Page 20 of Playing Hard to Get

The statuette in my hand weighed a ton, but not as much as her words as they settled atop my shoulders. I put the statuette back in the box I’d taken it out of. “I didn’t leave because of you, Frankie.”

“No, just because of how your father reacted. How he’s treated you since Corey got shot.”

Cringing, I turned my gaze to the window, looking out at the skyline that was gleaming with the rising sun and the promise of spring. From as high up as I was, I could almost believe the bitter cold wasn't sweeping in off the lake, that stepping out into the day wouldn’t cut me to the bone. Even that cold was easier to take than the gut-wrenching insight of my cousin.

Damn her for seeing me, knowing how I work without even being around me.

I’d gotten used to my freedom. Gotten used to my father ignoring everything about me. He’d never hounded me as much as he had since last summer. It was Frankie he always cared about. Frankie whose life he wanted to control. The sudden reversal, the random checkups whenever I was in town, were too much from someone who’d never cared.

“We’re having a party next week, the day after the Spring Opener.” Frankie’s quiet voice cut through my thoughts. “Corey's invited all the guys. Vinny’s going to try to make it. I’d like you to come, too.”

“You know how I like a good party,” I said. I tried to put some excitement in my voice, but I could tell by Frankie’s reaction it fell flat.

“I was thinking, maybe you could bring some friends? Some of your girls from fashion?”

A grin pulled at my lips. “Need a little eye candy for your party, huh?”

“Well, you know.” Frankie scrunched up her nose again, looking so much like herself as a young girl. So stinkin’ cute. “With the guys from the team, all their friends… Might help to have something to counteract all that testosterone.”

“Lock the bedroom doors,” I warned, chuckling at her grimace.

“Now that you mention it, I think I will.”

We both laughed, and it felt good in my soul.

“I was thinking…” Frankie’s sudden hesitation was concerning. She wasn’t one to beat around the bush. I looked up from my box and found the humor gone from her eyes. “Corey’s still doing a lot of physical therapy and extra workouts to try to get back to his former self. I thought, maybe, if you wanted… Would you like to do lunch next week?”

I gave her a soft smile. “I’d love to.”

Frankie’s face broke, like glass shattering, into her perfect smile. “I’ve got a couple meetings while we’re in town, but I’m free the day after the party. Wednesday. Will that work for you?”

“It sounds lovely.”

“Great. Now, where do you want this beast?” She motioned to the box of clothes she stood in front of.

With pursed lips and a heavy sign, I pointed the way.

Frankie stayed most of the day, unpacking and helping me to settle into my new home. With my lack of food and inability to cook, we called out for sushi from a Japanese restaurant she and Corey loved. Though I was leery about her presence when she arrived, I was glad she came. I’d missed her and it felt good to catch up.

That night, over lukewarm beer from the corner drugstore, Frankie and I sat with our feet up on empty boxes and stared out over the blinking lights of the city.

“This was fun.”

I looked over at my cousin and saw a quiet smile on her face. “Yeah,” I said. “Thanks for coming over.”

“I was thinking…” Frankie hesitated again, something she’d been doing too often today. “Corey plays in New York next month. I thought it’d be fun if you came with. Hang out with me during the day. We can do some shopping, check out some of our old haunts.”

With a smile, I raised my bottle toward her. “I’d like that, Frankie.”

She nodded and tapped her bottle to mine. “We need to hangout more. Just you and me. Maybe Vinny sometimes. Gotta find a way to survive the crazy in our lives.”

I chewed my bottom lip before I said, “Vinny says he means well.”

“Vinny's too nice.”

I laughed, because it was true. My sweet brother was too nice. He saw the good in people, even when they didn’t deserve it. That was one benefit of being raised in my father's shadow—I didn’t take people at face value. There was always a motive, some reason for their every behavior. My cousin got it, same as me. Knowing it helped me keep control.

Control of my business.