He walked by me, giving me a sneer as he stepped up to the porch and kissed Kat on the cheek. “You girls ready?”
The door opened, and Frankie stepped out; she’d changed her clothes into something similar to what her mother wore.
I should have left.
I should have turned around and walked to my truck and gone home, but my feet stayed planted on the walkway. My eyes glued to Frankie.
“Can I talk to Derek for a minute before we go?” Frankie asked.
“About what?”
“It’s private,” Frankie insisted.
Kat looked at me, jealousy and anger in her eyes. I held my ground. If my daughter needed me, I’d stand here until the fucking world ended if I had to.
“Babe, give her a minute,” Zero whispered, his hand on the small of her back, and Kat took a step forward, almost as if she didn’t want him touching her.
I smirked when her eyes locked on mine. She didn’t pull away when I’d fucking touched her. No, she’d grabbed onto my shirt and pulled me against her when I put my mouth on hers.
Had Zero kissed her goodnight? I knew he thought it was a fucking date. Sam had confessed to wanting to have dinner therebecause she’d heard Zero talking to Ace about his date with Kat. She thought jealousy would force my hand.
She wasn’t entirely wrong.
Now here he was again, taking my fucking family to the movies.
Kat looked from Frankie to me, and I held her stare. Finally, she relented. She and Zero moved down the driveway to the truck and waited.
“What’s up, Curly Sue?”
Frankie looked in the direction of her mother and then back to me.
“I’m sorry your mom didn’t save you.”
“Sweetheart, that’s not on you.”
“I know, but I can still be sorry for you.” She looked at her mother again and asked, “Do you like my mom?”
“Frankie—” I started.
“Because if you do, you have to tell her. I can help. I know you don’t really want to spend time with me but—”
“Hold it right there, Curly Sue. Let me make something crystal fucking clear.”
I shook out my hands just as I heard Kat call out, “Frankie.”
“Just a second, Mom.”
Frankie watched me, waiting for me to answer. There was fear in her eyes at what I might say.
“I never said I didn’t want to spend time with you. I’m not good enough for you or your mom. And I don’t want to get my heart broken by falling in love with you both only to have to let you go when you find out who I really am.”
Frankie smiled so fucking brightly. “I don’t think you’re as bad as you think you are.”
Before I could argue, she threw her arms around my waist and hugged me. I didn’t hesitate to wrap my arms around herand hold on, thinking this might be the last time I got to hold my little girl.
“Frankie!” Kat yelled impatiently.
“Come to the diner tomorrow for dinner,” Frankie whispered before she took off running toward Kat. Zero was watching me as he held the door for my daughter and then Kat.
