This isn’t my Frankie I’ve grown fond of annoying. This carefree spirit reminds me of the girl I left behind when I moved to Gombe.
And I can’t decide which one I want more.
It’snostalgic.
It’sintriguing.
But there’s too many eyes on us right now for me to find out more.
“Actually,” I lean closer so she can hear me over the music, “I wanted you to join me in my section. It’s just around back.”
“What for?”
“I want to talk to you. Privately.”
She cocks an eye. “Again, what for?”
My eyes drop to those brown-lined, gloss-covered lips.
“Come see.”
She hesitates, glancing at her friends. “I don’t know. I came here with these girls. It’s a bit rude to ditch ‘em.”
“They’ll be alright,” I say, not taking my eyes off her.
“They’re my ride home,” she counters, sipping what’s left in her glass.
“I’ll make sure you get home, Francine. Don’t worry about it.”
“I still don’t know.”
“You gonna make me beg again?”
Her lips twitch, fighting a smile.
I sigh and hold out my hand. “Please?”
This time she takes it.
“Night,” she says to the table, waving them off before letting me lead her through the crowd.
As we make our way to the back, I’m not sure what the hell I’m thinking, or worse, why she’s actually going along with this.
Maybe it’s the drinks.
Maybe it’s me.
Solace is too busy with some girl in a blue bodycon to notice us, so I pour us drinks from his bottle and take her to the seats near the back.
I sit first and pull her next to me, handing her a cup. Her thigh brushes mine, and I swear I feel it in my chest.
“So,” I murmur, mouth near her ear, “what’cha doing out here?”
“Just enjoying myself,” she says, her voice lazy. “Been a while. Work’s had me locked in.”
“I know. You’ve been so tense lately.” I tilt my head, watching her tongue skim the rim of her glass. “You having fun?”
She grins, cheeks flushed. “So much fun! What about you?”
