Page 35 of Playing for Keeps

But I did survive.

And every single minute of it hurt.

“Ah, here it is.” More paper shuffled, and when she spoke again, Mom’s voice was a little clearer. “There’s an article in the paper about that guy, Dean, you used to date. He went and got himself married to this pretty little thing. Amy Smalzer. You know her?”

“Yeah, Mom. She’s the girl he broke up with me for, remember?” Clutching my head in my hand, I let out a sigh. A knock at my bedroom door made me jump and I swung my head that way.

Kelly stood against the jamb, wild red hair billowing around her and this look on her face that told me she’d been standing there a while. She tapped her fingers to her wrist, then threw her thumb over her finger with a smirk on her face.

“Uh, Mom, Dad, I gotta go. Frankie’s here.”

“Already?” I cringed at the pout I could hear in her voice. “Well, I’ll save this article for you for the next time you’re home. Maybe one of these days you’ll come visit your dear old mom and dad.”

“Yeah,” I promised, my teeth grinding together. “I’ll see what I can do.”

I said my goodbyes, then tossed my phone on my bed.

Then tossed myself on it, too.

“You’re a lifesaver,” I muttered around the arm thrown over my face.

“Figured you could use my help.” The bed dipped beside me before my arm was lifted, and Kelly’s face came into view.

“How long were you standing there?”

“Long enough to know you needed an out.”

A groan left me, one I felt in every inch of my soul. “So, the whole conversation?”

She chuckled, then tussled her hair with her fingers, making the curls bounce and spring around her face. “Your mom’s nice, but she’s brutal.”

“Yup.” I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. “What are you doing today?”

“I ain’t got nothin’.” Kelly plopped down next to me, arms spread wide, her forearm smacking my gut. “I’m completely free. Maybe I’ll take a nap.”

“You could help me and Frankie,” I offered.

“You scared to be with her alone?”

“I’m not!” Maybe I was, a little. “It’s just... she’s my brother’s fiancé. And she’s all happy and glowy all the time, and it’s just kinda weird.”

“Don’t like to think about her getting it on with your brother?”

“What? No! Yuck!” I slammed my hands over my ears. “Geez, Kels, you trying to give me nightmares?”

“Can’t say I blame her,” she continued as if she didn’t notice my discomfort. “Your brother’s hot as fuck. I’d do him, for sure.”

“Ugh, gross!” Tossing Kelly’s arm off my stomach, I rose to my knees to crawl from the bed. “I don’t have to listen to this.”

“It’s the tru—Oh!” Her body bucked and she rolled, her flailing legs nearly wiping me out. She grabbed my phone from the bed where she had been laying. “Geez, Jen! Thought you’d left your vibrator out.”

My phone buzzed, and the smirk on her face made me blush. “Give me that.” I swiped it from her hand, then frowned at the screen. “Hey Frankie, what’s up?”

“Jen? Is that you? Um, I think I’m here? What number are you again?”

“Oh! Great!” I spun away from Kelly, rushing to the front door. I was halfway there when a knock sounded. “I’m 6E.”

When I opened the door, Frankie was there, looking gorgeous yet frazzled. She was weighted down with two gigantic tote bags, her golden blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun, loose tendrils floating in her face.