God, even now she could feel the sting of his palm on her cheek.
Could hear him, dismissive and careless.
Telling her weakness was contagious, and she was already infected.
Her fingers curled against her palm. “Therapy told me he was wrong,” she added, softer this time. “But saying it to you now? That’s the first time I actually believe it. I wasn’t too much. He was too little. And I’m done carrying that.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened. “If I ever cross paths with him, I’m going to punch him in the face.” His gaze softened as it locked on hers. “Not because you need me to fight that fight. But because the bastard has it coming.”
Frankie let out a short, surprised laugh. “Do it. I’ll bring the popcorn.”
“Deal.” Marcus rose and took her hand, fingers threading together like a promise. “Now, what do you say we get out of here? Find some place with a bed.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
A quiet smile passed between them, the kind that whispered this—whatever it was—might just be real.
But before they could take another step, Ziggy’s head popped around the rooftop doorway like a nosy fairy godmother. “Ugh, are you two going to stand there making googly eyes all night? Some of us are hosting an after-party. And by some of us, I mean all three of us.”
Frankie couldn’t stop her grin. God. She, the person who was a bit of an asshole, had a boyfriend and a friend. Life was very good.
She scooped up her Birkin and tucked it under her arm with theatrical flair. “Lead the way.”
Before she could follow Ziggy, Marcus caught her for one last kiss, slow and certain, pressing just enough to short-circuit every lingering doubt. Then his mouth grazed her ear. “I think you’re going to like the contents of your new Birkin.”
She pulled back and arched a brow. “My lipstick vibrator got an upgrade, didn’t it?”
His answering grin was pure sin. “Maybe.”
She shoved his chest playfully. “God, I hope it’s rechargeable.”
He laughed, caught her hand again, and this time, didn’t let go.
“You know,” she said, “between Gi Gi’s meddling, Birdie’s matchmaking, and the asshole book author’s new release, I’m starting to think this was inevitable.”
“New release?”
“So You Fell for a Jackass, Now What?”
His grin was slow, sure. “You know what they say about jackasses?”
“No,” she said, one corner of her mouth lifting.
“Once you give us hope, we never let go.”
Her stomach swooped, traitorous, giddy thing. She squeezed his fingers. “Then you’d better buckle up.”
Epilogue (Six Months Later)
Miss Informed
By Miss Informed
Staff Writer,Gi Gi Gazette
Engaged, Enraged, and Bi-Zip Coded: Frankie Peterson Says Yes (Eventually)
Well, well, well. Put down your lattes and clutch your pearls, because the most delicious spectacle Gi Gi’s Crossing has seen since the Great Bake Sale Brawl of ’09 unfolded right in the middle of town square.
