Huh… When the hell did she learn Spanish?
She was never interested in learning the language when we were younger. I tried teaching her a few phrases here and there and her response was:I won’t ever need to know Spanish. It’s a waste of time.
“Sorry. I’ll get your drinks.” The bargirl turns around, looking sheepish. I’m not going to bring up the topic of Frankie knowing Spanish yet. I’ll wait.
“You do know it’s illegal in most countries to kiss your cousin, right?” Esterio smirks around the rim of his glass.
“Fuck off. We are not cousins, asshole.”
“Really? Because I remember growing up calling her andher brothersmy cousins. Pretty sure her parents are my uncle and aunt,” my brother tells me what I already know.
I’m not biting, though. I don’t care what anyone thinks about me and Frankie. “Let’s go back to this woman who slapped you? What’d you do with her?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? You let someone slap you?” I ask.
“She walked right out, and he came back over here sulking,” Frankie says. “It was a moment I will never forget.”
“You’re so drunk you’ll forget by morning,” Esterio tells her.
“Nope, I’m not that drunk.”
“Sure you’re not. You just go around kissing all your cousins in public now?”
“Nope, just him. But if you knew how good he could kiss, you’d wanna kiss him too.” Frankie points to me, and I smile at her words. I think I like this version of drunk, honest Frankie.
Two glasses of tequila are set in front of me. I hand one to Frankie.
“Wait! We need to toast,” she says.
“What are we toasting?” I ask her.
“Us. For finally becoming kissing cousins.” Her smile is wide, and when she laughs, I can’t help but lean in and kiss those lips.
“I fucking love being kissing cousins with you.” Clinking my glass with hers, I then down it and slam it back onto the table. “Okay, we’re going,” I tell my brother. “You staying?”
“I have someone to see,” he says.
“That’s code for he has a woman to go and bed,” Frankie whispers ortriesto whisper.
“I’m well aware.” I pull Frankie up onto her feet, and she stumbles.
“Maybe don’t give her tequila again. She’s a lightweight.” Esterio laughs.
“I’m not the one who brought her here, asshole,” I grunt and then lead a very-wobbly Frankie out of the bar.
By the time the car pulls up in front of the house, Frankie is passed out. Her head on my lap and the rest of her body curled up across the seat. I don’t want to move her. I like her being this comfortable with me. It’s new, and I’m fucking scared that when she wakes up, she’s either going to regret kissing me in front of people or not remember it.
Slipping my arm under her waist, I shift her until I can pick her up. Then I slide out of the car with her in my arms, holding her dress down over her ass so no one gets a sight of anything they shouldn’t be seeing.
“Need a hand?” my driver asks.
“Nah, I got it. Thanks.”
He walks up to the front door and opens it for me. I make it to the first step before my father’s voice stops me from going any farther. “What the fuck happened to her?”
“Esterio took her to a bar and introduced her to tequila,” I explain.