Page 51 of Summer Breakdown
Frankie looks uselessly at her.
“You could have texted me,” Jasmine says. “And if you didn’t because you thought we’d never see each other again, it’s different now. I see you all the time. It’s been weeks, Frankie. You can’t even pretend you thought I didn’t care because I have been so fucking clear that it hurts me, and you haven’t said anything.”
Frankie worries her lip, her eyes moving frantically like she’s thinking. It doesn’t matter what goes on in her head if she never says it out loud. Jasmine would do the heavy lifting if she’d just tell her what she needs.
But she doesn’t. She says nothing.
Jasmine’s eyes well up.
“I feel like such a loser,” she whispers, giving Frankie more of herself than she’s ever given her. “I want you to want me the way I want you.”
“Jasmine,” Frankie says, but again, nothing follows.
“I’m sorry,” Jasmine says. “I should never have invited you in. You should leave.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
JasminelaughsandFrankiestops replying to her email. The elderly coffee morning will have to wait. She wants to know who made her laugh, and if she could have thought of something better to say. Perhaps Jasmine would have laughed for longer. Maybe she’d smile at her like she did last week before she kicked Frankie out of her house.
Frankie has thought about texting her an embarrassing number of times since. She’s even told Ezra and Cam about her now. It was supposed to be helpful but they keep telling Frankie to just talk to her. As if that’s something Frankie can reasonably do. She is trying. Desperately.
“I’m about to do some practice with Mal,” Jasmine says. Oh fuck. That’s today. Frankie knew Mali asked if they could use part of the pitch, but now she’s going to see Jasmine in gym clothes and be expected to run a full training session?
“Show me how to do it?”
“What now?” Kai asks. How is she friends with Kai? They’ve met each other like one time!
“Yeah. I’ve just got to get changed.”
“Training is going to be a shit show,” Kai laughs. “Do you know how many people on the team want to ask you out?”
“I know Frankie wants a women’s team, but I didn’t know she was recruiting already.” Frankie frowns. How does Jasmine know that?
“Is she?”
“No,” Jasmine replies. “Well, I don’t know, I just meant why would anyone here ask me out when I’ve been so clear that I only like women?”
“You’re hot and men are annoying,” he replies. True! Kai hasn’t asked her out, because he keeps texting Frankie telling her to ask her out. Still, Frankie doesn’t like it.
“True. Well, I only have eyes for one team member, and I’m not a hundred percent on that yet.”
Oh. Frankie’s chest caves in and she slinks back into her office. Who the fuck does Jasmine like? Last week, she could have convinced herself Jasmine was talking about her. Now, they haven’t spoken at all. God, if they were friends she could ask, but she’s not sure how she’d make her voice light and airy when she did.
Frankie sulks, but she sulks near her office door so she sees the moment Jasmine comes out of the changing in shorts that should be illegal. Sure, Frankie has seen people in these shorts all the time. But it’s Jasmine. She’s had her thighs against her. God, Frankie’s going insane.
“Mali, what is this?” Jasmine asks. She’s trapped, her arms up to her shoulders, in what can only be a child’s top. Mali laughs, bending over at her waist as she looks through her desk drawer.
“Frank,” Mali calls out.
“Mali, I can’t breathe,” Jasmine wheezes out. Her stomach is out, and Frankie is hypnotised.
“Wait, wait I’m finding out,” Mali says with a laugh. “Frankie!”
“Oh,” Frankie responds, she holds Jasmine’s elbow as she pulls her into her office. “I’ve got one.” She closes the door and rifles through her draws. Frankie always has spare clothes because she’s not about to wear any of the men’s uniforms. Gross. She picks a top with her name on.
“Here.”
“Oh, thanks,” Jasmine replies, she takes the top but then she frowns. “I can’t move my arms. I think I’m stuck.”
