5

"Jane?" Frank blinked twice as if he was unsure that I was really here. He looked around expecting someone else to be with me. "Um, you're here, I ... Come on in."

I felt stupid knowing how intrusive this was but I went in regardless.

"You again?" Bianca gasped when she saw me, "why won't she leave us alone dad?" She groaned in discomfort.

"Don't be rude Bee." Frank shunned her.

"No, she's right, what was I thinking? This is so stupid, I'll leave right away." I shook my head and started to reach for the door handle.

"No, it's fine." Frank stopped me, locking the door with a key.

"But it's not!" Bianca yelled from where she stood, her face looking like she was about to cry.

"Bianca, go to your room. I'll talk to you soon." Frank shunned.

"We were about to have girls' night! It's not fair." She whined.

"And we will, just give me a moment, please." Frank sighed at her.

She reluctantly headed upstairs after shooting me a death glare.

"I really didn't mean for any of this to happen, I'm so sorry." I began with my apology, burying my face in my hands.

"No it's fine really, you're here so it must be urgent," his eyes went to my clothes, "and you're still in the shirt from earlier today, is everything okay with you?" He wondered.

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing but tears fell. Frank must have been taken aback because the next thing I knew, he was pulling me closer to him, leaning my head against his chest.

"It's okay." He stroke his hand through my hair, "you can let it all out, take your time."

I'd never felt this comforted by anyone. I was used to ignoring my problems and fixing it with sex with Dan. Frank's actions made me cry even more and he squeezed me even tighter.

"I'm just tired Frank." I sniffed.

"It's okay to be." He nodded, leaning his chin on my head, "you can talk about whatever it is if you want to."

"Can I just spend the night here?" I asked him, "I'll leave first thing in the morning I promise."

"You can stay for as long as you'd like." He said without hesitation, "you're totally welcome."

"Come on. Take a shower or something and you can meet us back here if you'd still want to." He said and I offered him a smile as I headed into his bedroom. I couldn't believe Dan would stolp that low, I'd not for once caught him cheating in all of our relationship.

"Um, you can take another one of my shirts if you want." Frank came into the room to tell me after a few minutes had passed, "and you're welcome to join our girls' night." He said and left me so I could get all the privacy I wanted.

I wondered how a person could be so sweet to someone who was really just a stranger after all.

*

I joined Frank and Bianca in the living room where they were painting each other's nails and they were too engulfed to notice my presence at all. Frank seemed to be enjoying this a little too much and with how much attention he paid to her, I could tell that he was such a great dad.

I didn't want to interrupt and thought it was best to head back to the bedroom until Frank's eyes met mine, "hey, come on, join us, pizza got here."

I smiled, not wanting to seem rude and sat beside them.

Bianca ignored my presence and continued talking to Frank, "so like I was saying, in the episode of Boys first, Carlos is blown away that Martha is pregnant! Remember Martha right?"

"The um- blonde?" A confused Frank suggested.

"Dad no!" Bianca groaned, "you're not concentrating."

"I'm really trying." He shrugged innocently.

"You watch that series too?" I gasped at her, "and the fact that it turned out to be a prank but he already broke up with Gina? Epic!"

"I know right!" She squealed at me, her excitement going over the roof.

"Did you watch when she went as far as steal his dog for attention? She's so low." I rolled my eyes.

"Ugh, tell me about it, but she took good care of that dog, it's the thoughts that count, which reminds me dad," she turned to look at Frank with puppy eyes, "when are we getting the puppy?"

"When you get an A+ on your grades this year." Frank said sharply.

Bianca rolled her eyes and continued to talk to me about the series. I felt so glad to know that she was finally talking to me with interest. We spent the next hour eating pizza and drinking home made juice.

"It's time for bed." Frank announced and Bianca certainly disagreed.

"Come on dad, it's the holidays, I can stay up for as long as I want." She protested and when she saw that Frank wasn't budging, she nodded at me, "good night Jane. If you have the time, let's see the next episode together tomorrow."

"You got it. Good night." I waved as Frank took her upstairs to properly tuck her in. I sat on the couch waiting for him to return. I thought of how to compose my words to him, knowing that I'd have to explain myself to him, why I was here in the first place.

"Hey." His voice startled me out of myg thoughts.

"Um hi." I swallowed, feeling awkward now that we were alone.

"I just wanted to say," he started and I held my breath, hoping he didn't inquired too much, "you look so beautiful in that shirt."

I was lost for words, "wow, thank you." I was used to compliments like nice boobs or sexy ass but this sounded so genuine.

"It's the truth, I hope you know that. That you are fucking beautiful and you won't ever let anyone make you feel anything less than that." He sat beside me and I couldn't hold his gaze.

He took me aback by lifting my chin so I could look at him. My heart was beating so fast in its cage, I thought he'd hear it. "Okay?"

I nodded against his warm finger and we stared at each other for a second before he pulled closer and kissed my lips hard.