Page 154 of Stage Dive: Short Stories & Novellas
Also of note is how Frankie’s bags are sitting by the door.
“Hey, Jude,” she sing-songs.The woman is obviously a fan of The Beatles.“Dean was telling me I owe you an apology for last night.For not only gate crashing but actually stealing your food.I was starving, sorry.Didn’t even think twice.”
“It’s fine.”I fill a mug with coffee.“Are you heading out?”
She makes a comic sad face.“I might as well since Dean doesn’t want to get back together again.I knew I should have taken him at his word when he called it off last time.He was using his serious face and somber voice and everything.But I had something else on my mind and I thought he’d get over it and here we are.One day I’ll learn.We’ve been on and off for a while.At the end of the day, however, our lifestyles don’t really mesh.”
I sip my coffee and stay silent.
“I’m like, let’s go!My friends are sailing around the Mediterranean then partying in Ibiza before going shopping in Paris and hitting a movie premiere in London,” she says.“As my mom said, I am a force of nature.Not everyone can keep up with me.Nor do they always want to.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
She gives me a wink.“No, you’re not.And that’s okay.We’re all adults here.I wish you and him all the best.”
“Thanks,” I say.Honestly, I’m a little surprised by her non-bitchy attitude.I don’t think I could be as cool after losing someone like Dean.I’m not sure whether to be impressed or sad for her.
“Time for me to go.”She rises and heads for her luggage.“When he gets out of the shower, tell him I said goodbye.”
“You don’t want to tell him yourself?”
Frankie shakes her head.“I hate this part.You do it for me.”
“Okay.”
“Your bangs are so cute.Not everyone can pull off that look.”
I lift a hand in farewell.“Thank you, Frankie.Bye.”
And the supermodel exits the building.Huh.This week is really not turning out anything like I thought it would.From the outset, it seemed quite boring and normal.But here we are.I put some Pop-Tarts in the toaster and take a breath.
Those kisses with Dean last night were lovely.And his offer to take me to see a band tonight was even lovelier.We spent an hour eating random foods from the fridge and pantry while talking about anything and everything.One of the finest hours I have spent with someone in recent memory.
“Is she gone?”asks the man in question, peeking around the door to the second bedroom.
“Yeah.She just left.She told me to tell you goodbye.”
He nods and steps into the living space.
“Any particular reason you were hiding around the corner?”
“I was just testing the waters.She hates goodbyes.They make her cry, and then her eye makeup gets messed up, and she hates that.But sometimes she changes her mind.”
“You know each other really well.She seems nice.”
“Mm.She is nice.And we know each other well enough to say that we don’t really work.”He’s dressed in black jeans and a matching Henley.“Everything okay with you?”
“Sure.”
“By that”—he grins—“I mean, have you changed your mind or are we still on for tonight?”
“No,” I say.“We’re still on for tonight.Unless you’ve changed your mind?”
“Nope,” he says, licking his lips and making my thighs clench.Without a doubt, he still has my hormones’ full and complete attention.This time, the smile he gives me is slow and intimate in the very best way.“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me too.All right then.”And there go my loins again.Yikes.I honestly don’t know if the way I react to him is due to my being so out of practice with this sort of thing or if he just generally gets to me like no other.“By the way, Frankie talked to me a little about you.How you two didn’t work out due to her active lifestyle.Just so you know.”
“She loves traveling and socializing.It’s her happy place.”
