Page 42 of Whiskey and Regret
“You know what today is?” Her smile was so big and bright I didn’t need to open the curtains to see the sun.
“What’s today, Frank?” I rubbed my tired eyes and stretched my hands high above my head to work out the stiff kinks in my back.
“The last day of your one-month probationary period. I know Daddy is going to hire you for good and I think Mom will come around too. She’s tired of picking me up from school every day.” She climbed up beside me in bed and laid her head on my shoulder. I stroked her fluffy curls and sighed softly.
“I hope he hires me for good.” The weekly paychecks helped to pay my car note but it wasn’t enough to put a payment on all of my cards. I should have canceled most of them like Evander suggested.
I was just so happy to be able to pay for my car that I didn’t think much beyond it. I still hadn’t figured out how to make extra money to help pay more of my bills. I told myself that if I was hired permanently that I’d figure it all out then. Today was the moment of truth.
“Come on, let’s go downstairs and make pancakes. Nobody can say no with pancakes for breakfast.” The shining innocence in her eyes was so damn cute. Sometimes Frankie was this amazingly mature twelve-year-old then other times she reminded me that she was still a child in all the ways that mattered. She still saw the world through rose-colored glasses and she still thought life went on forever. We were only eight years apart but the realization had already hit me that nothing lasted forever.
I understood that once my parents let me know they were serious about cutting me off so I could stand on my own two feet. I also understood why I shouldn’t count on anything as permanent. I had to take care of myself because it wasn’t anyone else’s responsibility. It was hard work untangling the mess I’d left for myself though.
I went into the kitchen with Frankie and started on homemade pancakes. I’d been showing her how to make something other than scrambled eggs, so she was excited to measure everything out and get the griddle ready. I promised her by the time I was done teaching her, she’d be a pro.
“Use the scoop and pour it onto the griddle, right? But mine never come out round like yours.” Her full lips fell into a pout.
“Practice makes perfect, Frankie. The fucked up pancakes are still edible. Plus, not everyone can be perfect like me.” I grinned then batted my lashes at her. Her response was to shove me until I stumbled to the side, mostly because of how hard I was laughing.
“Hey, Miss Lucas, watch your mouth.” Evander walked into the kitchen and my stomach flopped.
After we came so close to kissing last month, I tried my best to stay out of his way and keep things professional.
Me. Keeping things professional. Let that sink in.
Normally, I would have poked at him until he confessed his attraction to me, then I would have fucked him just to blow his mind and confirm that he was indeed made from darling dick stock. Instead, the new version of me was steering clear of anything that could jeopardize my job.
It didn’t change the fact that whenever he walked into a room my body went fucking nuts and I had to physically restrain myself. When I saw him standing at the island wearing a pair of red and gray sweats and a matching hoodie, I thought I would flood my fucking leggings because I damn sure didn’t have on panties.
The way he effortlessly switched between a suit and tie and streetwear was fascinating. I, on the other hand, only had one mode. Fabulous. At. All. Times.
He shifted around playing on the line of who he portrayed versus who he was.
I liked both versions.
I wanted to fuck both versions.
“Are we back to that?” I sighed. “I thought you were calling me by my first name.”
“When you behave, yes.” God, did he have to look at me that way? His eyes were brown like the whiskey he always drank. They had the same effect too. I was dizzy from one glance.
I couldn’t figure out what the hell my obsession was with Evander. I wanted to strip naked and ride his dick until I came even though I knew the sex would be mediocre at best. Maybe it was something I needed to get out of my system.
“When Ibehave?” I folded my arms across my chest and glared at him. “You see this gorgeous girl over here?” I rubbed Frankie’s back. “She’s your kid. Not me. I don’t have to behave.”
“Okay, guys. Cut it out. You’re messing up my pancakes.” Frankie pushed out a frustrated huff then shook her head at the lopsided pancakes she was piling up on the plate. I swallowed my amusement and squeezed her shoulder.
“Those are perfect, Frank. At least now they’re less glob-like and more oval-like. You’re getting closer.”
“Are you being serious or…” She wrinkled her button nose at me.
“I’m serious,” I smiled. “Just because I like to roast you a little doesn’t mean I’m not serious. You are getting better.” I caught a glimpse of Evander looking at me over his coffee mug but I didn’t call attention to it. Even though it made me tingle.
“I’m sure they’ll taste great, sweetheart,” Evander chimed in. “Make enough for your mother to have some. She’s stopping by so we can all talk before you go to her house.”
“All?” I said, jerking my eyebrow up.
“Yes, Xari. All. Me, you, Frankie, and Alexis. I’m putting an end to this childish nonsense she’s putting us through. It’ll be a lot easier if she fills out the papers the school is asking for instead of constantly picking you up late from school.” His whiskey brown eyes flicked to Frankie, then back to me.
