“There are a bunch of reporters in the front,” I told Frank nervously.
“I know.” His gaze found mine. “It’s okay.”
“We’ll be all over the tabloids.”
He stared at me intensely, his blue irises sparkling. “That’s fine.”
“Are you serious?”
“I don’t want to hide anymore.” His voice was a frail whisper.
My head spun. This was unexpected. We’d hardly discussed going public. There was no doubt I wanted it more than anything—the secrecy drove me insane. But we had no plan. My mother and Ashton would get caught in the fallout. “Me neither, but what about my family?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that,” Frank said calmly, touching my cheek. “There’s a car waiting in the back that you can use.” His eyes were bright and incredibly alive, and he shone like a lucid dream.
“What about you?” I wanted to hug him, but the fear of being accidentally seen by someone who had no business seeing us together rendered me motionless.
Frank grinned. “I’m going to go outside for a bit and sign some autographs.” He pulled his hand away from my cheek and laced our fingers together. My skin went ablaze. We stood close, just a couple of inches separating our bodies.
“What about my car?” I asked, squeezing his palm gently.
“Roman will get it.”
I nodded and his grasp weakened. Our hands fell apart as we walked out of the room. Face riddled with panic, Ashton was still waiting for me in the hallway.
“Umm, there’s a bunch of reporters,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “And I’ve got all this stuff.” He motioned at the camera bags.
“Where’s Levi?” I asked.
“Went to move the car.”
“Text him to go around and meet us in the alley.”
“I’ll see you in a bit,” Frank told me, smiling, then gave Ashton a pat on the back. “Are you keeping it gangsta, bud?
“Always.” My brother’s chin went up and his shoulders straightened. I would’ve sworn he grew at least two inches taller right before my eyes.
“Good. Just stay out of trouble,” Frank said and headed over to the reception area.
The front doors swung open and I heard the noise coming from outside as it slipped into the building and carried across the corridor. Anarchy took over the parking lot. People shouted. Cameras clicked.
Frank was like a magnet. For a second there, it felt as if the energy of the entire city was gathered around him.
A limo waited for us at the rear of the building. Levi’s truck pulled up a few minutes later and when Ashton got in with him, I was left alone. The silence soothed my erratic heartbeat. On Twitter, videos and photos of Frank and Isabella signing autographs outside the privately owned rehearsal space in Hollywood began trending long before he joined me. Roman had parked the limo around the block, and after he helped Frank inside, he hopped in the front.
“Home, boss?” he asked.
“Yes.” Frank relaxed against the seat and pressed the privacy screen button.
I scooted closer until our thighs brushed. He breathed hard and loud, and fatigue lined his face. I could tell this had been a very difficult day for him physically.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
Frank readjusted his arm in the sling and rolled his neck. “Like I’ve been fucking run over.” He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed my knuckles. “I’m sorry about last night, doll.”
There were so many things that I needed to tell him pivoting inside my head, I didn’t know where to even start. My tongue refused to move.
“I can’t seem to get a fucking break.” He paused to catch his breath, eyes closed, chest heaving.
I wanted to straddle him and perform mouth to mouth so he wouldn’t have to struggle, but I was scared I’d do something wrong. We hadn’t had sex since before the accident. He was too strung out and mostly in pain and I was a ball of anxiety. But today, when I saw him sing, I felt hot in all the wrong places. His confidence made him sexy. One flip of a switch and I was a puddle of dirty, raw want.
“Did you find a car?” He rested his head back.
“Not yet. Shopping with my mother isn’t fun. She wanted to get Ashton a Mini Cooper.”
“You haven’t shopped with my mother.” He laughed softly while his eyes remained closed. “Janet is very… How shall I put it? Specific.”
“Well, then our mothers will probably get along just fine.”
“Probably.”
Our hands rested in his lap.
“Frank?” I spun in my seat to face him. My throat tightened with the words that were trying to make their way out all at once.
“Hmm?” He didn’t move. Having his fingers entangled with mine felt warm and nice. And extremely distracting.
My thoughts spiraled inside my head. I dipped my other hand in his hair and combed my fingers through it.
“What’s wrong?” he said quietly.
“Please don’t get mad,” I whimpered.
“Did you do something?” His laugh caressed my ears.
“No, but I’ve been thinking a lot…”
“About what?”
My mind roared. I loved how in sync we were right now, but the events of last night were still fresh in my head and I hated that they reminded me of my father’s weakness so much. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I really think you should take a step back from the band.”
Frank opened his eyes and looked at me. “I thought you were on my side, doll?”
“I am on your side. What if you need a third surgery?” My voice was a plea of despair.
“I won’t need a third surgery.”
“You don’t know that.”
“What’s gotten into you? Why are you so riled up?”
“I’m worried.”
“What are you worried about? I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not fine, Frank.” Here goes. “You know you shouldn’t drink, but you did anyway.”
“Is this about yesterday?”
I averted my gaze. “My father was an alcoholic.”
“It was just once. It won’t happen again.”
“You didn’t hear me, Frank,” I insisted, my lower lip shaking. “I can’t
