Page 80 of Winning You
“Thank you,” Frankie said. For the first time in his life, he’d gone through his closet choosing something that felt good instead of looked good.
“No, I mean…” Lucas traced a touch down his arms, then down to his belt and over his softest pair of black slacks. “This feelsnice. Like you dressed up. Oh my god, you’re wearing date clothes!”
Lucas started breathing fast, so Frankie tugged him into a tight hug and squeezed. After a beat, Lucas let out a shuddering gasp.
“Thank you. I’m sorry. I just…it’s been a horrible night, and I can’t even imagine what you were thinking. If it was me, I would have thought the worst.”
“A small part of me was worried I went too far last night,” Frankie confessed, “with telling you how I felt. But I know you, princess. You wouldn’t ice me out. If it was too much for you, you would have told me.”
Lucas sniffed and nodded. “Yeah. You do know that, right? That I would never? Not in a million years.”
Frankie cupped his chin and traced a touch over his lush lips. “Yes, princess. I know that. So I didn’t panic. Well, I did, but only because I was worried. I knew if you weren’t here, it was for a reason, and that reason probably wasn’t good.”
“I almost told my dad about us,” Lucas said. His fingers went to Frankie’s buttons and began to pop them open. He got Frankie’s shirt off his shoulders, then went for the pants as Frankie began to reciprocate. “We were in the ER, and he knew I was freaking out for multiple reasons. I was hyperfixating on getting my phone so I could talk to you. I think I have to tell him soon.”
Frankie hummed as he kicked all their clothes against the wall, then led Lucas to the tub. He waited for him to get in first, and then he settled behind him, bracketing him with his thighs. “Can you turn the water off, baby?”
Lucas shuddered and nodded. His fingers crept toward the wall, then curled around the handle and twisted until silence filled the room. The water sloshed gently against the tub, and the shadows around them seemed to close in.
The feeling was comforting though. Like the darkness was an embrace he’d been craving for a while. He settled back, and Lucas lay against him. The tub was barely big enough for them both, but in that moment, the peace he felt knowing Lucas wassafe, Fallon was in his apartment, and Charlie was in jail was enough.
“Fallon knows about Charlie going nuts, right?”
Frankie sighed. “Charlie tried to break into a wedding Fallon was shooting. They arrested him in the lobby, but he was able to say some things that really shook him up.”
“What is wrong with him?” Lucas asked, his voice strained. “What is wrong with so many people?”
Frankie wished he had the answers. The world felt safe in his little bubble, but outside was cruelty and chaos and uncertainty. It was hard to process. It was hard to want to take risks. He trailed a touch down Lucas’s arms, feeling the bumps and ridges of his burn scars and calluses. He lifted his hand up and kissed each finger.
“You are so gorgeous.”
Lucas hummed. “You too.”
“When I first saw you and wanted you, I never thought I’d be here. Not like this. And I know tonight was rough, so I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but?—”
“No. I want to hear it,” Lucas whispered.
Frankie traced the side of his face. “I’m falling for you. I want to be with you. More than friends. More than benefits. I didn’t think I would ever let myself fall in love, and god knows I tried, but the last few weeks have taught me that I didn’t even know what the fuck love even was before I met you.”
Lucas turned his face against Frankie’s chest. There wasn’t much room to move, but Frankie could see his profile in the dim light coming from the bedroom. His eyelashes were fanned over his cheeks, his bruise a stark reminder of how awful things could be.
But the smile on his lips told him that things could be so good too.
“There are things I need.”
“Anything,” Frankie vowed.
Lucas scoffed. “I know you mean that, but I’m being serious. Please just listen?”
Frankie kissed the side of his head. “I’m listening.”
“I have to trust people, even when I don’t want to. I love your family, but I know your brother mouths stuff because he knows I can’t see it?—”
Frankie stiffened. “I swear I’ve only seen it once.”
“It hurts,” Lucas said. “Whatever it is, I can take it. But I deserve the choice to hear whatever it is.”
“You’re right. It won’t happen again.”
