Page 72 of Unwanted

I pull it out of my pocket and laugh when I see Jordan’s name on the screen. “He must’ve known we were talking about him,” I joke. I move to put the cell back in my pocket when Arlo stops me.

“He’s your boss, Frankie, answer it.”

“He can wait,” I protest.

“No.” He shakes his head and looks down at his watch. “Jenika’s going to be here soon for a meeting anyway.”

I furrow my eyebrows. “An NA meeting?”

He chuckles. “No. A business meeting.”

“A business meeting?”

“I’ll explain later. But for now, answer Jordan’s call and you and I can catch up for lunch next door.”

On the days I wasn’t with Lennox, I was here working out or next door working, using their Wi-Fi and eating their food while pretending I wasn’t some kind of Arlo groupie.

Since Arlo basically kicked me out of his office, I send a quick text to Jordan telling him I’ll call him back, then I go freshen up.

Just as I’m about to leave the gym, I catch Arlo laughing with a woman I assume to be Jenika. She’s older than him, and the comfort between them is evident.

My chest warms at the sight, grateful that he hasn’t been alone.

I find Arlo staring and smiling in my direction, and when Jenika looks over her shoulder at me, she smiles too.

Arlo beckons me and I mosey on over, feeling both self-conscious and excited to meet someone so important in his recovery.

When I reach them, Arlo’s hand finds mine. The action surprises me, and not only because I didn’t expect it, but because we’ve never held hands like this.

Not four years ago, and definitely not lately.

Behind closed doors, Arlo and I, then and now, never left any stone unturned. Without boundaries or limits, we touched and explored any chance we got.

But in public it was different. We were friends before we were lovers, and even though we never hid our sexuality, or our relationship, public displays of affection were very rarely a thing for us.

Scooting closer to him, I brush his shoulder with mine, enjoying the closeness.

“Jenika,” he says proudly. “I’d like to introduce you tomyFrankie.”

The tone of his voice is filled with nothing but adoration for me, and all I want to do is claim him. I want to wrap my arms around him and kiss him so everyone knows he is just as much mine as I am his.

With an equal amount of pride, her smile widens. “Hello, Arlo’s Frankie.” She extends her hand and I take it. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

At her words, I feel my mouth dry up and my cheeks burn in shame, worried that to her “Arlo’s Frankie” was nothing more than a selfish heartbreaker and someone who isn’t conducive to his ongoing recovery.

“I don’t think I’ve seen Arlo smile so much,” she says, and we both turn to look at him. “I’ve never seen him this happy.”

I wanted to take all the credit, but I couldn’t seem to move past the unspoken admission of how sad and miserable he’d been before that.

There was a lot to be said about having so much power, to be the one who could make or break a man. It was a lot of pressure and a lot of guilt.

“I’m just going to go next door and grab a coffee before our meeting,” Jenika says to both Arlo and me, interrupting my downward spiral. “Frankie, would you like to join me?”

Surprised, I blink a few times, trying not to appear mortified. But if the laugh that leaves Arlo’s mouth is anything to go by, it seems like I’ve done a terrible job at it.

“I promise you, she doesn’t bite,” he says, completely unfazed. “You were on your way there anyway, right?” I nod. “Perfect. Can you order me that juice smoothie thing I like? Send it back with Jenika and I’ll see you for lunch.”

Arlo kisses the side of my head. “I’ll see you soon.”

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