None of us enjoyed the movie. There were parts where everyone in the theater laughed at the same time, but neither Frankie nor Zero even cracked a smile.
As the credits rolled across the screen, we sat in our seats and waited for the other moviegoers to make their way out. Then Frankie stood and turned around. A smile spread over her face, and she scooted past Zero and up the ramp.
“Derek!”
I heard Zero groan and I closed my eyes briefly. What was he doing here? This was a kid’s movie. I turned my head and saw him with Charlie on his hip.
“Hey, Curly Sue,” he greeted Frankie, and though I couldn’t see her face, her shoulders were tense.
“Why do you have Charlie?” Frankie asked.
Zero had moved into the aisle, and I stepped in front of him to make my way to Frankie. I could feel him at my back, but he didn’t touch me. Not until we were standing in front of Derek.
“Charlie is my niece,” Derek said.
“Your niece?” I asked, not sure I understood. “Your actual niece or club niece?”
“Derek isn’t in the club,” Zero added with a note of disdain in his voice.
“Jack is my brother,” Derek informed while glaring at Zero.
I looked him over and wondered how I hadn’t noticed it before. Their looks were very similar. The same dark hair and chiseled jaw. But where Jack’s eyes were bright blue, Derek’s were a darker blue, the color of a stormy ocean.
I love storms, I thought, then shook my head to clear my thoughts. “I didn’t realize that.”
“Neither did they,” Zero mumbled behind me.
“What?” I asked, turning to him.
“Jack and I didn’t grow up together. We only met last year.” Derek looked at Frankie and said, “I have to get Charlie home. I’ll see you later, Curly Sue.”
“Bye, Derek.”
“Bye, Frankie!” Charlie said excitedly.
“Bye, Charlie.” Frankie’s goodbye to Charlie wasn’t as cheerful. She almost sounded jealous. Again, I questioned her fascination with Derek. Yes, he’d been nice to her when he came to fix the sink, attentive to her questions. But none of the men we’d met since living here had been mean. They were all friendly, especially those in the club, since they knew what she’d been through. Where we had come from.
But for her, Derek was different.
Even Jack, who made Frankie laugh every time she saw him, didn’t have the same effect. My hackles were up, and red flags waved in front of my face, especially after what Richard had done. But I hadn’t gotten that vibe from Derek.
You didn’t get that vibe from Richard either.
That was true. My instincts weren’t trustworthy when it came to men. It seemed the more interested I was, the worse they turned out to be. Which was why I was trying with Zero.
Unfortunately, there was zero interest.
“Mom, we’re going to be late!”
“Frankie, you say that every time, and we haven’t been late once,” I reminded her as I pulled my boots on. Tonight washer weekly dinner with Cami. Frankie wouldn’t be put off much longer, then we would have to go out to the orchard. She and Cami had been begging for a sleepover, but I was so unsure.
Maggie said she understood and added they had an extra room if I wanted to stay too. Frankie hemmed and hawed, but I knew she would relent if it meant she got to spend the night. And being there with her, at least the first time, would certainly make me feel better.
Zero’s words when he dropped us off last night hadn’t helped my fears. He’d waited until Frankie went inside, and I tried to let him down easy, but he wouldn’t hear of it. In the end, I gave in.
The door closed behind Frankie as she rushed inside as soon as Zero turned the truck off. He came around and opened my door like a perfect gentleman before walking me to the porch.
When he leaned in to kiss me, I placed a hand on his chest.
