Page 34 of One Last Verse

I wanted to straddle him and perform mouth to mouth so he wouldn’t have to struggle, but I was scared I’d do something wrong. We hadn’t had sex since before the accident. He was too strung out and mostly in pain and I was a ball of anxiety. But today, when I saw him sing, I felt hot in all the wrong places. His confidence made him sexy. One flip of a switch and I was a puddle of dirty, raw want.

“Did you find a car?” He rested his head back.

“Not yet. Shopping with my mother isn’t fun. She wanted to get Ashton a Mini Cooper.”

“You haven’t shopped with my mother.” He laughed softly while his eyes remained closed. “Janet is very… How shall I put it? Specific.”

“Well, then our mothers will probably get along just fine.”

“Probably.”

Our hands rested in his lap.

“Frank?” I spun in my seat to face him. My throat tightened with the words that were trying to make their way out all at once.

“Hmm?” He didn’t move. Having his fingers entangled with mine felt warm and nice. And extremely distracting.

My thoughts spiraled inside my head. I dipped my other hand in his hair and combed my fingers through it.

“What’s wrong?” he said quietly.

“Please don’t get mad,” I whimpered.

“Did you do something?” His laugh caressed my ears.

“No, but I’ve been thinking a lot…”

“About what?”

My mind roared. I loved how in sync we were right now, but the events of last night were still fresh in my head and I hated that they reminded me of my father’s weakness so much. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I really think you should take a step back from the band.”

Frank opened his eyes and looked at me. “I thought you were on my side, doll?”

“I am on your side. What if you need a third surgery?” My voice was a plea of despair.

“I won’t need a third surgery.”

“You don’t know that.”

“What’s gotten into you? Why are you so riled up?”

“I’m worried.”

“What are you worried about? I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not fine, Frank.” Here goes. “You know you shouldn’t drink, but you did anyway.”

“Is this about yesterday?”

I averted my gaze. “My father was an alcoholic.”

“It was just once. It won’t happen again.”

“You didn’t hear me, Frank,” I insisted, my lower lip shaking. “I can’t deal with this again.”

“I heard you.”

“Promise me you won’t touch alcohol again.”

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