Chapter 36 Ham and Pineapple
ham and pineapple
FRANKIE
“I think I’m going to throw up,” Daphne whispers.
The two of us are staring at the draft of Cole’s article for HotGoss, while Huxley scowls in the little Zoom window at the corner of my screen.
HANDCUFFS, ROPE, AND A PR MARRIAGE?! THE SECRET LIFE OF A POP STAR
It’s the truth, or at least a reasonable guess at it, in pure black and white.
Apparently Cole hired a private investigator to follow us to and from Dominion, so while we didn’t arrive together, they caught us on the way out. We were so careful, and we still didn’t see him.
“We’ve sent Cole’s lawyers a cease and desist, and something similar for HotGoss. I’m assuming since he hasn’t worked for the last few months, and with his… let’s call it ‘intense’ lifestyle, that he can’t afford to get into another legal battle after those DUIs.”
I glance down at the bruise on Daphne’s wrist.
The way he grabbed her so quickly, and with so much hatred in his eyes.
I wanted to really hurt him, in a way that could have ruined my life. That scared the shit out of me.
“Okay, so what do we do?” I ask. “What happens now?”
Huxley shakes his head.
“The good news is you two don’t have to do anything; I’ve got things under control with the lawyers. My concern right now is how he got into the building, and if he’ll be able to do it again with the renovations still ongoing,”
He sighs.
“If I can be real? I’m pissed off, Daph.
I want to make sure the three of you are safe, and I don’t want things to escalate any more than they already have.
If he’s willing to break into the bar to hurt you, then he’s probably willing to take it even further, especially when he finds out about the cease and desist. We might have to consider a restraining order.
I know you weren’t big on the idea, but—”
I can practically feel Daphne’s fear, like it’s another entity sitting in the room with us.
“Can I sleep on it?” She asks. “I’m not trying to be difficult, really I’m not. I just… I know what Cole’s like when he gets angry.”
This didn’t escalate until the pictures of Daphne and I came out in HotGoss. She said that’s when his texts really ramped up.
He’s jealous.
Of me.
Of us.
Back on the monitor, Huxley flashes her a comforting smile.
“Sure, you take some time to think about it, and go about your lives as normal as you can, okay? I’ll keep you both updated, but not too updated. I want you guys to be able to focus on the more important stuff.”
“So, the way things always are?” Daphne laughs, turning to me. “He’d never say it like this, but Huxley tries his best to keep me as out-of-the-loop as he possibly can. To keep me sane.”
“That’s right, that’s what a good publicist is supposed to do!”
“And you do a fantastic job.”
“I know. I think I deserve a raise,” he teases.
“Well, you know who to talk to about that.”
“Believe me, my dad’s heard me beg for money enough in my life. But hey, listen, you guys take care, and I’ll see you in a couple of weeks— and kiss the rugrat for me.”
“Always do,” Daphne says softly. “Bye, Hux.”
“Bye, guys!”
He ends the Zoom call and I wrap my arm around Daphne’s shoulder.
“How about you pour us a glass of wine and I’ll cook?”
“Can I help?” She asks. “It might take my mind off all this shit.”
“Absolutely. But let’s get that wine first.”
Daphne grabs the Chardonnay from the fridge and pours us two generous glasses.
We decided on homemade pizza tonight, which sounds more impressive than it is, mostly because the dough is entirely pre-made at the supermarket. All we have to do is sauce it up and put on Violet’s favorite toppings.
“Ham and pineapple, right?” I ask as I pre-heat the oven.
“Yep. It’s a heinous combo, but I suffer through it,” she chuckles, grabbing a cutting board and a knife to slice up some veggies for a side-salad.
The oven’s the only appliance I haven’t replaced in this kitchen since I inherited the place… mostly because before Daphne showed up, I barely used it. The last week or two though? I’ve been a regular Gordon fucking Ramsay in this kitchen, and it’s all because of them.
“The things you do for parenting, huh?”
“You’re telling me. I remember when she was about three, all she wanted to eat was bread. She wouldn’t eat veggies, or chicken, or rice, just fucking bread.”
“Toasted? Was there stuff on the bread?”
Her face lights up whenever she talks about Violet, and sometimes I just want to keep her talking so I can see that sparkle in her eyes.
“Nope, and nope. It had to be plain bread. So, I started making it from scratch because I had to figure out a way to hide veggies in it without her noticing. Luckily, it turns out it’s pretty easy to trick a toddler: I just had to dye it fun colors and she ate it up.
I don’t know how many loaves I made, but I felt like I was on Little House on the Prairie or something. ”
The way the sun hits through the window makes her look ethereal, her cinnamon hair glowing in the light. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her close.
“I think I’d prefer you as a sexy Victorian-era woman.”
Her rich cackle ripples through me like electricity.
“Yeah? You’d get hot if I showed some ankle?”
“I’m hot just thinking about it.”
That’s when I notice we’ve been swaying from side to side, like we’re dancing.
“You know what I realized?”
Her voice is like honey, sending warm tingles dripping down my spine.
“What’s that?”
I take a moment to breathe in the scent of her perfume. Woodsmoke and peaches.
“We never got a first dance at our wedding.”
“Hmm. You’re right. It was a very wham, bam, thank you, ma’am kind of thing, wasn’t it?”
There it is again, her laughter making my knees wobble.
“Something like that, yeah.”
“Well, I may not be a great dancer, but I’ve been told I can dip like nobody’s business.”
“Dip? What do you–”
She lets out a squeal of laughter as I hold her tight, dipping her way down low to the ground. Her fingers sink into my bicep, and her bright eyes dance around my face as I hold her there, but there’s a trepidation there too, like she’s searching for something.
“I’m not going to drop you, I promise. I’m strong. Like, super strong. I’m basically the strongest man on the planet.”
“Wow, is that self-appointed, or…”
Everything feels so easy with her: cleaning the house, washing dishes, making dinner…
dancing in the kitchen. I always wanted to have moments like these, ones that seem straight out of a romance movie, but after the accident, I figured life was better spent alone than burdening another person with my demons.
I bring her back up to a standing position slowly, letting my lips hover over hers and holding out just long enough for it to be painful, before finally engulfing her in a passionate kiss. She’s delectable, and the wine on her tongue only makes me crave her more.
“What was that for?” She whispers, after I finally tear my mouth away from hers.
“You want the truth?”
Blush cascades down her neck and chest, and she tugs her tank top down a little to give me a better view of her cleavage.
“Obviously.”
“I was thinking about you showing some ankle again. Scandalous.”
“You know, V might be up there for a while. Maybe you’ll get to see a little more than ankle.”
Now that Violet’s been around the house for a couple weeks, I’ve learned how much of parenthood is finding five secret little minutes for a quickie. I don’t want that now, though.
“I’ll take you when I’m good and ready, Firecracker.”
“You’re such a fucking tease.”
“Keep being a brat and we’ll see where it gets you.”
“Hopefully good and fucked.”
Her voice is sultry and smoky, like a really nice glass of bourbon. I can’t wait to tie her to my bed tonight. Daphne’s a whole meal, and I’m going to savor her.
“You’re gonna be my filthy little whore tonight.”
“Stop talking like that,” she giggles.
“Why? Are you already soaked through your panties again?”
She pulls back, her eyes gleaming, and I see a light in her that’s been absent in my life since we were teenagers.
My own eyes dance around her face, counting up the tiny lines and creases that prove how hard she’s laughed over the years.
I wish I’d been there for all of it, and even if this little bit of time is all we have, I’ll savor every minute we’ve got left.
“Actually, if you must know, I’m not wearing—”
“I’m done packing!”
We both freeze, listening as Violet thunders down the stairs, practically sprinting toward the kitchen. The two of us quickly break apart, smoothing out our clothes just as she slides through the door.
“Hey, V, you wanna help me with the pizza?” I ask, doing my best to play it cool.
“Sure,” she replies, setting her book down on the table. “What do you need me to do?”
“Well, I’ve got some dough in the fridge, some sauce, and your favorite toppings all laid out. How about you grab the dough and we’ll work on this bad boy together?”
She nods, digging into the fridge, as out of the corner of my eye I spot Daphne snapping a quick photo of the two of us.
“Cute,” she murmurs.
I grab my little bluetooth speaker and put on some music, as the three of us ease into a quiet routine of chopping, spreading sauce, and tossing down slices of ham like we’re playing Blackjack.
Every time we cook, I take the opportunity to learn more about Violet.
For instance, her favorite subjects in school are Music and English, but she doesn’t want to go into the same business as her mom.
Tonight, she’s regaling us with tales of how she’s going to write thriller novels, all while living in a cabin by the lake with a bunch of cats.
“I don’t want anyone to bother me, you know?”
“Well, cats can be pretty annoying.” I glance over at Bugsy, who’s dancing around our feet, hoping for a wayward piece of meat to make its way to the floor.
“Not as annoying as people,” Violet grins, slapping down the final piece of ham. “How’s that?”
“Looks good to me, kiddo. Let’s pop this bad boy in the oven.”
Daphne snaps another photo as the two of us slide the pizza onto the rack.
Once it starts cooking, we move on to set the table and Violet starts talking up a storm.
We don’t get a break even when we sit down to eat, but I don’t mind at all.
I’ve forgotten how much joy this house can hold when there are other people around.
“Okay, so what’s your favorite book of all time?”
Her eyes go wide and she slumps back in her seat as she munches on her pizza crust.
“That’s tough...”
“Okay, top three then,” I laugh. “Does that make it easier?”
“No, because then I have to rank them! You made it worse!”
Daphne is all smiles as she sips her wine, but I feel a deep pang in my chest, knowing soon enough the kitchen will be empty again. The only person I’ll be talking to at this table is Bugsy.
“Okay, I’ll take the pressure off: What’s your favorite book this month?”
From what I can tell, Violet reads a little bit of everything, so I want to know what really captures her attention.
“Still a tough question,” Daphne whispers, winking at me. “But nice try.”
The kid chews her pizza, staring out the kitchen window with a face twisted up in contemplation. Finally, after a few minutes of silence, she comes to a conclusion.
“The Last Olympian. It’s a Percy Jackson book— you know it?”
My heart starts to pound, and I glance over at Daphne, whose cheeks have turned from a soft pink to a bright and burning red.
“Yeah,” I rasp. “I know it. Your mom actually sent that one to me when I was in the hospital.”
I can still see that book sitting right at the top of the care package. Inside, there was a little note that said, keep fighting written in her elegant handwriting.
Violet smiles.
“I think I found your copy on the shelf.”
The rest of dinner is relatively uneventful, with both mom and daughter trading playful barbs back and forth as I cheer on one, or the other, or both on from the sidelines.
Soon, Jillian arrives to pick up Violet, and we all scramble to make sure she’s got her things before Daphne and I head to the door to see her off.
“Wait, V, did you pack your toothbrush?” Daphne calls out to her as Violet climbs into the car.
“Oh my god, mom! See you tomorrow!”
We wave as the engine rumbles to life and Jillian backs out of the driveway, but Daphne looks like she’s going to be sick, chewing on one of her perfectly manicured nails.
“You okay?”
“It’s hard watching her grow up, knowing what’s waiting for her out there, you know?”
“What’s waiting for her… at a sleepover?”
She nudges me with her shoulder.
“No, not now, just… just the fact that she won’t really get to have a normal life. It doesn’t matter what she decides to do for a career; if I’m still worth talking about, people won’t stop hounding her, just for her connection to me. She didn’t ask for any of that.”
I can’t imagine what it’s like to grow up in the public eye, always being scrutinized. Even Daphne, who got in really young, at least got through high school before anything changed. For a kid going through it since day one, that’s gotta be hard to take.
“Well, she has a hell of a support system, and that’s what matters the most.” I brush her hand, giving it a little squeeze. “You and Hux should be proud.”
“We are. We’re really proud of her, it’s just— God, I love her so much.”
She lets out a sigh, her eyes misting with tears, and I wind my arms around her waist.
“I feel like you might be in need of a pick me up. How’s that sound?”
She laughs as I rub my nose against hers.
“I need the best distraction you can offer.”
I scoop her up and carry her back into the house, my heart thundering as the sound of her laughter echoes through my head.
I’d do anything to keep that sound in my life.