Page 122 of Whiskey and Regret

“You made poor decisions but so did Xari and I. We planned to tell you that we were together as soon as we mapped things out. We should have been more careful about when we spent time together.” He loosened his tie even more, sliding the knot down to his chest. “Now, I will take full responsibility for you walking in on us. I’m so sorry you had to see that, Frankie. I know it was insanely awkward.”

“Understatement of the year,” I muttered, tucking hair behind my ear.

“It was,” Frankie agreed, nodding. “I was mad at you and Xari because it felt like you guys were doing it behind my back. It felt like you thought I was a stupid kid. Like the promises you both made didn’t mean anything.”

I squeezed her shoulder and said, “Frankie, that’s not it at all. You know your father and I care about what we promise you.” Did I just say your father and I? That felt way too parental. What was my life? “Sometimes unexpected things happen and trust me nobody was blindsided by our relationship more than me.” Evander shot me a warning look and I grinned at him. I knew he’d melt over my dimples.

“You promised you wouldn’t be one of those women though, Xari.”

“One of what women?” Evander asked, lifting a dark brow.

“One of the women who trip over you. I’ve seen the way all the women in the world look at you, Dad.” She folded her arms tight across her chest.

“Well, I mean, can you blame them?” He chuckled. He was definitely in classic dad mode.

“Cringe,” Frankie said, scrunching her face into an embarrassed frown.

“I am not tripping over your father,” I blurted with my finger in the air.

“You’re tripping a little bit,” Evander countered. He held his thumb and pointer finger centimeters apart and I sucked my teeth.

“No. I don’t trip over anyone.” With that bold declaration, Evander bit his bottom lip and eyed me knowingly. My clothes wanted to surrender at his feet and my thighs throbbed. I cleared my throat and tore my eyes away from him.

“Okay, maybe a little. The point is,” I continued, “Being in love and tripping over a guy are two different things and I’m very much in love with your dad, Frankie.”

“The feeling is mutual,” Evander said. All traces of playfulness left his voice.

“This is so weird. Ugh.” Frankie hid behind her hands and shook her head full of kinky curls. “You two are in love?” She peeked from between her fingers and looked at me, then at her dad. We both nodded. “You’re boyfriend and girlfriend? Like in a real relationship?”

“Yes, sweetheart. It’s the real deal.”

“But…” Frankie turned to me and scanned my face then the rest of me. “You’re so pretty. You seriously want to be with Dad? Like on purpose? You’re not clout-chasing?”

I tossed my head back and laughed so loud it hurt my stomach. Evander grimaced at his daughter then shook his head. “Damn, am I that old and ugly?”

“I mean you dress nice, Daddy but…” Frankie’s face said it all. She had no idea what the appeal was between me and her father. That was fine by me though because kids didn’t need to understand everything.

I stood to my feet and walked over to Evander, linking our fingers together. “You’re not old or ugly, Evander.” I popped up on the balls of my feet and kissed his cheek.

“I have to actually see things like this regularly?” She gestured to me and Evander holding hands.

“Yeah. I’m afraid so, sweetheart.”

“No offense, Dad but you’re so old. How do you not see this, Xari?”

“I never thought about his age, honestly,” I told her. It was the truth too. It was the farthest thing from my mind.

“Okay,” Frankie pressed her hands to her cheeks and blinked a few times like she was committing something important to memory. “I guess I have to deal with this…right?” She asked.

“Yeah. There’s no way around it, kiddo,” Evander said.

“Well, then I owe you guys an apology for the way I’ve been acting this week and at the wedding.” She plucked at her cuticles then nibbled on her lip. “I was really mad. It felt like I was going to lose the only friend I have because of this.” She gestured to us.

“Oh, Frankie…” I moved to sit beside her. I had to hug her. I wrapped her in my arms and she laid her head on my shoulder. “I told you, we’re stuck together. You can’t get rid of me.”

“But now you’ll be all over Dad all the time.” Her pout was evident, and even though she was twelve, it was still very adorable.

“It won’t be like that, Frankie.” Evander sat on the other side of her and stretched his long arm around us both. “Things will still be the same. You might wanna knock on my bedroom door and get your mind wrapped around seeing us kiss sometimes or hold hands but the relationship you’ve built with Xari won’t change at all.”