Chapter Three
FRANKIE
“Ican’t believehow much cash we got. Never seen this much at once. We oughta dance together more.” Naked and dripping wet from the shower, I picked up my stash from tonight’s take and flapped the bills in front of Cort’s face, then danced around him. Everyone else laughed but Cort.
“Yeah. Well, ever since Austin left and James didn’t hire anyone to replace him, we’re splitting between one less person.” He slumped in his chair. “I still miss him, though. It ain’t been the same without him.”
I knew Austin and Cort were close, and I vowed to be friendlier to the hunky cowboy. He really was a sweetie.
“How about on our next day off, we all go to the movies or something? I know Austin would love it. We’ll set up a day, okay?”
His face brightened. “Yeah. That’ll be fun. I thought it would be easier to find someone here, but it really isn’t. People ain’t as friendly. Any time I try to talk to someone, they look at me funny.”
“Aw, don’t look so down, honey.” I kissed his scruffy cheek. “You’ll meet a nice guy. The right ones take time.”
Dejection killed the usual merriment in his eyes. “I try. I go to the readings at the bookstore near me, and they always have coffee and snacks after. But no one wants to hang out. They’re always rushing off. The only one who stays is this guy who hangs around and eats all the cheese and crackers and cake they have out. I think he’s homeless.”
“Why?” I wrapped a towel around my head to catch the dripping water.
Cort frowned. “’Cause every time I seen him, he’s got the same clothes on and they’re looking a little shabby. And when he thinks no one’s payin’ attention, he sneaks the extra food into his jacket pockets.”
“You’re a real softie. I bet you bring him a meal the next time you see him.”
Flushing a bright red, he fixed me with a hard glare. “Whatever. I believe in helpin’ people who don’t have it as good as me. If that makes me a softie, then I’ll own it. Besides, I ain’t here to talk about me. What’s going on with you? Still with your ex?”
“He’s hardly an ex if Frankie’s back with him.”
Surprised at Tristan’s interference, I nevertheless ignored his comment, disliking his half-amused, slightly snide tone. “We’re working things out. Slowly.”
“You think it’s gonna be okay? I’m worried about you.” The protective glint in Cort’s eye came from his talks with Austin.
“I know it will. We’re taking it day by day.”
But as I dried off and put my clothes on, I wasn’t so sure. Aside from our conversation earlier in the evening when he’d finished work, Aaron hadn’t called or sent me a text all night. I hated not trusting him, but a little part of me wondered. Did he go out with the guys from work? Was he drinking? If Austin were here, he’d jump on my insecurity and feed that fire.
Pushing my negative thoughts out of my mind, I pulled out my phone, and relief poured through me, seeing a text from Aaron.
Hung out with the guys and got home a little while ago. Gonna wait up. Miss you.
My heart did a funny flip. Hehadchanged. Aaron hardly ever said shit like that to me before.
“That him?” Cort gestured to my phone.
“Yeah.”
“I figured. Your face got all soft and red. Must be nice having someone waiting for you. Maybe I’ll check out some online dating sites.”
“That’s a good idea. You find some cuties, and me, you, and Austin will check them out together.” I gave him a quick hug. “See? I didn’t forget. I’m gonna call Austin tomorrow, and we’ll all go out together. Promise. I gotta run. It’s gonna take me a long time to get home on the train.” I blew him a kiss and waved to the others, then ran out.
My prediction proved correct, and it was close to two thirty before I unlocked my front door. I made sure to be quiet because I knew there was no way Aaron would be up so late, especially after he worked so hard today.
“Frankie?”
A sleep-roughened voice greeted me from the living room as I shut the door behind me. Aaron lay stretched out on the sofa, shirtless and in an old pair of sweats. He cracked one eye open. I dropped my keys into the little dish on the table by the door and tossed my jacket on the chair as I passed by.
“Hey.”
I kneeled at his side to kiss his stubbled cheek and couldn’t stop rubbing against him. God, he smelled good. The hint of his aftershave and warm skin hit me hard, reminding me of everything I’d missed when he was gone. I’d kept some of his shirts and slept in them, so I’d have something of his to hold on to. Eventually the scent faded, but the loneliness remained. People kept telling me to find someone new, but I couldn’t bring myself to move on without seeing if there was anything left between us worth saving.
