Page 68

Frankie wiped away a tear rolling down her cheek.

‘It’s nothing. Just got to a sad bit.’ She tried to laugh it off as she scooped her book into her bag. ‘I always get so invested in what I’m reading.’

Jay didn’t look wholly convinced but he nodded. ‘Can I get you a drink?’ he asked.

Frankie looked down at her still almost full glass. ‘Thanks, but I’m okay.’

Jay indicated the chair with her coat and bag on it. ‘Fancy some company?’

Although Frankie would have loved that, she said, ‘Ben’s due any minute.’

‘Ben. Okay, well⁠—’

Frankie’s phone began to ring on the table beside her drink. Ben’s name lit up the screen.

‘It’s Ben.’

‘I can see that.’ Jay didn’t walk away as Frankie picked up.

It was a very brief conversation, with Ben apologising profusely and telling Frankie something had come up with work that he’d have to deal with. Jay still hovered as Frankie assured Ben it was fine and they’d catch up another time.

She hung up.

‘So,’ Jay pointed at the empty chair again, ‘fancy some company?’

Frankie nodded then took a large gulp of her drink.

‘And it looks like you could do with another of those,’ Jay said as she put the half-empty glass back on the table.

* * *

‘Was it Ben who was making you upset?’ Jay said a few minutes later when he returned with a pint of Guinness for himself and another gin and tonic for Frankie, along with a packet of dry-roasted peanuts for them to share.

Frankie watched as Jay took off his scarf and casually slung his coat over the back of the chair.

‘No, it’s fine. It was a fairly last-minute arrangement to grab a quick drink, and Ben’s a very busy man.’

Jay nodded at this information as he sat. He was wearing an unbuttoned checked shirt over a tight white T. He’d rolled the sleeves of his shirt up to just below the elbows revealing very muscular forearms. His frame was still so lean, Frankie idly wondered what kind of workouts he did and if other areas of his body were as toned.

Jay took a sip of his pint then wiped a little of the foam from his top lip.

‘Have you still got your house guests?’ Frankie asked, feeling warm at a sudden vision of Jay, hot and sweaty, doing pull-ups.

Jay slumped back in his chair and rolled his eyes dramatically. ‘Yes! I managed to escape and come for a drink.’

Frankie eyed up Jay’s pint. ‘Are you sure alcohol’s a good idea?’

Jay gave a little chuckle. ‘With Cole and Si winding each other up twenty-four seven, alcohol is a very good idea!’

Not having had any experience of drug or alcohol dependency, Frankie wasn’t sure how to approach the subject. She plumped for the direct route. ‘I mean, is alcohol a good idea for you… because of rehab?’

Jay’s eyes widened slightly as the penny dropped. ‘Oh! Where I went wasn’t rehab rehab, if you know what I mean. It wasn’t for drink or drugs. The place I went was more of a… a retreat, I suppose.’ Two little red marks appeared on the top of his cheeks.

Frankie had forgotten how much Jay used to blush when he was younger. His face would go scarlet whenever he was embarrassed, felt awkward or had been caught getting up to mischief. One look at Jay’s face and Frankie’s nonna knew they’d helped themselves to cantucci from the large glass jars behind the till in the trattoria, despite Rocco and Frankie denying it.

Jay ran a hand through his hair, securing it back from his forehead for a moment before saying, ‘I’d been struggling with my mental health.’

‘I’m so sorry.’ Frankie felt embarrassed for jumping to the wrong conclusion. ‘When Si mentioned rehab, I just assumed.’