“We need to talk.”
Zero sighed and straightened up. “I know what you’re gonna say, Katrina, but I want you to give it more time.”
“Zero,” I said, shaking my head.
He pressed a finger under my chin and lifted my eyes to his. “Is this about Derek?”
I wanted to say no, but the truth was, I couldn’t stop thinking about him, obsessing about why Frankie was so drawn to him. But it wasn’t the full truth, so I kept it to myself.
“No, it’s about me and Frankie. My past relationships haven’t been good for her, and I have to put her first. It’s only been a few months since Slyce pulled us out of the clubhouse.”
“I get it,” he said, but his tone wasn’t convincing. “Are you opposed to a friend? We can hang out; do things with Frankie. Let her get to know me, let you both get to know me.”
I bit my lip and looked over my shoulder at the house. When I turned back, his eyes were pleading with me to give him ashot. I pressed a hand to his chest, desperate to feel something close to what I felt when Derek touched me, but it wasn’t there.
I leaned on my toes and kissed his cheek. “Friends,” I agreed.
He nodded and kissed the top of my head. “I’ll give you a call, and we’ll make some plans to hang out.”
“I’d like that.”
He climbed into his truck and pulled away. I sat on the porch until his taillights disappeared, then dropped my head onto my knees. Why couldn’t it be him I found attractive?
“Mom, come on,” Frankie called from outside. I stood up with a heavy sigh.My daughter is my life,I reminded myself. Her safety and well-being were more important than my sex life.
I locked the door behind me and climbed into the car. Frankie bounced in her seat, and I chuckled. I still hadn’t enrolled her in school. Until she told me otherwise, the plan was to continue homeschooling.
The second the engine shut down, Frankie was out the door and rushing for the diner. Cami sat in the same booth they sat in every week, and I walked over to say hello.
“Is Maggie here?” I asked, looking around the room.
“No, Nox wasn’t feeling well, so she dropped me off. Rhoda isn’t closing tonight, so I’ll stay until her shift ends. Then I’ll go home with her.”
I tried not to let my disappointment show. I enjoyed having dinner with Maggie. We were getting to know each other, and despite the difference in our ages, I considered her a safe friend.
“I guess I’ll sit at the counter.”
“You could sit with Derek,” Frankie offered.
“What?”
“I’d love to have dinner with you, Kat.” His voice behind me was unexpected, and my body trembled with desire. It shouldhave jumped in surprise, but the soft rumble of his words rolled over me like a lover’s whisper.
He smiled when I looked over my shoulder. “I’m sure you’re busy.”
“Nope. Mimic and Indie have the kids tonight, so Jack and Sam went on a date. I’m on my own, same as you.”
“Mom,” Frankie whispered beside me. “He can be your friend too, just like Zero.” She said the last part loud enough for Derek to hear.
“Everyone needs friends, Kat,” Cami said cheerfully from the booth. I closed my eyes in defeat. When I opened them, I caught Derek winking at my daughter, who winked back, and suddenly I knew exactly what she was doing.
“Frankie,” I warned.
“Go, Mom. Cami and I have stuff to talk about. No moms allowed.” She shoved me in Derek’s direction, who grasped my elbow lightly and led me toward a booth on the other side of the room.
Hearing the girls giggling behind me, I wondered if Nox was really sick or if they’d talked Maggie into staying home on purpose. When I caught Rhoda’s wink, I knew they were all in on it.
Derek sat down across from me, facing the door, which meant I couldn’t see the girls. When I looked over my shoulder at where they were, he said, “I’ll keep an eye on them.”
