by Heather Long
So that was something, right?
“The school is making accommodations for you, though, right?”
“They are,” I said with a nod. “But it’s… I like being able to do things for myself.”
“Understandable. How was your Thanksgiving?”
A flush warmed my face. “It was fantastic. Probably the best Thanksgiving I’ve ever had.” No probably about it. “Usually, it’s just me and my—me and Maddy. We’d get some fried chicken and the sides, and maybe watch a movie. This was different. This was a really big breakfast with some of my favorites, then dinners at the guys’ houses with their families, and it’s kind of cool to see how they get along with their moms and in Ian’s case, his dad, too.”
There was all the making out and all the sex, but I wasn’t quite ready to tell her about that. If anything, my body spent the weekend humming. The guys stayed, splitting time and rotating who slept with me. Coop and I were beginning to really enjoy the weekend mornings after the others took off to run.
Ian jumped in to help me with showering. If how late we were getting back from his place on Thanksgiving hadn’t tipped them off to the change between us, that had.
A shiver traced up my spine. The demanding side of him that popped up when we were alone and naked was…wow. Not that I was complaining. They all had their possessive tendencies, but I’d never have imagined this side of Ian.
I couldn’t wait to get to know it better.
“I’m glad to hear that. Did you do anything special?”
I grinned. Did I?
“You could say that. When we got to the weekend, Archie insisted we get up early to go hit the Black Friday sales.” I laughed.
“Have you done that before?”
“No, but he wanted to people watch, and it was…funny. We got breakfast and picked up a tree for my apartment. It’s an artificial one, but Maddy never really wanted to do a tree, except maybe the week before. Always a real one, which I kind of like, too. But the lights on the tree are gorgeous, and the guys went a little crazy with decorations.”
“How so?”
“Um, everyone went home and grabbed a random box of their own and brought it back. Then we all put our kid ornaments on it, the kind of stuff you make when you’re in elementary school or got when you were younger. I had a small box in my room of some of my favorites.” Things I’d set aside over the years or snuck out the other box.
I was glad I had.
Maddy had taken that box with her.
Yeah. I shoved that thought away.
“It’s neat, Coop and I have had Christmas stuff together before and sort of with the guys but, it was always the stuff at their houses or at mine. Never ours. This one…this is ours.”
“Are you excited about Christmas?”
I kind of was, but I didn’t want to admit it. Maybe if I didn’t get my hopes up, they couldn’t be dashed. “I still have to figure out presents, that’s going to be hard.” And kind of exciting. Of all of us, Archie and I were most likely to get Christmas together. The other guys would have to be with their families. Then again, Archie might want to see his grandfather.
We’d figure it out. Though I had a feeling they’d want me to rotate between the houses. That was kind of a headache, but I wanted to see them, too. We could make it work.
“How are you balancing your time between them?”
I stared at Erin. “It’s difficult, and at the same time, the easiest thing ever.”
“How so?”
Why did I know she was going to ask that? So far, we hadn’t delved too much into my relationships. I guess that was where this was headed.
Yay?
Chapter Thirteen
Making Arrangements
Jake
“I can’t believe you intend to go out of town for two whole weeks, including your birthday, much less for Christmas itself.” Mom stared at me. I hadn’t expected her to be thrilled, but the flicker of hurt in her eyes crushed me. At the same time, the thought of staying here while they were all gone?
No, I couldn’t do it.
“I knew you probably wouldn’t be a fan,” I told her. “Normally, Christmas with you and the girls? That’s awesome. But I want to spend this one with Frankie.”
Her expression troubled me. I couldn’t read it. “Frankie is more than welcome to join us, I think I made that clear over Thanksgiving. I would never turn that girl away.”
“And I love you for it,” I assured Mom. “But Archie is right, Frankie deserves something special. To be away from all of this, from that apartment, from the shadow of her mother, and from where everything has gone bad. Senior year was supposed to be a blast, and it’s like she just takes knock after knock. We want to do this for her.”
Arms folded, Mom leaned back in her chair. “Where are you planning on going? Can you just come back for Christmas Day?”
“Mom.” I sat forward and held my hands out to her and waited. I’d picked a time when the girls would all be at their activities and it could be just the two of us. Coop and Bubba had to talk to their parents, but they were both eighteen. Even if their parents weren’t thrilled, they could just go.
I wasn’t quite there yet.
Relenting, she took my hands. “Jake, Christmas is for family.”
“Frankie is my family. The guys are my family.” How did I explain this without upsetting her more? “Mom, in a few months, I graduate and I’m going to college. You know I’m going out of state.”
She frowned. “I know, and that’s coming way too soon as it is.”
“You’re going to be fine. You’ve got the girls. Becca starts high school next year, another year after that, and she’ll be driving. If she picks up any boys you don’t like, just tell me, I’ll hot foot it home and knock them out.”
That got me a smile.
“This is our last Christmas though, baby,” she said. “The last one before you really start moving out and on.”
Okay, that was a little melodramatic. “It’s not like I’ll never come home for Christmas again. But this is what I want for me. I don’t want to make this a fight with you.” If I had to wait until my actual birthday to pack and go, I would. I’d fucking hate it, but I would.
“You’re going to go regardless, aren’t you?”
Maybe I’d failed to keep the obstinance off my face. Or maybe Mom just knew me. “It’s Frankie,” I told her. “I want to be where she is.”
Mom sighed. “Have you considered talking to her? Maybe adjusting the plans a little?” That was a reach, and we both knew it.
“We haven’t told her yet,” I cautioned. “It’s a surprise. Largely ‘cause Archie is funding the whole thing and she’d say no in a heartbeat. She hates when we spend money on her.”
“But you plan to do it anyway,” Mom said, her tone wry and a hint of amusement on her face as she squeezed my hands.
“If I had the money? Hell yes, I would pay for it myself.” I had paid for a couple of things. One of which was currently burning a hole in my pocket, but I saved it. I was giving it to her on my birthday. “You know…ever since we came back, she’s where I’ve wanted to be.”
“She was where you wanted to be when we were gone,” Mom reminded me gently, and I gave a little shrug. When they’d uprooted us to Germany, I’d been pissed. I hadn’t wanted to leave Frankie or Coop to go to the other side of the world. It had sucked. Worst, I hadn’t wanted to write to them. And say what? Having a shitty time, wish I was there?
I’d had the emotional depth of a teaspoon, and I didn’t have the words to express why I was mad that I was there and they weren’t. Mad that I’d left her behind and Coop got to be where I wasn’t. That day when I saw them again after we got back here…it had lifted everything off me. The crap with Dad, the worry about Mom and the girls.
I was where I belonged.
They slotted me back in like I’d never left. Then I’d met Bubba, and he was a part of us, too. I shook my head. “Yeah, she was. I’m not tr
ying to hurt you,” I promised. “I get that you want us all home. I’m sure the girls will be less than thrilled that I’m gone—then again, they might enjoy not having me there to give them crap.”
“Don’t start,” Mom said before she squeezed my hands and releasing them. Standing, she moved to the cupboard and got out a wine glass. “I could wish you weren’t going,” she told me. “I hate the idea of you being far away on both your birthday and Christmas.” Maybe especially Christmas, but she didn’t have to say that. I got it.
Still, the way she was talking sounded like she had reconciled herself to the idea. I crossed my mental fingers. “If it helps, I’ll miss you, too.”
She paused as she pulled the corkscrew out of the drawer and gave me a droll look. “No you won’t. You’ll probably call us on Christmas Day, talk for fifteen minutes, and then hang up. I’ll be stunned if you remembered me on your birthday. After all, I only went through eleven hours of labor.”
I bit back a smile. “I’ll always remember you, Mom.”
“Hmm-hmm.” The snort of disbelief only made me smile wider. She got the wine bottle opened and poured herself a glass. Not looking at me, she said, “Frankie told me you take very good care of her, and that she is trying to do the same for you.”
“She does,” I promised. “Mom, she…she just does.”
“I’m glad.” Wine glass in hand, she turned to face me. “Understand that before you’re twenty-five, I’m not ready to be a grandmother.”
I opened my mouth, then snapped it shut. Wincing, I raked a hand through my hair and then stared at her. “Okay, Granny, I wish you’d told me that earlier.”
That earned me a dark look, and I laughed.
“Joke.” I was quick to raise my hands in surrender. “Trust me. Not ready to be a dad either, and I know Frankie’s not interested in being a mom. In fact, other than making sure we have birth control covered, that’s really the farthest thing from our minds.”
She let out a sigh and then gave me a little nod.
“Mom…”
“It’s fine, Jake,” she told me before I could continue. “I get it. I always knew you were going to be the first one out the door. That you were going to do fine building a life away from us. I just…didn’t think it would happen so soon.”
“Want to do a family Christmas before I go? Just one for us?” It was an olive branch, and the look she gave me said as much.
“One present each for you and the girls,” she told me, meeting my concession with one of her own.
“And one for you,” I argued.
She snorted. “Fine. Frankie is welcome, and if she comes, we’ll add one in for her. All other presents, including your birthday present, you can get when you get home.”
I grinned slowly. “Sounds reasonable.”
“Hmmph,” she grumbled and took another sip of her wine.
“Thanks, Mom,” I told her as I stood.
“I haven’t said yes,” she warned me.
“But you’re not telling me no.” That mattered.
“No, baby, I’m not telling you ‘no.’ I get what it is to be young and crazy about someone. You’ve loved that girl for so long. I just really hope she knows how much you care and appreciates it.”
“I’m the lucky one,” I told her and snuck in a hug. Mom thwapped me once, then returned it before giving me a light shove away. “I am, Mom. She’s…”
“Yes, yes, I get it. She’s perfect, and you’re going back over there tonight, aren’t you?”
I grinned. “Yep. Want me to go get the girls and bring them back so you can enjoy your wine before I go?”
“You, Jacob Benton, are sucking up.”
“I’m just being a good son,” I teased, and her absolute snort just made me grin. “I’m the best son you have,” I continued, and she laughed.
“Yes, Jake, yes you are. Off. Get your sisters, and I’ll order pizza from the place. Pick it up with them and bring it home, since you are a good son, then you can go spend the night with your girlfriend because I am literally the most understanding mother on the planet.”
“You are the best.” No arguments. No lie.
On the way out to my car, I called Archie.
“Mom’s on board,” I told him when he answered.
“Yes.” I could almost picture him fist pumping. “Coop talked to his mom. Just waiting on the nod from Bubba, and I’ll lock in the tickets.”
When I started the SUV, the phone transferred over the Bluetooth to the speakers. “We’re flying?”
“That’s the plan. We could drive, but I’d rather just fly and rent a car there. Already made the arrangements for the place we’re staying.”
“And you’re being cagey as fuck about it,” I told him as I backed out of the spot. “I get that it’s a surprise for Frankie, when do the rest of us find out?”
“When we’re all locked in.” Smug fuck. “Don’t bitch and just let me enjoy spoiling her and you guys by extension. This is the first Christmas in a long fucking time that I’m actually looking forward to.”
That killed any argument I could make, even if I wanted to give him shit. I still didn’t really know his parents, but based on recent experiences and that bullshit with Frankie’s mom and his dad in the park? Yeah, I’d pass.
“Fine,” I told him all aggrieved. “But I reserve the right to claim Frankie on my birthday and have her all to myself if I want.”
Archie snorted. “Birthday boy always gets what he wants. That’s always been the rule.”
It had been. “Just making sure we’re clear there, Daddy Warbucks.”
“Bite me,” came his response, sans any real heat. “You know what, just let Frankie bite me.”
Then we both laughed. “Fair deal.” Still chuckling, I continued, “I’m on my way to get the girls and pizza before I drop them back at my mom’s. You at Frankie’s tonight?”
“Nope,” Archie said. “I want to be, but Grandpa is back in town and I’m going to have dinner with him. It might run late, business stuff.”
Yeah, no comment on that.
“You might have her all to yourself. Bubba was talking to his parents tonight, so he may or may not get out of there depending on their reaction.” Considering Bubba had been attached since Thanksgiving, I was okay with that, too. When they ran so late, I’d figured it out. I wasn’t the only one, and on the one hand, I was glad for them, but on the other—we were back to having to divide her time four ways. I’d discovered I was a bit of a greedy bastard. Bubba helping her shower cut into my time with her.
Then again, he looked fucking deliriously happy, and she’d relaxed. So at least it cut some of the tension, and that was good for everyone. I didn’t have to be a dick about it. “Cool. If that’s the case, don’t make it over tonight. I’d appreciate it.”
Archie laughed at me. “Yeah, yeah. Gotta go. Grandpa is here.”
“Take care, man.”
An hour later, I finally got to Frankie’s to find Coop there but no Bubba. That was fine, I could live with Coop. He gave me a quiet thumbs up as he raised his brows at me. I nodded. His near silent yes didn’t go unobserved though.
She was sitting on the sofa looking absolutely adorable in her tank top and boxers—mine, and I never wanted them back—her laptop balanced on her knees and her hair tousled like she’d just pulled it out of the braid and let it fall in kinked and curly waves.
“What are you two plotting?”
I grinned. “What we’re going to do with you now that we have you all to ourselves.”
Coop straightened, then shot me a speculative look before he grinned at Frankie. “Bad things.”
“Very bad,” I agreed.
“If either of you says something like ‘math homework’ I may throw this laptop at you. Not that it will hit, because my aim currently sucks.”
I snorted and toed off my shoes before moving over to slide behind her on the sofa, and then I dragged her onto my lap, easily balancing the laptop so it didn’t
fall. “Well, it might involve an equation and some variables,” I teased. She wiggled her ass a little to get more comfortable, and I just sighed. That little wiggle had become one of my favorite forms of torture.
The words on her screen leapt out at me and effectively killed the beginnings of my hard-on.
…Mitch…
“What are you working on, Baby Girl?” It came out a lot harsher than I meant it to, and she snapped the laptop closed before I could read the rest of the sentence.
“Nothing.”
Bullshit.
Coop moved to sit next to us, and he dragged Frankie’s legs over his lap so we were sitting cozy. “Easy,” he warned me before he looked at her. “We’re not being nosy.”
“Oh, I’m being fucking nosy. She’s writing about Mitch. If we’re writing about that asshole, I want to know why.” I didn’t want that asshole anywhere near her. Not even in non-verbal communication or as a sentence in a word program.
She squirmed a little under my focus. “It’s nothing, just something I’m working on.”
“If it’s nothing, then you can tell me what it is—”
Coop jabbed his elbow into my ribs, and I grunted. “Don’t be such a dick,” he ordered me.
“I’m not being a dick.” But I shut up at his nod toward Frankie. Her expression had tightened, and she’d gone a little pale. “Okay, fine. I’m being a dick.” Blowing out a breath, I pressed my forehead to her shoulder. “Sorry, Baby Girl. I do not like that asshole. I do not want you to ever have to think about him again.”
I’d still like to bury the son of a bitch.
After I broke every bone in his body.
The rush of anger had me grinding my teeth, and I didn’t miss Coop’s worried look. Forcing myself to relax, I smoothed a hand over her bare thigh. She was here. She was fine. The cast on her arm seemed to make a liar out of me, but that went in another week.
Then we’d work on building the strength up in that arm, and I was going to work on her right and left hooks. No one was putting her in that position again. Another breath, and she relaxed back against me, tilting her head until it rested against my shoulder.
