Page 20 of A Slice of Love

Frankie Callahan was not to be touched…especially not by me.

Everyone in school knew it. She was the one person you didn’t mess with.

Yet, there I was, watching her every day like a fucking creep, eager to see if she’d show up smelling like oranges.

There I was…wanting her.

Somehow, during the month we had to work on the project, we managed to keep our interactions limited to the library and courtyard. I think we both knew what being alone would mean.

At least I thought we were on the same page.

Frankie had other plans.

“Uh, J-Jonas?”

It’s the first time she’s said my name out loud, and a warmth like no other spreads through me.

I blink up at her, surprised to find her even speaking to me.

She rushes to apologize. “S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t.”

“Oh.” She clears her throat. “I-I just… W-We…” She pauses, shaking her head at herself for all the stuttering. “I believe we should move the rest of our project elsewhere. It’s going to require a lot of cutting and gluing, and I don’t think we should be doing that around all these”—she waves a hand toward the stacks—“precious beauties.”

My lips quirk up at her choice of words. “Precious beauties, huh?”

Her cheeks fill with color, and I realize in that moment her blushing is one of my favorite sights. “What can I say? I’m a bit of a book lover.”

“You?” I fake gasp. “Say it ain’t so, Frank.”

“It’s Frankie,” she says.

I study her. “Nah, you look like more of a Frank to me.”

She doesn’t say anything else but seems pleased by me giving her a nickname, and I want to slap myself for flirting because anything happening between us just isn’t possible.

I’m Jonas Schwartz, captain of the football team. I score off the field just as much as I do on it. I’m known for letting things get a bit too wild, and the only time I’ve ever shown any restraint is in first period chemistry when I have to sit next to her every morning.

She’s Frankie Callahan…the pastorandthe principal’s daughter.

Enough said.

“What were you getting at, Callahan?” I ask.

“O-Oh. I, uh, well, my parents are out of town this weekend.”

“They leave you home alone?”

“I’m responsible,” she says haughtily, and it’s the first time I’ve heard her have even a hint of attitude.

She’s…fiery.

I kind of like Fiery Frank.

“So, do, uh, do you want to come over this weekend?”

My heart rate picks up at the thought of being alone with Frank. There are so many things that could happen. So many things Iwantto happen. So many things that shouldn’t happen.

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