Page 83 of Kiss My Glass
He toasts me with his wine glass. “So I’ve been told.”
“Thank you for today,” I add. “For everything.” I hope he knows how much I mean it.
Danny takes a moment before responding.
“I know this has been an emotional day, and I don’t want to add any more into the mix.” His eyes dip a little shyly, before he looks right at me again. “But I would honestly do anything for you, Frankie. You only have to ask.”
I only have to ask… Such a generous, wonderful offer, from a generous, wonderful man.
Trouble is, before I ask, I have to know exactly what it is I want.
ChapterForty-Six
DANNY
Frankie was trying to bait me when she asked if I’d ever forgive Dad, but she had a point. I haven’t been brave enough to face him and tell him how I feel. Not once, not ever. I’ve done exactly what Ava said she’d done: build barriers between Dad and me. And for exactly the same reason: to protect myself. I keep my distance because I hate how bad he can make me feel. And I tell myself that’s his fault. I tell myself that he’s a shitty father and pile all the responsibility on his shoulders. Do I really want to have that kind of relationship with him for the rest of his life?
I’m driving the Karmann Ghia back to my place. Five minutes in, Frankie falls asleep, and her blonde head’s now resting lightly on my shoulder. If this wasn’t a stick shift, I’d put my arm around her. As it is, I do my best to keep the gear changes smooth, so I don’t rock her head too much. Needless to say, I’m not going to test out the Karmann Ghia’s top speed. The dial promises 150mph. Another day, small, blue German car. Another day.
My BMW is still parked outside the craft beer place. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll ask Frankie to drive me there and we can meet up again at the hospital. After that, I might phone Mom, find out what she and Dad are doing, see if I can entice Dad out for an organic, fair trade, non-alcoholic, sugar-free beverage somewhere.
We pull up outside my wooden shack. Frankie wakes with a start, gazes at me a little wildly.
“What time is it?” she says.
“Eleven-fifteen.” I smile at her sleep-rumpled face. “We can hit the hay platonic-style if you’d prefer?”
She seems to be weighing it up. “Can I have sex without actually moving?”
“Happy to experiment.” I lean in and kiss her gently. “Come on, sleepyhead. Time for bed.”
As it turns out, spooning while lying on our sides is the answer. I can caress Frankie’s breasts and put my other hand to even better use lower down her body, while moving inside her slowly and leisurely all the way to a not-so-slow-and-leisurely climax. By the time I’ve dealt with the condom, Frankie is fast asleep, still lying on her side, a small, happy smile on her face. I forgot to lower the blind this morning and there’s moonlight pouring through the window, giving Frankie’s bare skin a luminous, almost pearlescent sheen. She looks angelic, and a wave of affection for her rushes through me, shortly followed by a tsunami of terror. I have to get my insecurity under control, or there’s no hope for us. And I want there to be an us. I want it badly. I settle down to sleep, and hope courage magically comes to me in my dreams.
I wake up with the jolt that’s your brain’s tough-love way of telling you you’ve overslept. Frankie’s side of the bed is empty and I can’t hear the shower, or any other noise downstairs. I check my phone. It’s nearly ten am, and there’s a text from Frankie.
Been summoned. Having breakfast with Mom. Cu later?
I text back.
Whenever ur free.
And add a bunch of love heart emojis because that’s the kind of romantic sap I am.
Lil Danny is his usual eager morning self, but I’d better get moving. I can hardly crash Frankie’s Sunday morning breakfast with her mom, so I guess there’s nothing for it but to make good on last night’s vow to talk to my dad. But before I do anything, there must be coffee. Can barely put my pants on straight without it.
Three cups later, and I’m still finding ways to procrastinate. I read my emails and DMs but there’s nothing interesting, unless I actually am the lucky recipient of ten million dollars left to me in a stranger’s will. I scroll through my feeds and click on every cute dog video. I call Nate. He’s feeling better now Shelby’s in safe hands and Mom is feeding him. He’s going to spend the day at the hospital making sure Shelby doesn’t try to abscond through sheer boredom. Ava’s bringing them both a decent lunch. I think about calling Ava but what the heck would we talk about? Ditto Izzy and Max, who will also think it’s super weird that I’m calling them out of the blue. I send Frankie another text with coffee cup emojis and more love hearts, which is pretty much the complete rundown of my morning so far. And that’s it. I’m out of excuses.
Mom hates texts, so I call her. She immediately invites me round for lunch. I say yes right before I remember I have no car. I peer outside and Frankie’s is still there. Seems she chose to walk to meet her mom, probably because it takes longer. I text her.
cn I borrow ur car for 3 hrs? Lunch w my mom & dad.
She texts back.
sure but DO NOT BREAK IT!! Also u owe me.
I text her back the ROFL face, more love hearts and an eggplant emoji because I’m horny as well as romantic. I wait but she doesn’t text back. Guess sexting isn’t as much fun when your mom’s sitting right next to you.
I shower and dress. Time to go.Deep breath, Danny. You’ve got this.
