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I was already on my feet and striding in her direction as she caught a handful of Sharon’s hair and yanked the other girl’s head back. Any other time, a chick fight sounded like fun. Rumor had it that Frankie was no slouch in the fighting department. Coop and Jake were forever telling stories about it.
Could you guys get together and share notes? I’m pretty sure you’re not getting graded, so no one will fault you for copying each other’s work.”
“Fuck me, that is the nerdiest flirting ever,” Jake said. “I don’t know whether to be disgusted or impressed.”
You are allowed, entitled even, to feel how you feel. There’s no right or wrong. Your emotions are yours. Acknowledging them, it’s the first step toward understanding them.”
We might need a bigger boat for shark week just to carry all the crap they got.”
Ten minutes later, I was already regretting his mother’s orders about clothes. Five minutes after that, he nudged my panties aside, and I slid right down on his cock.
He dipped his head, voice dropping low and sweet. “I love you, Frankie Curtis. Don’t ever forget it.” My stomach bottomed out, and my eyes sparked with tears. “I hate you for doing this right here and now.” He chuckled at me and pressed a kiss to my nose. “Sorry.” “No you’re not,” I said with an exaggerated sigh. “No,” he agreed. “I’m definitely not. But I do love you.” “It’s a really good thing I love you, too, or I’d be annoyed at you for making me want to cry.”
I didn’t think I could make it much more clear how much I wanted him unless I painted a sign on my abdomen with an arrow pointing down that said ‘put your dick here.’
“Do you need to talk about it?” Not want. Need. Something Erin had brought up like four times now. I listened. No one ever wanted to talk about their problems. Wanted implied some kind of desire. Need, however, was an entirely different kind of beast. I needed to talk about mine. I’d needed to for a long, long time.
“Because guys get off every time, they just do. It’s mechanics. But to get a girl off is an art. So, tell me—are they mechanics or are they artists?”
“Do over?” I suggested. “Fuck yes,” Archie said. “Sold.” Before Jake could open his mouth, Ian wrapped his arms around him and Coop clapped a hand over his mouth. “Yes,” they both said, and I grinned. Jake rolled his eyes and then winked at me.
“Nope,” he admitted. Rubbing my back gently, he lifted his head and then pressed his lips to mine. It was a simple kiss, a gentle apology, and offer of truce all in one. “I love you, Baby Girl,” he reminded me, and I smiled. “Even when I’m a brat?” “Do you still love me when I’m a jackass?” he teased. I grinned. “Most of the time.” He pressed his lips to mine and then paused again before he jerked his head back. “Most of the time?”
“I’m in this for the long haul, Frankie. Cradle to grave. That hasn’t changed.”
“I can share you with them,” he continued in the same soft voice. “I know how much you love me, and I’m secure in that. I hope like hell you know how much I love you, too.”
“Girl wants to see the cookies before she gets in the van,” I retorted.
“You don’t have to protect me all the time,” I chastised him. “Yes, I do,” he disagreed. “I protect what’s precious, and you’re the most precious thing in my life.”
“Yes,” Ian said quietly. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re my girlfriend. But you’re also Coop’s, Archie’s, and Jake’s girl, too. We’re your boyfriends.
“Yep. See the four stones on the corners?” There were four stones there, one big one in the center and four stones on the edges, smaller but definitely there. Our graduation year was etched on one side, and on the other, it had my name. Below our year was a rose, and below my name were hearts intertwined. “Those are our birthstones. Green for Bubba. Pink for Coop and Archie. Blue for me.”
I glanced at my ring. “You know I should yell at you for spending money on me. I should yell at all of you.” “But you’re not going to,” Coop said. “Because spoiling our girlfriend is our prerogative.”
We’d just decided that we were making this a real relationship—they were my boyfriends, and I was their girlfriend. The five of us.
Coop rubbed his jaw. “I want the same thing, but just Frankie’s name on the loop.” “Ditto,” Ian said. Archie chuckled. “C’mon, you guys don’t want to tattoo my name on you forever?” “Nope,” Jake said. “Frankie’s, yes. I love you guys like brothers, but I don’t need it tatted on me somewhere.”
“These three,” Archie said. He tapped the ones for love, loyalty, and friendship. “Me too,” I said abruptly. “I want those instead of the roses.” “Make that three of us…” “All of us,” Jake said as Coop nodded.
“This is going to sound really sexist, but I love the fact that you have my name on you,” he half-growled the words. “Ours. Our names. Our girl. Right there, and if any asshole gets too close to you, there is no mistaking who you belong to.”
Pressing a kiss to the side of it, I whispered, “Do you have any idea how hot it is that you have my name on you?” My name. Ian. Not Bubba. I had been Ian to pretty much family only for years. Until Frankie. For her, I was Ian.
From a set of pricks to the prickly bitch, thanks for sticking it to us and with us.
“Get out before I throw this cactus at your eyes, and you need to protect those things. They’re the only balls on you.”
Rachel said with a hum. “So many jealous little bitches are going to cry.” “Be nice,” I told her. “What?” Rachel said. “You want me to offer them a fucking tissue?”
