Page 99 of The Worst Best Man

“And?” Pru looked at her like she was talking to an idiot.

“And I live in Brooklyn. By the time I get over here and we do our thing, I’d have to spend the night or go straight to work. Take the train…” She trailed off, feeling a sliver of something uncomfortable.

“I see. So, when do you see each other?” Pru asked.

Frankie shifted uncomfortably. “When he comes to Brooklyn.”

“And how often is that?”

“Three or four nights a week,” she said. Five times last week.

“I see,” Pru said primly. “And what kind of events have you gone to with him? Any fundraisers? Galas? The theater?”

Frankie shook her head to each one.

“Have you met his family?” Pru asked.

“Uh, no. He wanted me too, but the timing wasn’t right. He did meet mine.”

Pru brightened considerably. “Really? How did it go?”

“Well, I mainly did it to piss my mom off. Like ‘Hey, Ma, here’s this gorgeous guy I’m seeing. But guess what, we’re just fooling around. No future here. Burn.’” Frankie laughed nervously but quit when Pru didn’t join her.

Pru pinched the bridge of her nose. “Frankie, I’m going to say this with love because I do love you, and I want you to be happy. But you have got to quit the Frosty the Bitch Queen routine before you ruin something amazing.”

“Excuse me?”

The waitress reappeared with their meals. “I’ll just leave you two to it then,” she said when the silence at the table grew awkward.

“Frosty the Bitch Queen?” Frankie repeated.

“Don’t even pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. You are freezing Aiden out. Why in God’s name, I have no freaking clue. But you’re trying to sabotage this thing. Do you want to be right that badly?”

Frankie’s jaw was on the table.

“And while I’m talking and you’re listening, Aiden inviting you to his home, to meet his parents, to go to San Fran? He’s trying to share his life with you, jackass. And you’re basically kicking sand in his face.”

“That’s not what I’m—”

“Bullshit.” Pru stabbed her salad with such violence Frankie thought she saw the kale shrivel. “I get that you’re protecting yourself, but you don’t need to hurt him to stay safe.”

Frankie swallowed hard.

“It’s just a fling.” She said it to remind Pru and herself.

“That’s no excuse to treat him like Margeaux treats her housekeeper.”

Frankie brought her hands to her face. She was trying to protect herself. But that was no excuse for purposely rejecting him. Had she hurt Aiden? It wasn’t her intention. Though if the tables were turned… “I’m such an asshole.”

“Frosty bitch queen,” Pru corrected with less vehemence.

“He’s done everything for me, and all I’ve done is reject him.”

“Good,” Pru said, pointing her fork at Frankie. “That’s the guilt I want to see. This is not like you to treat someone as less than.”

“How do I fix it?” Frankie asked.

“We start with dinner tonight.”