“I’m just going to put her down,” Franky said, with a significant look at her boyfriend. I predicted a lecture in my future.
I headed to the fridge and helped myself to a bottled juice. “Anything I can do?”
“Nah, just take yourself out to the patio.”
I did as I was told and a moment later, Jason joined me with a mixed green salad topped with grilled chicken.
“There’s a homemade lime-cilantro dressing or a balsamic vinaigrette. Your choice.”
“Lime-cilantro sounds good.” I looked over my shoulder. “Will Franky be joining us?”
“In a minute. First, I need to talk to you about Lauren.”
As I suspected. “She said you knew. That you tricked her into telling.”
An eyebrow raise was my reward. “Not so hard to guess after you guys were so fucking weird with each other. I already knew she married someone in Vegas, but she didn’t reveal your identity. Then I witnessed it.”
“It?”
“The vibe, man. You two were pretty snarky with each other. In some universes, that’s considered hot.”
“She is snarky with me. I am merely myself.”
“Exactly. You’re kind of a dick sometimes, which, to be fair, matches Lo’s energy.” He stared me down. “She said she wants out.”
I chewed on my chicken. The dressing was excellent.
“That is an understandable reaction to an event seemingly outside one’s control.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means that Lauren is used to managing people, situations, her life in a certain way. She has structured it so she won’t make any mistakes or succumb to temptation like her father did. So when temptation comes calling, she is suspicious of it.”
He pointed his fork. “And what are you? The apple in the garden? Or the snake?”
“I am what happens when inhibitions are lowered and the true self emerges. Lauren may say it is an accident, but deep down, in some private recess she refuses to acknowledge, she knows this is not strictly true.”
He shook his head. “So you’re telling me you think you know what’s best here. I’m sure that’s gone down well.”
“I am merely asking that she give this situation a little breathing room.”
“By blackmailing her?”
I snorted. “Is that what she said?”
“No, that’s what I said.” Not Jason, but Franky, who sat down to my right with a bowl of salad and chicken.
“Your wife knows?”
“Not my wife. Yet.” He shot a serious look at Franky, who pursed her lips and blushed. “Through the joy of baby monitor technology, she overheard your conversation with Lo.” He gestured at Franky. “Over to you, Doc.”
Franky turned cool blue eyes my direction, which had the bonus of scolding schoolmarm because of the glasses. I felt my spine lengthening as I sat up straighter.
“My understanding of the conversation is that you threatened to tell Thad if she didn’t date you. I’m not sure how that doesn’t meet the definition of blackmail.”
I blew out a breath. “I may have fudged my words so that we could discuss it properly. Over dinner at Galleria.”
“Love their lamb chops.” Jason caught Franky’s eye. “Do your worst, my love.”
