I push myself up onto my elbows. “Am I the only one who doesn’t understand what’s happening?”
“Yes,” both of them say at once.
Frankie looks at Za. “I think it’s a great idea. Don’t overthink it.”
Za beams. “Thank you.”
They share a look I’m not invited into.
Za finally glances at me. “You okay?”
I close my eyes again.
“No,” I say. “I need an ice pack. And an apology. In that order.”
“You’re not getting either,” Frankie declares.
Za laughs, then stands.
“Anyway.” Za leans down, kisses the top of Frankie’s head affectionately. “I trust you to feed Jabari before he dies on the carpet. I’ll be back before one.”
She grabs her bag, hums a line from whatever show she’s in a mood about, and disappears out the door and down the hall.
The door clicks shut.
Silence drops into the flat.
I’m still on the floor and Frankie’s still on the bed.
She looks at me. “You alive?”
“I can see colours.”
“Yeah most people can,” She swings her legs off the bed but stays seated on the edge. “Don’t bleed on anything.”
I sit up slowly, facing her fully, almost eye to eye. “You’re meant to be feeding me.”
“Am I?” She folds her arms. “I didn’t agree to that.”
“Za said so,” I point out. “And she outranks you.”
I lean in more, my hands going up her legs. ?“I could always eat something else.”
Before she can make some sharp remark, I reach down, lift her ankle gently, and press a kiss to the top of her foot.
She freezes. “Is that smart?”
“No,” I murmur against her skin then drag my lips down the side of her pretty feet. “But I’ll do it anyway.”
Her foot twitches like she wants to yank it back but can’t quite make herself.
“I think you have a foot fetish, big man.”
I grab the other ankle and pull her closer before securing him over my shoulders. “Yeah?”
Instead of responding, she leans back in her elbows and watches me. Her eyes goes from my face to between her legs, as if saying “Well it ain’t gonna eat itself.”
“Do I at least get breakfast out of this?”
