“One thing just sort of led to another.” I tell them the whole story, starting with the fact that my dad healthy scratched Logan, even though he’s the best player on the team, and ending with us going back to his room a married couple who somehow never talked about his job or the reason my father was in Vegas. “Our dads actually played together briefly when I was little. Minneapolis. It’s where Logan’s family lives. His dad played his entire career there, and now his oldest brother plays there, too.”
“I thought that meant something more than he was letting on,” Liz muses.
“Oh.” Sloane’s eyes go really big. “So he’s not just a hockey player, but like, hockey royalty?”
I don’t like it when she puts it like that. But I nod, because it’s true.
“And your asshole dad who couldn’t move his family to a new city every few months doesn’t like the son of one of his formerteammates? Shocker.” Her voice shifts to cool detachment. “Honestly, I like this for you. It’s poetic.”
“It’s not. Don’t say that. I don’t want to get back at my dad or anything like that.”
“No, of course you don’t, you’re a nice person.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “But I can enjoy the karma of it all.”
“Well, since you’re such a fan…would you mind if I ask for you guys to be scarce tomorrow evening? As much fun as I know you had watching me twist and turn as you grilled him, I want to have one on one time with him.”
“He should rent you a fancy suite at a nice hotel,” Sloane says. “Pretty Woman style.”
Liz rolls her eyes. “You saw how she came shlepping out after her shower in…” She gestures to my sweatpants. “That. She wants to test him with real life Frankie.”
“Real lifeFrancesca,” Sloane says, swooning.
“Fuck you both.”
Liz sticks out her tongue. “I can stay at Merry’s apartment, no worries.”
“I guess I can see if Hot Thoracic Fellow wants to have a sleepover,” Sloane adds. HTF hasn’t yet risen to the level of having his real name shared with us.
“You don’t have to stay away all night,” I protest. “Just maybe don’t join us for dinner.”
“Babe, if he’s all that, and you’re not going to see him again for months… We’ll stay clear until the morning.”
“I rescind thefuck you both. I love you. Thank you.” And then I grab my phone again, not even bothering to hide my silly, girlish smile.
Frankie
Liz and Sloane are going to make themselves scarce tomorrow night, so we’ll have the house to ourselves
Frankie
And you asked if I preferred Francesca or Frankie…my friends and family all call me Frankie…I’m just Francesca at work
Frankie
But it’s up to you, whatever
Logan
I can’t wait to see you tomorrow night, Frankie
Logan
And I just started chapter eleven of your Shadow Daddy book
I grin, thinking about what’s coming in the next few chapters.
Frankie
Oh yeah? Chapter thirteen is my fave.
