she is and that an attractive woman talking aboutanykinks is not going to render her speechless, let alone a devilishly good-looking woman that gave her the best orgasm of her life.
“You can tell me about your kinks if you want.”
Jasmine frowns, then waits a second, as if she’s expecting Frankie to be able to say anything to her when she looks so disappointed by her very existence.
“Bye, Frank.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Jasminedidn’trunawayat the open day, and to reward herself for her bravery, she bought a dress. She wears it now as she pushes Kehlani towards the training grounds again. Even if she avoided Frankie the entire time, she still didn’t run. To be fair, Frankie was in her office for most of it, but Jasmine felt like she was there, lingering behind her and invading her peace. But she got through it and only half thought about her when she got off in the shower.
It’s her new summer plan. She doesn’t need friends. This is the last summer she’ll have to spend with Lani before she starts school, and she might even get Marcel for a few days when he breaks up next week for summer. The junior training camp is only until October. Hopefully, Marcel will hate it, and she’ll never have to see Frankie Adebayo ever again.
