Chapter 9

Frankie has been talkingto Dad nonstop on the phone while we’re walking Central Park. I wouldn’t be as annoyed if it wasn’t for the fact that Frankie just dropped a bomb on me.

He’s going back to Sunny Cove tonight to handle some things with the company for my dad. I thought I’d have him for a few more days before the inevitable.

Frankie groans before ending the call and heading over to me, where I’ve found a comfy spot on a huge rock a few feet away. We were about to scale these for fun, but he got the call almost half an hour ago. I was so close to getting up to do my own walk, knowing he’d still be on the phone by the time I returned.

“Sorry, Rosita,” Frankie says once he’s closer. He runs his hand through his hair and huffs out a sigh. “Arlo is already spewing off about twenty things to do on my way back.”

“Sorry,” I pout. “He’s just stressed with Dahlia and Clementine.”

She texted me this morning telling me how Dad was this close to demoting himself so he could be there for her and Dahlia. I frantically called him right after but did my best to calm him down and to call Frankie about any business worries.

“Yeah, but he should know that I’ll handle it,” Frankie spits. He gazes at me and gives an apologetic look. “Sorry.”

I shrug. “He wants everything to be perfect by the time the baby comes. He can’t let go of either to prioritize one.”

“He’ll need to,” Frankie huffs once more before I stand and grab his shoulders. I shake him for a moment, and he chuckles, glancing down at me.

“Deep breaths, Tío,” I say, almost regretting that word from slipping from my lips. He pauses for a moment before he chuckles again and grabs my wrists. He brings them to his chest, and we stand like that for a moment.

“Will you be okay while I’m gone?”

I nod. “I’ve been okay the last year, remember? I’m a big girl. This city is home.”

Thoughts of our dinner the other night in Manhattan come to the forefront of my mind. He was such a gentleman, and it felt like a real date. Even the damn waiter thought we were celebrating an anniversary. It’s so effortless with Frankie, always has been.

He makes me feel like myself and feel comfortable in public, too. I didn’t even think about the calories or the damn bloat I got that night from all the food we ate. He even urged me to try bites of dessert, as if he knew I was going through an inner battle with myself about not treating myself to the cake slice.

I want to tell him so bad, he’d understand. I think he’d be the only one besides Clementine who would understand what’s been happening lately. Anytime I call her, though, my throat closes up, and I can’t say the words. It makes me wonder if this is exactly how she felt before she told me about Nathan.

I need to talk to her though. I know she’d be able to talk me through whatever is plaguing my mind.

Frankie’s chest is moving heavily through his breaths, and I twist my palms to press against his coat. He seems to calm from my touch.

“I’ll make it up to you,” he finally says.

A laugh escapes my lips. “Make it up to me? Why? You were just visiting anyway. I wasn’t expecting more.”

He shakes his head as if he’s trying to make things right. “I know, but I’m a man of my word, and I told you I’d be here for a few more weeks.”

“And you’re coming back, what’s the problem?”

He looks at me while he thinks of a response. His gaze shifts around us before landing back on me. “I’m not sure how well it will go when I’m back in Sunny.”

My brows scrunch. “You don’t think you’d come back?”

There’s a pause, and it’s like the whole world has stilled as well. There’s no breeze in the air, no birds chirping. But it’s most likely my brain trying to focus on his next choice of words.

“I will. Don’t worry, Rosita.”

The nickname pangs me again. I shift back, and his grip loosens, my hand falling from his chest. I turn to the rocks and start climbing them, continuing to do what we were planning before Dad called him.

“Con cuidado,” Frankie calls behind me, and I wave him off. I can hear his steps behind me as I continue to climb the rocks.

There’s a moment when I underestimate the gap between the rocks when I jump and miss the rock. I scream and brace for a fall, but strong arms catch my waist.

Frankie pulls me to his chest, and his breath puffs over my head.

“Fuck, that was scary,” I whisper, eyes strained on the rock below me that I would’ve definitely face-planted into. I would’ve gotten a serious sprained ankle as well, I’m sure.

“I told you to be careful,” he chuckles in my ear. I twist my body around to face him, and he’s still got me wrapped in his arms. We’re inches apart, and I can see some hyperpigmentation on his cheeks, slight freckles adorning his eyes, and crow”s feet from years of being his goofy self.

“Gracias,” I tell him.

We stay like this for a moment, staring at each other, until we hear a sound on the ground near the rocks. Frankie whips his head to the sound, and I do as well. It’s a girl waving at us with her phone.

“You guys look absolutely adorable! Can I take a picture and send it to you?!” She’s decked out in jogging attire and has some wire buds hanging around her neck. She’s already positioning her phone to take a picture.

“Why not?” Frankie calls out, turning back to me. I nod and giggle.

That’s when his hold on me tightens, and he does something that even the girl taking the photo couldn’t predict.

He leans in, pulling me against his chest tightly and nuzzling his head into my neck. I squirm and squeal as he tickles me, causing my leg to lift and wrap around his thigh. I’m bending my back to attempt to get away, but he holds me tighter, bending with me.

“Frankie!” I scream, feeling his beard scratch my neck, and before I know it, I feel a bite. It takes me a moment to realize that he bit my neck. Like a goddamn vampire. And it was the hottest thing ever.

He laughs before pulling away and staring at me. I slap his arm before pushing his chest, my own laughter unable to be contained.

“That was such a cute one! Here, let me get a number to text them to.” The girl waves us down.

My cheeks burn, and I watch Frankie happily hop down the rocks to the girl. He grabs her phone and enters his number. My hand goes to my neck where he bit me, where it’s still warm and slightly wet from his lips and teeth.

The images in my head aren’t helping now that he’s done this. Why did he do that?

I make my way down the rock, slower to make sure I don’t trip like earlier. Once I reach them, the girl is already stuffing her phone in her pocket and grabbing the earbuds.

“You guys are such a cute couple. Have the best day!”

Before we could say anything, she’s already jogging away. Frankie and I look at each other before we burst out into a fit of laughter. I slap his arm again, and he takes a step back to dodge it, but I end up slapping his back instead.

“Ow! Rosalía, that hurt!”

I roll my eyes. “No, it didn’t! You can take it,” I giggle.

His eyes turn to a darker shade of brown I’ve never seen before as he closes the distance, as if he’s ready to banter back.

“You think I can take it? Is that what you think?” His eyes sparkle, and I try to calm down the flutters in my core. The way my panties are starting to get drenched from this innuendo conversation.

“Actually, no,” I taunt. “No, you can’t.”

His jaw ticks before he grabs me by the waist. At first, I think he’s going just to pull me into a bear hug and suffocate me, but no—he does something worse.

He leans down at the perfect moment where I don’t realize he’s throwing me over his shoulder like a fireman.

“Frankie! Put. Me. Down!”

“Not until you apologize,” he mocks, starting to walk the path again. I swivel my head left and right, hitting his back with my fists. People are looking, yet they don’t do anything—typical New York City.

If you see something strange, you usually don’t involve yourself. It’s better not to.

“Francisco Flores! Put me down, ahora!” I scream once more, trying to kick my feet, but he’s got my knees in a vice grip. A grip much stronger than what I thought was possible. This newfound realization of Frankie’s strength doesn’t help the butterflies in my tummy or my drenched panties.

I’m so fucked.

“Nah, uh, need you to learn your lesson,” he chastises as he continues to walk, and my head starts to feel slightly dizzy from the blood rushing.

“Oh, I’m going to be sick,” I groan.

“En serio?” Frankie yells before he halts and pulls me back down until I’m standing on my own.

I give him my best mischievous smile before reaching for his stomach and attempting to tickle him.

“Ha! Got ya!” I scream before I turn and make a beeline down the walking path. I have no idea where I’m going, but I can hear his footsteps behind me as he tries to catch up.

“Rosalía!” he calls behind me, but I don’t stop. People on the path look at us like we’re crazed people, but I feel the most alive.

I burst out into a fit of giggles and out of breath as I slow my run. That’s when he finally catches up, and he’s leaning over, palms on his knees.

“Out of breath?” I ask, attempting to gain my own.

He looks up from his stance, and his eyes are dark once more. He doesn’t say anything; he just continues to stare at me. His cheeks are rosy from the cold and the chase.

He’s handsome, and the bite on my neck burns with the memory of what he did.

“I can go all day, baby,” he winks before standing tall and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. His grip tightens, and I squeal.

“Too tight, Frankie!” I scream, wrapping my arms around his waist in an attempt to tickle him some more, but he’s rigid like a rock.

“No more games, Rosalía,” he pants through ragged breaths. “Let’s enjoy my last day here before who knows how long.”

I look up at him, and he’s already staring. I squeeze him harder and bury my head in his chest.

“Want to grab a bite? I know a place with great steaks. And fries.”

He nods before loosening his grip around me, and I can wiggle a little more in his hold. But I don’t dare let go of his waist. We do look like a damn couple in Central Park. That girl was right.

And that idea doesn’t leave my mind. It stays with me.

“Sure, you haven’t let me down once with your suggestions. I trust you, Rosie—” he pauses before coughing. “Rosalía.”

I smile at the name change. “Let’s go,” I press, forcing our bodies to make a turn at the path where it leads out of the park. The restaurant I want is on the Upper East Side, and we’re a few blocks away from there.

“Vamos,” he agrees, letting me lead us out of the park.

Without a beat, I loosen my grip once we’re on the main sidewalk while waiting for the walking sign. As I take a step away from him, when the walking signal comes on, he grabs my hand from behind.

I look over my shoulder, and he squeezes my hand. I think nothing of it as I keep our hands laced together as we make our way to the restaurant.