Page 93 of Winning You
“It’s weird that he’s younger than me,” Fenton said slowly, carefully, “but also, it’s not. He’s…different from most guys my age. It’s like he was literally made for you.”
Something in Frankie’s chest went very warm. “I think it might go both ways.”
“Uhg, okay, subject change. Schmoop gives me hives.”
Frankie laughed, then finished his drink and sat back. “Well, on that note, I’d better take off. I need to relieve Fallon of babysitting duties.” He stood up and froze. “Oh. Do you two need my help with the apartment stuff?”
“Nah. Fallon said one of his clients is offering to sublet his apartment, and then he can sign a new lease after. It’s over by the fire station, which I think made him feel better.”
Frankie smiled. One of Fallon’s special interests had been fire trucks, back when he was small. It changed to photography when he hit high school, but one of the first really artistic photos Fallon had ever taken was a fire truck hosing down an abandoned mall that was up in flames. That photo won awards.
And Frankie had never been prouder.
“Let’s do family dinner soon,” he said, then yanked his brother into a hug, letting go before Fenton could accuse him of affection or schmoop.
The walk back to his car, he felt lighter on his feet, and pulling into his parking space, he couldn’t help but linger as he gazed through the open building doors at Lucas’s place. He wanted to stop by, but he wanted to see Elodie first and make sure that Fallon’s day hadn’t been too rough.
He palmed his keys, then unlocked the dead bolt and came to a stop because almost all the lights in the house were off. The brightest glow was one of Elodie’s light-up toys her occupational therapist had given her to help her track movement.
“What’s going on in here?”
“Playtime,” came a voice Frankie was not expecting.
His heart jumped in his chest as he flicked on the kitchen light and was then able to see the love of his life sitting on thecouch with Elodie, using his knees to balance herself as she was putting shaped blocks into proper-shaped holes.
“You’re here,” Frankie said.
Lucas chuckled, his face tipped up toward him. “I’m here. Fallon had a last-minute photo call thing and asked me if I wouldn’t mind watching her. I hope that’s okay.”
Frankie walked over and palmed Lucas’s cheek. The bruising was still light green, but the cut had healed into a pale scar, and he wasn’t hurting while he ate. He kissed him softly, quietly so he didn’t draw the toddler’s attention.
“I always want to see you in my space,” he murmured, then kissed him a second time before pulling back. “I hope she behaved.”
“I always be a hayve,” Elodie said as her little fingers found the star shape. The toy flashed and made the reward noise, and she clapped before finding a circle.
“I had one of these. Well, sort of,” Lucas said. He reached past her and touched the diamond block. “Mine was made of wood, and there were no noises.”
“No lights, I’m assuming,” Frankie said.
“Fuu-uhhhdge knows,” Lucas stammered. “But probably not.”
Frankie laughed as he sat down beside two of the people he loved most in life, and he brushed a touch over Elodie’s shoulder. “Hey, Bugs. Did you have a good day at school?”
“No.”
He laughed. “Really? A terrible, awful, bad, bad day?”
“No.”
“Her word of the day,” Lucas said. “She said no to chicken nuggets but then was very upset when I didn’t make them.”
“Ells,” Frankie said.
“No, thank you.”
“I was worse when I was her age,” Lucas assured him. He sat backward and searched for Frankie’s hand, playing with his fingers when he found it. “Mine was mostly anger at my crap dad for, you know, being crap.”
“Crap!”
