“He already knows about my mouth,” I said before she left. I realized how fucked up that sounded but it was true. He knew I had a smart ass mouth.
Once I had the wings roasting in the oven, I went to check on Frankie. It took a little coaxing to get her to open the door but I made sure to wrap her in a hug when she did open it. I didn’t know what the uncomfortable feeling in my chest was when I noticed her red-rimmed eyes but it made me want to fuck Alexis up.
We sat on her bed and she drew her knees up to her chest. “I’m so embarrassed,” she muttered, looking down at the comforter.
“Why? Because of your mother?” I smoothed her puff a little then slid close enough to put my arm around her shoulders.
“Yeah. I’m so sorry she said that to you. If you don’t want to work here anymore, I get it.” She tried to swipe at her tears discreetly but there was no hiding it.
“Girl, nothing is going to stop me from being your nanny unless you don’t want me here anymore. I honestly thought we were becoming friends. I was excited to hang out with you every day and piss your father off.” She didn’t laugh but at least her eyes weren’t as sad anymore.
“I want you to stay. Sometimes it feels like it’s not up to me though. Especially with Mom. Daddy is tough but he listens to me when it counts.”
“Then we’ll talk to him together. Anything you’re too nervous to say, tell me and I’ll say it.”
“You promise?” She quizzed, blinking up at me. The uncomfortable feeling I had when I saw her crying subsided and gave way to the need to protect her and make her happy.
“I promise. Now, let me grab something to change into since I’m in the kitchen wearing cream Gucci like I can afford to get this dirty.” I shook my head at my own audacity and dug through my overnight bag. I took out an IVY PARK t-shirt and a pair of black leggings.
“Can I do my homework in the kitchen with you? Or is my mom still down there?”
“She left. Bring your books and I’ll help you while I cook. Please tell me you like chicken wings.”
“Flats?” She lifted a brow at me.
“Of course. I’m not a barbarian.”
“Then yes, I love chicken wings.”
“A girl after my own heart.” We slapped hands and made our way downstairs. While I finished dinner and helped Frankie with her homework, I played Brandy’s Never Say Never CD.
When The Boy Is Mine came on, the strings at the beginning grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I kept repeating the sequence in my mind over and over while I mashed sweet potatoes and chopped veggies for the salad.
“Xari, hello…” Frankie waved her hand in front of my face a few times until I snapped back to reality.
“Oh, shit. Sorry, Frank. How much homework did I miss?”
“Just one question. Where were you? You looked like you were somewhere else completely.”
“I was,” I rubbed my forehead and watched the notes pile up on the staff in my mind. “I have a song stuck in my head and now I have to play it on the harp or I won’t be able to sleep.”
“Are you obsessed with the harp or music in general?”
“Both,” I laughed. “Music is home for me. But being able to create pure music from thin air is something that will always take my breath away.” My fingers ached to strum Sunshine’s strings.
Soon…
“I want to love something like that.” Stardust sparkled in her eyes and wonder coated her words.
“You’ll find something that makes you passionate, Frank. When you do, you’ll know immediately because you’ll start the slow descent into madness.”
“Madness?” She furled her groomed brows together and waited for me to elaborate.
“You didn’t think passion was sweet and easy, did you?” I cackled at the thought.
“Well, yeah. It’s a passion. It’s something you love to do all the time. Like you with the harp or Daddy with writing.”
“Is that his passion?” I quizzed, my ears burning and my mind happy to have any morsel of information about Evander.
“Definitely. If he doesn’t get time to write he gets evil.”
“That right there should let you know finding your passion isn’t as romantic as it seems. It’s like being married. Your passion will bring out the worst in you but it’ll also bring out the best.” I tried not to scare her too much but finding and unleashing your passion was no joke. I didn’t want her to be surprised when she found something that consumed her whole and spat out the bones.
I helped her with one last question on her homework then I finished dinner.
“The food is done and you’re finished with your homework. Wanna go to my house and look through the rest of my clothes?” I untied the apron and hung it up on a hook near the pantry.
“Is that even a question?” She smiled at me then started putting her papers and binder away. While she packed up, I cleaned up the kitchen a little. The smell of tart lemon with savory pepper and garlic was enough to make my stomach growl.
Normally, I would have grabbed me a small plate to go because I didn’t play about my food but I wanted to eat with Evander and Frankie. Something about their father-daughter banter and the way he lit up when he talked about her was adorable. I could stare at their interaction for hours.
“Before we go, let’s send your dad a selfie so he knows you’re safe.” I pulled Frankie close to me and we put our heads together after we stepped outside into the
