Chapter 19 #2
“Eh. They can’t do anything about the breaks except make me eat soft foods and, you know, not get punched again.”
“Yeah, I vote for not getting punched again,” Frankie said before kneeling down.
He ran the water and washed all the dust out, then plugged the tub and found a small packet of bath bombs that looked functional.
They were pink and smelled of roses, so he tossed in two, then stood up and walked over to where Lucas was gently swaying back and forth. “Stand up for me.”
Lucas did, setting his hands on Frankie’s shoulders as Frankie began to undo his chef’s pants. His fingers traced along the collar of his shirt, then slowly moved down along the buttons. “This feels nice.”
“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 feels nice. 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 was safe, 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.”
“It might,” Lucas said. “Your brother isn’t the one falling for me, so he doesn’t have to care. But…but if you want me, you do. You have to care. You have to care when I don’t know I should.”
“I’m yours,” Frankie told him. “There isn’t a single cause where I won’t take your side.”
“I want to keep my apartment for a while. I need space.”
“I wouldn’t expect different. If we decide to take the next step, we’ll make sure you have space in that house too.”
Lucas smiled and brought Frankie’s hand to his lips and kissed it.
“And I want you to tell me if I’m being too much.
Because it might happen. I might get overwhelmed by being around a child, and while I can’t control how it affects me, I can control how I express myself.
I don’t ever want to hurt her. Or you. But it’ll probably happen, and I want to know you’re not going to baby my feelings and tell me when I’m being a shithead. ”
Frankie laughed, not able to imagine himself calling Lucas a shithead. He understood what Lucas was saying though. “When it comes up, I promise I will say something similar. But I might not call you that.”
Lucas grinned wider. “And I want you to promise me you’re not going to punch Charlie and get your own assault charge because he’s the only one I want to suffer.”
Frankie let out a big, put-upon sigh, grinning when Lucas laughed. “Fine. No punching. Fallon will make me swear the same thing anyway, and I can’t go against you both.”
Lucas nuzzled as close as he could. “Lastly—I need you to meet my family. And I mean my whole family. My dad’s friends are like his brothers and sisters.
The kids are like my cousins, and I take care of a lot of them whenever someone needs help.
They’re important to me, and they might pitch a fit because you’re closer to their age. ”
“It’s something we both have to be prepared for. My brothers know I like you. They think you like me too. But the reality might hit different once we make it official.”
Lucas hummed softly. “Can we get out? It’s cold.”
“Yes.”
They said nothing as the tub drained and they dried off. Lucas had a spare pair of sweats that mostly fit Frankie, and he helped carry Lucas’s favorite pillows and blanket over so they could make a nest on the floor of his living room.
Frankie checked on Fallon, who was snoring with his mouth open, arms flung over his head, and that settled him a bit more. He triple-checked all the locks, then settled beside Lucas, who was already drifting.
Lucas rolled into his arms and tucked himself into a small shape that fit against him perfectly. “I’m sorry we couldn’t do more tonight.”
“We have time. Now that you’re mine, anyway.”
Lucas lifted his chin and missed Frankie’s mouth the first time, but he got it on the second try. The kiss was long and slow, a little messy, a little desperate, but soothing in the way they both needed that night.
“I’m adopting Elodie. I don’t know if I told you that already. But she’s going to be mine officially soon.”
“You did, and I love that,” Lucas murmured.
“Do you want kids?”
“Not more than her.”
It was the perfect answer. Frankie carded his fingers through Lucas’s long, loose hair, and the motion of that sent them both into a quiet, safe, easy slumber. God only knew what was waiting for them on the other side, but for now, this was enough.