Her eyes flashed. I’d scored a hit with that one. “That’s not?—”
“I’d be happy to take care of that,” Eddie said smoothly, cutting in. “In fact, Frankie, I’d much rather replace the car entirely. Something safer.”
My stomach twisted. “No.”
He blinked, surprised but when I managed to look away from Maddy to glance at him, he only frowned but didn’t seem offended. “Frankie?—”
“I appreciate it,” I said, interrupting again. “Really, thank you for the offer, but I can’t accept. I need to keep my job.”
Archie spoke up then, voice calm but ironed flat. “She’s right.”
Eddie looked between us. For a moment, I thought he’d push. He didn’t. “All right,” he said finally. “If that’s what you want.”
It mattered more than I expected that he stopped.
It apparently mattered because Maddy jerked around to look at him and I had no idea what passed between them but she took her coffee and just went to the table, ignoring me completely.
Blowing out a breath, I skipped the food entirely and got my own coffee. I wasn’t remotely hungry anymore. I could feel Rachel’s concern and the frowns from the guys, but I downed the coffee and made myself eat half a muffin. It hardly did justice to Jeremy’s food, but I didn’t want anyone else being upset.
The tension around the table stretched to the breaking point when Archie finally announced we needed to head out, he’d grabcoffee. It was like someone fired a starting gun and I wasn’t the only one rising swiftly.
Jeremy paused as he bent down to scoop up Tabby, not seeming to mind in the slightest that she was leaving fine little gray hairs on his suit. “Everything will be fine, Miss Frankie,” he promised me. “I’ll keep them with me today.”
Relief slammed into me and it damn near made my legs weak. After the day before, I didn’t want to leave them at all. I didn’t want to risk Maddy doing something else. “Thank you,” I said, and meant it.
“Of course,” he said, giving me a firm nod. “Have a good day at school.”
“Thank you,” I said again and I’d almost made it to the door, somewhat aware of the fact that the guys had all lingered one way or another until I was out.
“Kids,” Eddie said as he rose, and we all hesitated and I wasn’t the only one looking at him. “Archie and Frankie, only please.”
So close.
I blew out a breath. Coop rubbed my shoulder before he slipped past me and Rachel gave me a little nod. Jake and Bubba followed. Archie moved to stand a little in front of me, putting himself between me and our parents.
Maddy was still seated and Eddie had moved to stand with a hand on her shoulder as though aligning himself with her. Honestly, at the moment, I couldn’t find it in me to care. I had questions, but I really wasn’t in the mood for any of it right now.
When Jeremy stepped out with Tabby and the front door closed and Eddie hadn’t said anything, Archie blew out a breath. “Tick tock, old man. It wouldn't look good if we were tardy.”
While Eddie barely reacted to the taunt, my mother narrowed her eyes and I took a step forward and grippedArchie’s arm. She might have Eddie on her side, but I had Archie on mine and I would protect him.
“I just wanted a moment of privacy,” Eddie said, quietly, and I only half-noticed that he’d tightened his grip on Maddy’s shoulder. Probably the only thing that shut her up. I’d take it.
“You have it,” Archie said, making a show of looking at his watch. “Do you need to set an appointment for this moment of privacy or can we go now?”
The hostility edging every word sliced out at his father and I couldn’t blame him. I wanted to throw things too.
Another sigh and Eddie nodded once. “Dinner, Friday evening. Just the four of us.”
“I’ll think about it,” Archie said. “Really not feeling like the company would do much for anyone’s appetites.” He let that hang there for a moment. “It clearly already killed Frankie’s for the day.”
“Now—” Maddy started but Eddie just kept talking.
“Archie, you and I can settle this between us later. We don’t need to subject the ladies to it.” He looked past him to me then back to Archie and I felt more than saw Archie relax a fraction.
“I don’t want to subject Frankie to either of you, so, at least on that, we agree. Good talk. Have your people call my people and we’ll discuss when we can sit down and discuss having dinner. Until then, good morning.”
Not slowing, Archie pivoted, switched our grips so he had my arm and then we were striding out.
