Page 73 of Summer Breakdown
“Cheers,” Frankie says. She wonders what Jasmine tastes like when she tastes like strawberries.
“Thanks, honey,” Mali replies, tilting her head up so Zach can kiss her. “I might have suggested a threesome. It was accidental.”
“Was it now?” Zach asks.
Kai whistles. “Must have been Jas because Frank would take someone’s knee out for suggesting she be near a man.”
“As I should,” Frankie replies. She wonders if Jasmine would have a threesome with Zach and Mali. Perhaps it would be something she was into. Frankie won’t know unless she asks, and she can’t figure out how to ask without sounding like she’s jealous. She is. She doesn’t even know the answer and she’s jealous.
“Yes,” Mali says. “Jas doesn’t think you’d let anyone else in the room.”
Zach smiles and leans to kiss her on the temple. “I would do anything you wanted.” Zach is down bad, and he’s not afraid to show it. It’s sexy. Well, as sexy as men can be. Frankie wishes she could be like that, which is a horrible thought because she never wants to take inspiration from men. But not being afraid to show how much you like someone isn’t something she’d hate.
Frankie tries to remember if Zach was good at flirting before he and Mali got together. She tries to think if Mali was flirting at all. Would Frankie know either way? If Frankie was obvious with it, she’d hold Jasmine’s hand, or she’d ask her out, or she’d kiss her.
“The liner looks good,” Frankie says, even though she doesn’t have red hair and she’s not the last girl Jasmine took home from the bar. She wants to talk to her so she can apologise again, but she has no way to casually ask her to chat. “Can you do it for me?”
Jasmine smiles. “Sure.” She grabs a different colour lipliner from her bag and walks over, holding it up for Frankie to see.
Frankie nods. Jasmine parts Frankie’s legs slightly, and Frankie takes a deep breath. Then, because the world is ready for her to pass away, Jasmine leans against her, her hand flat against the base of Frankie’s spine. She pulls her closer. Frankie would have moved had she asked her to, but Jasmine doesn’t seem bothered about the interaction, as she starts talking again.
“Guys, do you think Bright is flirting with Mali?” Jasmine asks, her hand travelling up Frankie’s side. She doesn’t even seem to realise.
“Yeah,” they both respond quickly.
“Oh,” Mali replies. “You do?”
“Obviously,” Kai says, then he frowns. “Is it not obvious?”
“I thought so,” Jasmine says, “but Frank wasn’t sure.” Frankie wants to frown.Look at me.Instead, Jasmine’s thumb rests against her chin, tilting Frankie’s face slightly. The last time Jasmine touched her like this, she followed it with her lips. Fuck, what Frankie would do to have her touch her like that again.
“Is he bothering you?” Zach asks. “I assumed you’d tell me if he was.”
Mali frowns. “Kinda.”
Zach’s jaw tenses. “Consider it handled, baby.” He’s so dramatic, but Mali leans against him with a smile.
Jasmine smiles while her fingers settle at the back of Frankie’s neck. Something stirs within Frankie. Something deep, something forgotten, something she pretends she doesn’t want because she’s never comfortable enough with someone to explain it. Something that sounds a little too much like being used. Something like someone playing with her while they’re barely paying attention. She swallows, and Jasmine rubs her thumb over the skin of her neck. It’s embarrassing that Frankie’s getting wet.
Finally, Jasmine turns to look at her. Frankie’s gaze wanders over her face until she lands on her eyes. She’s smiling slightly. Frankie has wanted so much in this life, with nowhere for it to go. There is nowhere she can put her desire down that feels safe. But with the sparkle of Jasmine’s eye, the small smile lines there, and the way she rubs her thumb over her ear, Frankie thinks about it.
“Smile for me,” Jasmine says. Frankie doesn’t know if her voice is low because she’s close by or because she’s fucking with her. Jasmine won’t know that the rasp of hervoice sends vibrations through Frankie’s entire body, but she might figure it out with the way Frankie shivers.
Jasmine tilts her pretty head. “Cold?”
“I’m alright,” Frankie replies. Is Jasmine aware her hand is still on her face? Jasmine hums, then raises her eyebrow in question. Frankie frowns until she figures out she’s supposed to be smiling for the lipliner.
“Good,” Jasmine says, with a small smile. Frankie tries not to blush. “I’m going to line them. It might tickle a little, but just hold still, okay?”
Is she talking her through lining her lips? Is Frankie so ridiculously needy for her touch and praise that she’ll get herself off to the memory of this later? “Uh-huh.”
Ezra strolls into the office. Early. Frankie is still not starting training before she’s supposed to just because other people have annoyingly good time management.
“Ezra, do you think Bright is flirting with Mali?” Jasmine asks. “I’m getting you up to speed.”
“It’s obvious, innit? I thought Zach was going to take his head off last week.” He drops his bag near the table, then kisses Frankie on the cheek. She screws her nose up. She must be frowning. He always kisses her or hugs her if he thinks she’s down. It’s something he picked up because apparently she refuses to tell anyone when she’s down. She’s not down right now, though; she’s confused.
“Okay,” Mali says, hands flying. “You can tell men are flirting, but can you tell when women are?”
