Auto

18

Auto couldn't believe himself. He picked up one of his sons.

“Can you believe what an i***t Daddy is?”

He didn't even know where the hell this come from. Who the hell proposes during s*x?!

No one, that's who! Grim would have a f*****g field day with this.

***

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Frankie demanded the second he walked into the room.

“I don't know what came over me. Honestly. Maybe it's just been a while since I had you.”

Frankie scoffed.

“And you think that somehow justifies you proposing to me? Y'know most men say something yeah baby, not Marry me!”

Auto clenched his jaw. “Safe to say, I'm not most men. Just forget it, okay. It was a heat of the moment thing.”

Frankie stammered before yelling. “Heat of the moment? Goddamn it Jason, the sun isn't that goddamn hot!”

At this point, Auto was getting agitated.

“What's so bad about it anyway?”

“What are you talking about?” Frankie asked, putting on the shirt he'd discarded.

Even though Auto never said a negative thing about her body, and his eyes were always filled with desire for her, the twins had taken a toll on her once streamlined figure.

She was covered in stretchmarks, she wasn't as...tight as she used to be. She felt subconscious about it, and the only time she didn't is when they were making love.

Jason always made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.

“Getting married. Settling down. What's so bad about it?”

“Jason, did you hit your head?”

Auto's anger began to flare up. “What am I to you, anyway? Just your baby daddy? f**k buddy?”

Frankie eyed him tiredly. “I don't want to do this right now.”

“Damn it, answer me! You are the mother of my children. You are the woman I care for. Who am I to you?”

“You're...my...” Frankie didn't know. After Donny she had some commitment issues.

Auto figured it out right away. “It's that son of b***h, isn't it? f**k, I wanna be more than just the man who fathered your sons. I wanna be more than just the guy you sleep with.”

Frankie slinked off the bed. “Right,” She started flatly. “And you really showed that by leaving me alone with our newborns for over a month.”

Sighing, Auto ran his fingers through his hair. “That was my mistake. But it nothing to do with no wanting you. It was... I was...scared.”

“Of commitment,” Frankie finished for him.

“Of destroying everything I touch! I am committed to you. To the boys. To this family. I just... I don't wanna ruin it.”

He turned away. “Ruin you.”

Frankie sensed how morose this truth made him. As she thought back, she realized, he was right. The two times she thought he'd abandoned her, he was there. On the sidelines watching out for them.

He had always been committed to her. And to their family. But he kept getting spooked and the detective in her wanted to dig up the mystery.

Her bones were tingling with the need to investigate. But she promised he'd have his secrets and she'd have hers. Who was she to pry into his business?

“I had to two children, ” She joked. “I am ruined. I'll never get my figure back. ”

Auto smiled weakly. “Dont try to cheer me up. ”

Frankie shrugged.

“I... Like you, Frankie. I really do. ”

Frankie licked her lips nervously. “I like you too, Jason. More than you know. But I'm sorry. I can't marry you. ”