“She did. Apparently, she got the call about Frankie being in the hospital and came to see her.”
A snort of derision escaped her then she shook her head. “Well, Maddy’s timing has never been stellar. Just…take care of you and Frankie, baby, and be safe. I know you said that nothing happened, but that’s still a shock for the system. The assault. The aftermath. She might be more fragile than she’s letting on.”
Oh, I was aware of that. “I know, Mom. She’s my priority. We’re all making sure she isn’t alone.”
“You’re a good boy. So are they—even when you’re little hellions.” She finished her tea as I gave it a beat. “Your turn, spit it out.”
“Sis likes a sophomore brother of one of her friends. He asked her out.”
I swore my mother aged in front of me as she dropped her chin. “I am not ready for her to date.”
“Ditto. But he asked her to a movie. She asked if I’d take them since he doesn’t drive and obviously neither does she.”
Nose wrinkled, she glanced at me. “And you said?”
“I told her I wouldifshe talked to you and got you to okay it. She figured I could take Frankie and we could double date.”
We both grimaced.
“Fine, I’ll warn your father. His head will explode.”
I snorted. But Mom wasn’t wrong. Trina was a daddy’s girl, and Dad had always put her on a pedestal. “Just let me know,” I said. “And I’ll have a chat with said sophomore at school tomorrow.”
Mug halfway to her lips, Mom paused. “Cooper.”
“I said talk, Mom. Not planning to threaten him yet.” I spread my hands. “I’m the reasonable one.” Jake could handle all the threatening for me. He would probably even enjoy it.
“Uh huh. Have a good night, baby, and check in with me tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
It was still raining as I let myself out, so I stuck to the walkways and jogged from cover to cover. Frankie’s place was literally right down and around the corner on the other end of the building from my apartment. We’d been close for years.
But now that I’d been staying there so much?
I didn’t even want that much distance.
I unlocked the front door, and the sound of Frankie’s laughter had me grinning at the sound.
“You are such anass,” Frankie declared, and I raised my brows as I closed and locked the door behind me.
“If you say so,” Jake answered easily before he shot me a grin. He was kicked back on the sofa, a remote in his hand, and the television paused on a very interesting movie. “Hey, Coop, everything all good?”
Frankie glanced up at me, and her grin lifted the rest of the load off my shoulders. Her flushed face and over bright eyes intrigued me, and I glanced back at the screen.
“Yeah, all good. What are you two watching?”
Dissolving into laughter again, Frankie put a hand over her face.
“Or do I not want to know?”
“Porn,” Jake said, without missing a beat. “I’m critiquing it.”
“Heh,” I laughed. “I’m in.” I dropped my bag before I slid over to sit on the sofa on Frankie’s other side and nudged her lightly. She shot a look at me, still laughing. A little mortified, but maybe a little turned on. Oh, this could be fun.
“See,” Jake said with an evil grin. “Coop’s in.”
“Oh shut up,” Frankie said, groaning. “When you said you wanted to watch experimental videos,thiswas not what I thought you had in mind.”