Hangovers and Holidays (Untouchable Book 5) Read online

  I’d avoided one conversation with them all weekend. Not on purpose, but more because we’d been having fun, and after my meltdown on Friday, I’d wanted the warmth. Now would be as good a time as any to have it, and I still didn’t want to disturb the mood.

  We had time.

  We’d make time.

  The fact that the last song Ian recorded was “The Rainbow Connection” and he even mimicked Kermit’s voice set me off laughing. I barely got to hear any of it for the wheezes of laughter escaping me. Ian just smiled, as I buried my face to try and smother the sound.

  “Okay,” Archie announced. “All in favor of making Bubba share whatever the hell made her laugh, raise your hands?”

  Ian snorted at them.

  That lasted about twenty seconds. Jake plucked me right off of Ian’s lap as Archie and Coop tackled Ian. I winced—because of his ribs. But they were all laughing, and Jake had a smug look as he held up Ian’s phone, but I managed to click the screen lock before he could get the song playing again.

  Before he could call me on it, the vicious crack of wood split through the noise as the coffee table broke and scattered game controllers and textbooks.

  All three hooligans paused to look up at me and Jake.

  “I replaced the last one,” Jake told them drily.

  Archie and Coop both pointed at Ian. “It’s his fault.” ‘

  For his part, Ian just laughed. “Oops?”

  Chapter Eight

  The Sound of Two Voices

  Ian

  “You should have her home by ten,” Jake told me, smirking like an asshole.

  “I was thinking more nine-thirty,” Coop countered as he waved a French fry in my direction. “It’s a school night. Our girl does need her rest.”

  Archie snorted as he pocketed his keys. “Or you can just drop her off at my place,” he said. “Since these two jackasses think they are so funny.”

  “And you’re not?” Jake drawled, but I just ignored them. Frankie had ridden home with Coop, but I’d headed to my house on my bike and cleared some chores I’d been ignoring. Neither of my parents had given me hell about it, but I also wanted to check the mail while I was there. Mom had been the only one home, and she had what I wanted in her hand when I walked in the door.

  Her grin had been giddy as she handed it over, and then she eyed me, “I want to ask you a question that is probably none of my business, and at the same time…”

  “I’m not having sex with Frankie, Mom.” Yet, I’d added mentally, and when Mom let out a slow breath, I knew I’d hit the nail on the head with that statement. “That doesn’t mean we won’t,” I continued. Fuck knew I wanted to, but I’d screwed up so many things, I wasn’t going to try and dictate anything along the when and the where. I’d wanted to earn her trust before, and now I needed to earn it. Needed to be worth the second chance she’d given me.

  “I just want the two of you to be safe,” was her only comment.

  “Me, too.”

  It took me twenty minutes to pack clean clothes into a duffel. Jeremy had been by a couple of times and done laundry at Frankie’s, picking up everything including my stuff, washed, dried, folded, and returned. It was a bit unnerving. I appreciated it, but I was on Frankie’s side about the idea Jeremy shouldn’t have to do our laundry.

  Rather than admit that I didn’t know how to do my own either, I’d gotten a couple of lessons from Mom. Thank you, I’d skip that teasing. Jake and Coop were professionals, and Archie had eaten up the teasing as they, along with Frankie, schooled him on doing his own damn clothes.

  Now I could honestly say I knew how to do it, too. Cooking though?

  Yeah, apparently, he wasn’t the only one screwed in that department. I’d fucking learn, though. I’d learn whatever I had to make Frankie’s life easier. Fortunately, meal times when we didn’t order in had become impromptu lessons with Frankie directing us. I’d always known she had a lot of skills, but I had no idea how many things she knew how to make off the top of her head.

  It was both amazing and a little intimidating.

  Of course, Mom was after me to make sure Frankie came for Thanksgiving. Since she already had at least two other invitations that I was aware of, chances were unlikely she’d make it, but I promised I’d let Mom know.

  Mom swore Dad would be on his best behavior. So, we’d see.

  Now, waiting for Frankie, I stared at the new coffee table. It looked pretty close to the old one, but it was bigger and had fatter ‘legs’ on it.

  “Yeah,” Archie said without me asking. “I fixed it. Next one is yours though.”

  I snorted, but didn’t argue. Since we’d managed to smash two of them now, and no matter what they said, it hadn’t been my fault, I had no trouble believing we’d wreck a third. My phone pinged, and I shifted to pull it out of my pocket.

  The others were doing the same, except for Archie, who had his phone in his hand. It was another bed. It had to be ten feet across and eight feet long. They’d lose Frankie in there.

  “Think the mattress is one piece or two?” Jake mused. “‘Cause that’s gonna be a bitch to get around the corner.”

  Coop snorted. “I’m trying to figure out where in her room it goes. It’s damn near as big as the room.” A mild exaggeration, but he wasn’t wrong. It wouldn’t leave her a lot of space in there. “And so we draw straws for who gets to sleep on the outside?”

  “Definitely rotate,” Jake muttered, then checked his watch. “But she isn’t a fan of this big of a bed yet.”

  I closed out the message and pocketed my phone. My guitar case was ready to go, and I had my backpack with a couple of surprises and my notebooks in it.

  “She’s not a fan of change,” Archie countered. “We’ll get there.”

  Some days, I wish I had his confidence. He just set his eyes on something and went for it. I could joke that it had everything to do with his money, but it really didn’t. The money didn’t make Archie, Archie. His determination and self-confidence—which most people dismissed as arrogance—set him apart. When he wanted something to happen, he just didn’t give up. Whether it involved arguing, coaxing, or in some cases, sneaking, he got it done.

  Did he ever think it wouldn’t work out for him?

  “So, nine, right?” Coop pulled my attention back to the conversation, and I just smiled slowly.

  “You do realize she doesn’t have a curfew, and if you want to give her one, you’re on your own.” No way in hell would I back that.

  “Nah, Jake would take my side.”

  Predictably, Jake just gave him a thumbs up.

  “See?” Coop’s grin softened, and his eyes warmed. I didn’t even have to look to know Frankie had just come up the hallway.

  Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, and she’d changed into a heavier sweatshirt. It was huge on her, and it took me a minute to realize it was one of mine. My own lips pulled into a wider grin. I had no issues with her stealing my clothes. They kind of dwarfed her more slender frame, but I liked seeing her in my clothes.

  “Sorry,” she said, her gaze skipping from me to the guys then back. “Rachel and I were talking.” She held up the phone. “And it went a little long.”

  “It’s all cool,” I said. “We have plenty of time.” I’d booked the studio for the next four hours. I’d struck a deal with the owner because the studio time was getting pricier by the day. “You ready?”

  Those startlingly green eyes of hers warmed when she fixed on me again. “Yep. Just need my coat.”

  Jake rose, but I beat him and stripped off my own letterman and held it up for her. He snorted before he dropped back on the sofa. Once she was in the coat, I grabbed my guitar case. “Don’t wait up,” I suggested as I motioned Frankie ahead of me.

  “Remember, home by eight-thirty,” Archie said, his grin teasing.

  “Eight,” Coop tacked on. “Then we have time for a movie before bed.”

  Frankie didn’t slow a step, but she did raise her middl
e finger and flipped them all off as she walked, and I grinned. Their laughter followed us out the door. It had definitely turned cold and damp. We’d get back to the seventies, but it would not be this week. It was a balmy fifty-two and dropping at the moment.

  Current forecast said we’d have freezing rain the following week, just in time for Turkey Day.

  At her car, she opened the back door for me, and I slid the guitar case inside. Like me, she glanced over at my bike. I’d thrown a plastic cover over it for the rain. “You should put it in the car port when I pull out.”

  “Nope,” I told her. “It won’t melt, and I’d rather you parked your car here.” I tried to keep my tone soft, because at the moment, telling her no took actual effort on my part. I never wanted to tell her no to anything again. “But thank you, Angel.”

  The smile she gave me sent all my blood pumping south, and I started doing scales in my head or this would be a real short trip. “Is it hard?”

  Yes it was, but no way she was asking about my dick. “Is what hard?” It came out a little thicker than intended, but without any wavering. So, point to me.

  “Riding the bike with your ribs.”

  “My ribs are fine,” I told her. They still twinged and would. I’d had bruised and cracked ribs before. They sucked. As long as I could take a mostly deep breath, I just ignored them. I slipped around her to open the driver’s side door for her. “And it’s fine to ride it. Not really riding for fun at the moment, anyway.” At least my bike was fixed. “I’ll save that for when you’re up to riding with me.”

  Turning, she stepped right up into me and rose up on her tip toes. She didn’t have to ask, I slid a hand to her hip to brace her and then dropped my head and met her kiss with my own. The first brush of her lips was cool on mine, and I almost ruined the moment by grinning.

  The minty taste of her breath told me the other reason she’d been running behind. Angling so I could block her from most of the cold breeze, I teased my tongue along the seam of her mouth. She opened more fully to me, and I had to swallow a groan.

  Frankie kissed with her whole body. It wasn’t just her lips. She planted her left hand on my chest to balance herself, pushing into me as if she wanted to be as close as possible. Damn, it was like that first kiss in the pool, all the bare skin brushing me as we kissed.

  Curling my fingers against her hip, I tugged her into me as I twisted my tongue around hers. The barest scrape of her teeth washed heat through my system and chased away even the potential of chill. It didn’t matter that layers of clothes separated us, the claim she had on me went far deeper than skin, and I’d be damned if I’d fight even an ounce of it ever again.

  I dragged out her lower lip slowly as I lifted my head. We were both panting, and I hadn’t imagined the little gasps that had escaped when our mouths were connected. I licked my lips, savoring the taste of her still on them.

  “Hi,” she said, the pink tinge to her cheeks making her all the more adorable.

  “Hi.” A sigh escaped me like I was some eleven-year-old with my first crush noticing me.

  But wasn’t that exactly what Frankie had been? Sixth grade, and she’d been the prettiest girl in the classroom. I’d thought Coop was firmly established as her boyfriend. Took me forever to realize that wasn’t the case.

  “Okay,” I said slowly, getting my brain and libido back in check. “It’s too cold to stand out here and make out, as fun as that sounds, and I have to share you if we go back inside.”

  “Besides,” she said, then bit her lower lip as she grinned. “We have a date.”

  “Yes, we do.” I cleared my throat and forced my hand to unpeel from her hip so she could get in the car.

  Once she was inside, I closed it and turned around. Exhaling a long breath, I glanced down at my very hard and very interested dick. “Save it,” I muttered, running more scales in my head, not that they could remotely compete with Frankie in the car. I had to adjust myself as I circled the car. Once inside, I waited as she pulled her seatbelt on and grinned. “You’re getting good at that.”

  Her eyes practically sparkled, something we hadn’t seen in a while. There were days that were almost normal, and then days like Friday happened. Her first visit to see a therapist a couple of days before that hadn’t been so bad, but the next one? That had just knocked her down.

  While Jake had done his best to bury it, the need to pound something flat had been seething in him. Archie and I had dragged him out running, and we’d keep doing it to get the edge off.

  “Can I run something by you without you telling the guys automatically?” She held out the car keys to me, and I slid them in and started it for her, but she handled the gear shifting.

  “You can tell me anything,” I promised. “I’ll be a vault.” Then, because it only seemed fair, I said, “To be honest, we don’t talk about what you talk to us about unless it’s something you’ve said to all of us. Or we’re picking on each other, and even then, we don’t talk about what you say.” The guys kept the details of their dates pretty close to the vest, too, particularly after she broke up with me. “We don’t talk about dates, either.”

  “So they don’t know where we’re going?”

  I nudged the heat up and grinned. “They know we’re going to the studio, but probably not why or for how long.”

  “Huh,” she said, then chewed on her lower lip, and I leaned my head back to give her the space to work it out. That was the thinking face, where she tossed ideas back and forth in her head before she hit us with them. I knew better than to interrupt. She waited until we got to the first traffic light we had to wait for before she said, “I’m thinking about getting a different job for a few months.”

  I slanted a look at her. “You love Mason’s.” The job ran her ragged, but Frankie loved it. You could tell when she was at work, she liked the people and she was good with them.

  “I do,” she admitted. “I like being able to put money in my savings account, and I adore Marsha. But she doesn’t want me to even think about coming back before January. She hired someone in because I had to miss so much, and she really wants me to heal.”

  Fuck. “That sucks.”

  “It’s worse than that,” Frankie said, shifting in her seat. “I have enough in savings, but part of the deal with emancipation is being able to show I can support myself. Not working until January is not going to help that.”

  I bit back another curse. “What kind of job are you looking at?” She was in that cast for at least another two weeks, possibly three. It was going to limit what she could do. Not that she’d ever let limits stop her.

  “Jake and Coop do food delivery, and I can clearly drive my car. And I can make two trips if I have to for big orders—you know back and forth to the car.”

  I grimaced. “I could help with that, you know. You take the shifts, and I can run and fetch and carry.”

  She laughed. “Ian, I wasn’t telling you so you’d have to do the work for me.”

  “Eh, wouldn’t hurt my feelings any, and I’d get a chance to spend more time with you. Who knows, maybe I’ll like it and want to do the same thing. Then we can all time our shifts so that someone is always off with you when you need it.”

  Frankie rolled her eyes, but I didn’t take it personally. We pulled in behind the music school, and I put the gear in park for her. “So you don’t think it’s a bad idea?”

  Studying her, I swallowed back my kneejerk response of ‘of course I didn’t think it was a bad idea.’ She wasn’t asking me to just placate her, she was asking to settle something in her own head. “If you’re doing it because you need the independence yourself, in addition to proving to the court you’re self-sufficient—and let’s be honest the fact you probably have enough in savings to see you through this means you are.” I raised a hand to ask for her patience. She sucked her lip between her teeth and nodded for me to continue. “Then fine. If you want to do it and it’s important to you, then I’m all in.”

  I had to
take a minute to consider how to phrase the next part. I did not want to come off as an asshole again.

  “If you’re doing it because you’re genuinely worried about your financial stability because the four of us eat so fucking much or we need to do more than just budget for food, then I want to confront that and step the hell up before we make you crazy. I’ve got a job lined up for after the holidays, and the savings I put away over the summer will see me through Christmas.”

  I’d never needed to work. My parents were far from wealthy, but we were pretty damn comfortable and I had next to nothing in expenses. I could do more.

  I could do a lot more.

  “But call me a little selfish, I kind of wanted to spend the holidays focused on you and not work.” We had enough to do after the first of the year. I’d have some decisions to make then, too.

  Her smile relieved me. “It’s not just about being worried about my financial stability. I think I’ll always be worried about that.” The curve of her lips faded away, and those gorgeous eyes sobered. “I’ve gone hungry before, and I’ve never really told anyone but Coop.”

  Anger fisted in my chest. Coop had never said that.

  Not once.

  “Maddy used to forget to shop. Sometimes, we didn’t have the money. It would be really tight, and sometimes it would just be she forgot to pick things up. When she was dating, especially, kind of how I’d notice.” She chewed her lip. “And I’m not telling you this to feel sorry for me. It was one of the things that came up on Friday. I hadn’t really thought about how self-involved her pattern was when there was a new man in her life.” Then she gave a little shake of her head. “The point is…I save every dime I can because I want to get out of here. I want to get away from Maddy. Now I’m getting away from Maddy, and it’s a little scary, but a part of me thinks I need to do this on my own and not just rely on you guys.”