Page 94 of Winning You
Lucas slapped his hand over his mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
Frankie shook his head, then touched Elodie’s shoulder. “Grown-up-only word, Bugs.”
She sighed. “Mmkay.” Dropping her block, she turned, and her big eyes eventually found him. Sometimes he wondered what she recognized in him that was unique to who he was. It had taken until she was three before she could pick him out in a room without him guiding her with his voice, and he wondered if he’d be able to ask her someday.
For now, it didn’t matter. She adjusted her feet in her little braces, then leapt, and he caught her, tugging her against his chest to get his evening kisses.
“Was it a good day with Lucas?”
“He’s my…best friend,” she said slowly. Her speech therapy was helping with the clarity. He was really starting to notice.
Lucas leaned over and tugged at the ruffle on her collar. “I’m an amazing best friend. You can even ask Gage. His life was changed when he met me.”
“He’s not the only one,” Frankie said softly.
Lucas elbowed him. “Don’t make me want to kiss your whole face off in front of the toddler. I will not be responsible for therapy bills.”
Frankie laughed, but he didn’t kiss Lucas the way he wanted to. Instead, he slid Elodie off his lap and put her back to her toy as he stood up. “Dinner?”
“I cooked,” Lucas said. “I made that baked garlic parm chicken you’re so in love with.”
Frankie groaned and turned, bracing his hand on the couch behind Lucas’s head. “Oh my god marrymmm—mmmhmmm. Um…” Shit. He’d gone too far.
Lucas’s ears were burning red. “Marry you?”
Frankie tried to swallow his own tongue but failed. “Well…”
“Maybe,” Lucas said, very slowly, as he reached up. It took him a moment to find Frankie’s face, but he did, and he palmed Frankie’s cheek. “Ask me after you meet my parents? And the rest of my family?”
Frankie felt something zing up his spine. He’d been so fucking sure he would never do that again. Marriage would never be on the table after everything he went through with Eddie. A relationship would have to be enough.
Now, he didn’t care how fast it was. How soon it was. He wanted to see a ring on Lucas’s finger with a desperation he didn’t know he could feel. He closed his eyes and simply felt the heat of Lucas in front of him and the weight of his love.
“We can revisit that idea soon. Once things are…settled. If you’re okay that a lot comes with me. My baggage is extensive.”
“And mine is designer,” Lucas said. He surged up and followed his fingers to place a kiss right on Frankie’s lips. “As long as we match, I don’t care.”
Frankie laughed. “Okay. So, when do I meet your dads?”
“Maybe next weekend. If you don’t cancel on them again.”
Frankie froze mid-step and turned back to look at Lucas. “I’m sorry.What?”
“Don’t give me that look,” Lucas said. Frankie almost asked how he knew, but that was a terrible question. It was very evident in his tone.
“I don’t understand, princess. When did I cancel on your dads?”
“A few weeks ago. Stuff came up at work or…I don’t remember. I was going to cook for us.”
Frankie felt like his entire soul had abandoned his body. “I canceled on your dads?That’swhat that dinner was for?”
Lucas frowned and said slowly, almost as if it was a question, “Yes?”
“You didn’t tell me that!” Frankie said, taking a step back toward him. “I didn’t know that I was meeting them.”
Lucas’s cheeks pinked. “Yes, you did. I told you. I told you that night. I—I was going to cook for everyone. You said you were nervous.”
Frankie opened his mouth to argue, and then suddenly, it hit him. Lucashadtold him the night before. It was short notice, and Frankie had been so damn tired, and then everything felt like it was going sideways. He had to cancel and…and fuck. He’d forgotten.
