Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
FRANKIE
“Really?”
Frankie carefully rolled away from Lucas’s arms, which were floppy and soft, and he didn’t budge as Frankie climbed to his feet and grimaced at the pain in his back.
“Don’t wake him,” he murmured softly, ushering Fallon toward the kitchen. They moved around the breakfast bar, and Frankie turned on the coffeepot.
“So…is this a thing, or…?”
Frankie bowed his head and took a breath. “Yeah. It’s a thing.”
Fallon peered around the counter, and then his gaze snapped back to Frankie’s. “What happened to him?”
“What—oh. Fuck.” In the comfort of sleeping in Lucas’s arms, he’d all but forgotten why Lucas was spending the night. And why Fallon had taken over his bed. “That would be courtesy of Charlie.”
“No,” Fallon whispered. “I…how? How did that even happen?”
“He went to Lucas’s food truck. I’m not exactly sure what happened. Lucas didn’t want to talk about it, but—”
“He thought we were sleeping together,” came a sleep-heavy voice.
Frankie quickly walked around the counter and pressed his knee against the couch, where Lucas was starting to sit up. “He thought you and Fallon were sleeping together?”
“He’s been stalking you,” Lucas said from behind a yawn.
He rubbed at his eyelids, then twisted his back from side to side before reaching a hand out for Frankie.
Their palms touched, and Frankie helped him stand.
“He told me he’s been watching you, and he saw me going into your brother’s apartment a lot. He assumed you were staying there.”
“I was with Fen,” Fallon said softly.
“And I’ve been having a thing with your brother,” Lucas said. “I hope that’s okay.”
Fallon frowned. “I don’t know how it’s my business.”
Frankie almost laughed. The two autistic men having a conversation, entirely confused why either of them would give a shit about what happened in their private lives. Fenton would be the one to break the news to. And Frankie wasn’t sure he wanted Lucas there.
Coming around the counter, Fallon dropped into the recliner and leaned over his knees, staring hard at Lucas’s face. “He hit you very hard.”
“I got a couple of fractures. Which reminds me, I think I need to call someone about it? Uh…if he’s in jail, you know? Because if he was arrested for stalking you last night, they probably didn’t bring charges for my face.”
Frankie turned to his…lover? Boyfriend? He had no idea what to call him. “Does your truck have security cameras?”
Lucas’s brows flew up. “Oh my god, it does. I totally forgot. Lane set them up for me back when I bought it from him. He said if someone tried to rob me or whatever, it would help with the description.”
“I can’t believe the cops didn’t ask,” Fallon said softly.
Lucas scoffed. “They were dicks.” He turned to face Frankie. “Do you mind if I go call my dad and see what I should do?”
Frankie leaned over, touching his jaw to telegraph his intentions, and then kissed him softly. “Just walk in when you get done. You don’t need to knock.”
Lucas smiled softly, then pulled away and stood up. “Did I bring my cane?”
“I…don’t think so,” Frankie said quietly. He glanced around, but he was pretty sure Lucas had just followed on his arm. “Can I help?”
“Get me to the door so I don’t trip.”
Frankie did, then kissed him at the door one more time for good measure. “Let me know if you need me.”
Lucas smiled but said nothing as he turned, placed his hand on the wall, then made his way to his place. Frankie only shut the door when he saw Lucas turn the knob, and then he sighed and moved back into his apartment.
Fallon was still sitting in the chair, but when he looked up, there were tears on his face.
“Hey, bud,” Frankie said quickly. He started to move over toward him, but Fallon held up a hand and shook his head.
“No, I…I need a moment.” His words shook as they tumbled from his lips. “This is my fault. If I hadn’t kept going with him—”
“What Charlie chose to do, the way he’s choosing to behave, is not your fault. He is a grown man acting like a goddamn animal, and you are not responsible for that.”
Fallon nodded and swiped his hands over his cheeks. “When can we go to the courthouse?”
Frankie bit his lip. “I’m going to call Fen and make sure he can get Elodie to school. Then let me check on Lucas. We can go right after.”
“I need a shower,” Fallon said.
“Go wild. Use whatever you want, and I can swing you by Fenton’s if you need something to change into.”
Fallon said nothing, but he did shoot Frankie a smile as he moved into the back room, and when the door was shut, Frankie collapsed on the couch and grabbed his phone from the side table. Luckily, there were no messages from anyone except Fenton with a good-morning selfie of Elodie.
He hit his brother’s contact and waited as it rang.
“We’re all alive, nothing has burned down—”
“Charlie tried to attack Fallon at his work last night.” He couldn’t beat around the bush. “I need to take him downtown to get a restraining order.”
“Oh, what the actual fuck. That dude is unhinged.”
“I know,” Frankie sighed. “He also attacked Lucas a few hours before that. Punched him in the face a couple of times. Broke his cheekbone and eye socket.”
“Wait…are you serious? Your neighbor? The blind dude?”
Frankie felt irritation rush up his spine. “He’s not the blind dude, Fen. His name is Lucas, and even if he wasn’t blind, he didn’t deserve to be fucking punched.”
“No, I—you’re right. I’m sorry.”
“We need to talk about him,” Frankie said.
“Why? Because you’re—”
“Watch what you say,” he warned.
Fenton must have thought better of himself because he took a breath before he spoke again. “You’re sleeping together, aren’t you?”
“It’s more than that, but yes.”
“Isn’t he a little young?”
“He’s exactly the age he is. He’s an adult, and I am respecting him as best as I know how. And I need you to do the same. He’s fully capable. He owns a business, and he’s put up with a lot of shit from people. I’d rather he not put up with yours.”
Fenton was quiet again. Then he took a breath. “Yeah. I get it.”
“No more mouthing shit because he can’t see you.”
“Yep. Dick move. I knew it when I did it.” Fenton groaned softly, then said, “You really dropped this shit on me now? During this Charlie thing?”
“Because it involves Lucas, and I needed you to know why I’m invested. My relationship with him is very new, and it’s fragile. I’d like to protect it because you know what it’s been like for me in the past.”
Fenton let out a quiet sigh. “Yeah. I’m sorry. Things have just been weird lately, and…anyway. Look, we’ve got Elodie for the day. I’ll get her to school and pick her up. She won’t mind spending another night here if Fallon needs the space. I know he’s always more comfortable with you.”
Frankie shook his head, but he didn’t really disagree. Fallon loved his brothers equally, but Frankie had always been more like a dad to him. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’d get by. You always did. But I’m here, and I can help. Tell Lucas I’m sorry, and I’d like to hang out soon. Maybe do family dinner when shit isn’t upside down.”
Frankie felt the tension in his chest unknot. “I’d really like that. I’ll text you when it’s over. I’m going to make sure we include you and Ivy in the protection order. Probably your work too, though I’m not sure how I’d do that with the ferry…”
“Just add in the ferry station, maybe? While I’m there. I’m not sure. The court person will probably help you with that.”
“Yeah. Okay. Anyway, I’ll include Ivy’s office and Elodie’s school. Am I missing anything?”
“I don’t think so. Give Fall a hug for me, okay? When he’s ready to have one.”
“I will. Talk soon.” He hung up, then waited a beat before pushing to his feet and wandering into the hall. He felt strange about it, but then he saw Lucas’s front door cracked open, and he felt a surge of panic.
There was a microscopic chance Lucas was in danger, but considering the events of the last twenty-four hours, he was taking no chances at all.
He burst in, heart racing, only to come to a skidding halt when Lucas came out of his bedroom.
His hair was wet, hanging around his shoulders, and he was wearing nothing but a towel.
“I. Ah.” Frankie cleared his throat, gaze fixed on his abs and the small trail of hair that disappeared behind the terry cloth.
Lucas lifted his head up. “Frankie?”
“Sorry. Um. You…you left the door open?”
“Yeah, I wanted to make sure you knew you could just come in.” He shuffled forward a few more steps, one hand out. “Where are you?”
“Here,” he said, stepping into Lucas’s grasp. He tilted his chin up just slightly and took the kiss his body was craving. “You’re warm.”
“Yeah, sometimes really hot showers help me calm down. My dad, he says we have to go report everything to the detective who’s handling Charlie’s case. He already got a copy of the video. I hope Fallon won’t be angry with me.”
“Why would he? I’m taking him downtown to get an order of protection, and he will absolutely be on your side about this.”
Frankie followed Lucas as he turned and went back to the bedroom, watching with keen eyes as Lucas dropped his towel, then walked stark naked to his dresser to pull out a pair of boxer briefs, jeans, and a T-shirt.
“You’re staring,” Lucas said, a tiny smirk forming on his lips.
“Can’t help it, princess. You’re gorgeous.”
Lucas flushed slightly, the pink going from his chest to his neck. His bruise was more evident then—the dark, blackish purple marring his face, and Frankie felt a fresh surge of rage. “You better be careful with that princess stuff. I love it, but I’m not sure everyone else will get it.”
Frankie walked to the bed and dropped down to the edge as he watched Lucas get dressed. It was a shame to cover up all his skin, but it had to be done. “Mm. Not a conversation I want to have with your parents.” Frankie bit his lip. “Do you, ah…”
Lucas froze halfway through gathering his hair into its usual knot behind his head. “Do I what?”