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Frank had always been good at pretending that everything was okay. It was almost a Habit by now. At work, he could smile and Talk to people like nothing is wrong, even when he had barely slept the Night before. If someone asked him how he was doing, he always gave the same answer „im Fine“. Sometimes he said it before they even have the chance to ask him or finish the question.
It was easy for him. Three words, no long conversations so people dont ask him more. At Home he cant just say that he is Fine. Abby knew him well, too well. She knew when he was tired, when something was bothering and when he was lying. For a long time frank managed to keep it a secret.
He told himself that he just needed a Little more time, that he could stop whenever he wanted, that things would get better at Home and at work. There was always a reason to wait. There was always a tomorrow. But Abby eventually found it out and there was no tomorrow anymore. She had been waiting for him in the kitchen.
She stopped looking at the time because he always came late home. The lights were off except for the small one above the stove and for some reason that was the first thing frank noticed when he came home. He slowly walked to the kitchen because Abby never left a light on.
He saw her siting there by the counter, completely still. She looked angry but also sad. Frank knew that this is not going to end well. “Abby?” He asked quietly. She didn’t answered. Just looked at him. “What’s wrong why aren’t you in bed?”. Abby looked down for a moment thinking if she should ask him.
“How long?” Frank opened his eyes widely. “How long what?” He asked slowly. “Don’t do that you know what i mean” franks stomach drop. Her voice was calm but he could see the anger in her eyes. “Tell me frank, now” she says now louder. “How long have you been using the drugs again?”. Frank didn’t answer right away. He always imagined this moment will happen. He thought he could explain her everything.
But now, his mind was blank like everything he wanted to say was gone. “Abby…” “Tell me now how long!” She says loudly. He rubbed the back of his neck “ I don’t know…” “you don’t know? Don’t lie to me frank” “I didn’t think it will get this bad”. Abby just laughed, but there was no happiness in it. “That’s not the answer i want to hear.” Frank looked at her face and saw red eyes and that even hurt more than if she had been angry. “I was going to stop”. “Really? When is that exactly?”. “Soon Abby…”. “Hah okey if say so”.
Frank just swallowed. “I mean it” “you always mean it when you say it. That’s the problem, you promise me you’re going to stop” frank took a step closer to her. “ i mean it this time“ Abby shook her head. “You always mean it when you say it. That’s the problem. You promise me you’re going to stop, and then nothing changes.” Frank took a step toward her. “I’m trying.” “Are you?” she asked. “Because from where I’m standing, it doesn’t look like you’re trying. It looks like you’re hiding it.” Frank wanted to argue. He wanted to tell her that she didn’t understand, that it wasn’t that simple, that he was trying harder than she knew. But when he opened his mouth, nothing came out. Because she was right. He had been hiding it. He had hidden it from her, from everyone at work, and most of all from himself.
Abby looked toward the hallway. “Our two children are asleep.” Frank’s eyes immediately moved in the same direction. “I know.” “Do you?” she asked. “Because I’m scared.” “I’m not going to hurt you.” “I know you’re not trying to.” Her voice broke. “But what happens when you’re not yourself?” Frank stood completely still. “Abby, please.” She shook her head. “I can’t do this anymore.” He felt cold all over.
“What do you mean?” “I’m leaving.” “No.” The word came out before he could stop it. Abby picked up the bag she had packed earlier. “I’m taking the kids with me.” Frank stared at her. “Please don’t.” “I need to keep our children safe.” “I would never hurt them.” “I know….” She stopped talking for a second to look at his face. “I love you. But I can’t stay here and watch you destroy yourself and be scared that something will happen to them”. She walked past him and went upstairs to the room where the kids were sleeping. She came back went to the door to go outside but for a little moment, she stood there in silence. “ I hope you can find the help that you need but I can’t do that again”. She stepped outside and drove away. The apartment became silent. Frank just stood there staring at the front door hoping it will open again.But it didn’t.
He went upstairs quietly and slowly. His mind kept going over the same conversation again and again. Abby’s words hit him hard. He walked into the bedroom, sat down on the bed and just sat there. He looked around the room, it looked wrong and so empty.
He put his hands on his face and his elbows on his knees. That was when the tears finally came. He tried to cry quietly even though no one was around.
He felt so stupid. Angry. Ashamed. Most of all, he felt scared. He told himself that he was in control and now he had lost the one thing he had been afraid of losing.
His family.
İt was the next morning when frank woke up. He doesn’t even remember falling asleep. He’s neck and eyes hurt. His mouth was dry. He felt so dirty but he was too exhausted to do anything right now. He managed to stand up and go downstairs to get his phone. He sat on the couch and went through the contacts, he wanted to call Abby. Beg her to come back, tell her his going to get help. But his finger didn’t clicked on her name. Minutes later he opened the chat of Abby and his, he wanted to write so many this but just wrote:
‚I Will get help. I promise‘.
He stared at the Message a long time when he sent it. Frank put the phone down and walked into the kitchen. He opened the fridge. There was almost nothing inside. He wasn’t hungry anyway. He made coffee and sat at the table, staring at the cup. He tried to think about what he was going to do. He needed help. He knew that. But knowing something and actually doing it were two different things. He had no idea where to start. He picked up his phone again and opened his contacts.
His finger stopped at jacks name. He doesn’t know why but it feels like Jack is the only one how wouldn’t judge him.
He could’ve call Mel oder Robby but he was afraid they will look at him differently and think that he will never recover completely from these drugs. Jack was different. Frank doesn’t even know why he is thinking like that. They weren’t best friends, the only time they see each other is when he working more than he usually does. Jack never judged him for using drugs for the first time. He understood frank. Frank hesitated for a moment but eventually pressed the call button.
It didn’t even rang a second before jack answered. “Frank?”. Frank didn’t answer right away and closed his eyes. “Frank is everything okey ? Do I need to come over?”. “No, no I just…” frank couldn't say anything right now he is so exhausted. “What’s wrong frank?”. “ it’s nothing it’s just…” “frank tell me now” there was something about the way he says his name. He liked it. “Can you just come over, please.” “Of course, I’m on my way” “thanks…” “yeah…” they both hang up.
He didn’t know why he suddenly felt like crying again. Maybe because he hadn’t expected Jack to say yes so quickly. Maybe because, for the first time since Abby left, someone had made him feel like he didn’t have to figure everything out alone.
Jack arrived about twenty minutes later. Frank opened the door before he even knocked. Jack looked at him and immediately frowned. “Jesus, Frank.” Frank stepped aside. “Come in.” Jack walked inside and looked around. He didn’t say anything about the mess. He didn’t ask where Abby was. He just looked at Frank. “Have you slept?” “A little.” “Have you eaten?” Frank shrugged. “I don’t know.” Jack sighed. “Okay.” “Don’t.” Says frank while looking on the floor “Don’t what?” “Don’t look at me like that.” Jack frowned. “Like what?” “Like I’m some kind of problem you have to deal with.” “I don’t think you’re a problem.” Frank into jack’s eyes. “You should.” Jack stepped closer.
“What happened?” He says. Frank walked into the living room and jack followed him, they sat down on the couch. “Abby left.” Jack’s face softened. “When?” “Last night.” “With the kids?” Frank nodded. “Tell me what happened”. Frank hesitated but he was to tired of trying to hide the fact that he is using drugs. “I started using again…” “what, why would you do that?” Jack was shocked. Frank just recovered from the first time and now he is back using again.
Frank couldn’t hold it back and started to cry. Jack immediately pulled him into a hug and hold him tight. “I don’t know why I started again my fucked up brain couldn’t hold back the need”. Jack ended the hug and looked at frank. He was looking so sick. “That’s why Abby left?” “Yeah….” Comes out quietly out of frank. “… She said she can’t trust me around our children.” Jack was quiet. Frank laughed bitterly. “She’s right.” “Frank…” “She’s right.” He looked down at his hands. “I keep telling myself I’ll stop. I keep thinking I can handle it. And now she’s gone.” Jack didn’t answer right away.
Then he said, “What are you going to do?” Frank looked at him. “I don’t know.” “Then let’s start with today.” “What does that mean?” “It means you’re going to eat something. You’re going to drink some water. And then you’re going to call someone who can actually help you with the recovery.” Frank looked annoyed. “You sound like Abby.” “Good.” Frank stared at him for a second, then laughed quietly. It was the first real laugh he’d had in days. “You’re an asshole.” Jack smiled. “Yeah.”
Jack stayed the whole day with him.
He made sure that frank cleans himself up und eats something. They spend the day inside and sat on the couch watching tv. Eventually they both fell asleep on the couch. Jack was laying with us back on the couch and head on the armrest with franks head on his chest and the arms around him.
Some time around 3 am, frank wakes up. Sweating crazy. His hands were shaking and his head was pounding. He rushes to his room and is searching it like crazy for the drugs. While doing that he doesn’t notice jack behind him. “What are you doing? Frank stop, I threw the drugs away” frank stopped for a second and turns slowly to jack.
“Why would you do that” he says angrily. “So you would stop” “you know I just can’t stop with it”. Jack steps closer and says calmly “yes you can”. Frank becomes angry and shoves jack away from him. “You don’t understand none of you understand!” He screams at jack.
“ I do frank, let me help you please”. “No leave me alone, I should’ve never called you”. He started crying and sat down on the corner of the bed. Jack walked slowly towards frank and stands right in front of him. “What if I can never stop? The first time didn’t even last long” frank laughed at himself.
“Don’t say that, many people don’t recover at the first time.” Says jack calmly.
Frank looked down at his hands, still trying to stop them from shaking. “But what if I can’t?” he whispered. “What if I do all of this and still end up back here?” Jack sat down beside him on the bed. “Then we deal with it if it happens. But you can’t give up before you even try.” Frank laughed quietly, but there was nothing funny about it. “You make it sound so easy.” “I know it’s not easy.” Jack looked at him. “I’m not saying it will be easy. I’m saying you don’t have to do it alone.” Frank looked at him, his eyes red from crying. “You shouldn’t have to stay here.” “Maybe I don’t have to.” Jack paused for a second. “But I want to.” Frank swallowed and looked away. “Why?” Jack didn’t answer immediately. He watched Frank for a moment before speaking. “Because I care about you, Frank.” Frank’s eyes filled with tears again. He quickly looked down so Jack wouldn’t notice, but Jack noticed anyway.
“I’m sorry,” Frank whispered. “You keep saying that.” “Because I keep messing everything up.” “You’re struggling. That’s not the same thing.” Frank shook his head. “It feels like it is.” Jack slowly put his hand on Frank’s shoulder. “Look at me.” Frank hesitated before looking up. “You are not alone in this.” Frank took a shaky breath. “But Abby left.” “She left because she’s scared. That doesn’t mean she stopped caring about you.” “She took the kids.” “Because she wants them safe.” Frank looked down. “I know.” “And if you keep getting help, if you keep trying, maybe one day things will be different.” Frank stayed quiet for a moment. “Do you really think that?” “Yes.” “Even after everything?” “Especially after everything.”
Frank wiped his face and took a slow breath. His body still felt terrible, but talking to Jack made it a little easier. “I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t called you.” Jack gave him a small smile. “You called me. That’s what matters.” Frank looked at him. “I almost didn’t.” “Why?” “Because I was scared you’d judge me.” Jack shook his head. “I could never judge you for asking for help.” Frank smiled weakly. “You know, you’re probably the only person I could have called.” Jack looked at him for a moment. “I’m glad you did.”
“Can you stay with me until I fall asleep?” “Of course” “and also be here when I wake up” says Frank quietly while lying down on the bed. “Always”
“Thank you”.
Jack just smiled at frank and sat down on the chair next to the bed, watching frank falling asleep.
A few more months passed, and Frank slowly started to believe that things were finally getting better. He was still going to his appointments, he was still clean, and he was seeing his children more often. From the outside, it looked like everything was falling back into place. But there was one thing Frank couldn’t accept.
Abby didn’t want him back.
She cared about him. She cared about the father of her children and she wanted him to stay healthy. She was proud of the changes he had made, but the love she once had for him wasn’t the same anymore. Frank didn’t want to hear that. Every time Abby said she needed more time, he convinced himself that she would eventually change her mind. He thought if he stayed clean long enough, if he became a better father and a better person, she would fall in love with him again.
One evening, they were sitting in Abby’s living room after the children had gone to bed. Frank had been nervous all day because he wanted to talk to her. “Abby, I think we need to talk about us,” he said quietly. Abby looked at him and immediately knew where the conversation was going. “Frank…” “Please, just let me say it.” Abby nodded. Frank took a deep breath. “I’ve been doing everything I promised. I’m clean. I’m getting help. I’m working on myself. I’m there for the kids. I know I messed up, but I’m not that person anymore.” Abby looked down at her hands. “I know you’re trying.” “Then why can’t we try again?” Abby looked at him. “Because I don’t want to.” Frank froze. “What?” Abby’s voice was soft. “I don’t want to get back together, Frank.” He stared at her like he hadn’t understood the words. “You don’t mean that.” “I do.” “But you said maybe.” “I know. I thought maybe my feelings would come back.” Frank’s face fell. “And they didn’t?” Abby shook her head. “No.”
Frank stood up and started walking around the room. “So that’s it?” “Frank…” “I did everything. Everything you asked me to do.” His voice started shaking. “I got help. I stayed clean. I changed.” “You did that for yourself too, I hope.” “I did it because I wanted my family back!” Abby stood up. “And I am still your family. The kids are your family. But that doesn’t mean I have to be your wife again.” Frank stared at her. “I love you.” Abby’s eyes filled with tears. “I know.” “Then how can you just stop loving me?” “I didn’t just stop.” Her voice broke. “It happened slowly. And I’m sorry.” Frank shook his head. “No. You’re wrong.” “Frank—” “You’re wrong.” He grabbed his jacket from the chair. “I’m not doing this.” Abby watched him. “Where are you going?” “I don’t know.”
He walked out before she could say anything else.
Outside, the cold air hit his face. He kept walking without knowing where he was going. His chest felt tight and his thoughts were racing. All those months of hard work suddenly felt meaningless. He had imagined getting his family back so many times that he didn’t know what his life was supposed to look like without that goal. His phone kept ringing, but he didn’t look at it. He knew it was probably Jack. He didn’t want to talk to anyone. He just wanted the pain to stop.
He walked for almost an hour before ending up in a place he hadn’t been to in months. The moment he realized where he was, he stopped.
He should leave.
He knew that.
He stood there for a long time, staring at the place he had promised himself he would never return to. But his mind was telling him that one time wouldn’t change anything. One time would make the pain disappear. One time would help him sleep. One time would make everything quiet.
And that was how Frank found himself making the same mistake again.
He knew it was wrong.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
But at that moment, he didn’t care.
Meanwhile, Jack had been calling him again and again. When Frank didn’t answer, Jack started getting worried. He knew something was wrong. Frank never disappeared like this anymore. Jack grabbed his jacket and started looking for him.
He checked the places Frank usually went when he needed to be alone. He called him several more times. Nothing.
Then he remembered something Frank had once told him about where he used to go before getting clean.
Jack’s stomach dropped.
He drove there as quickly as he could.
When he found Frank, his heart stopped for a second.
Frank was sitting alone, looking completely lost. His head was hanging down, and he looked nothing like the man Jack had watched fight for his recovery for months. “Frank.” Frank slowly looked up. His eyes widened when he saw Jack.
“No.” Jack walked toward him. “Frank…” “Go away.”Jack stopped a few feet away. “I’m not leaving.“
“I said go away.” Frank’s voice broke. “Please.”
Jack looked at him and immediately understood what had happened. He didn’t yell. He didn’t get angry. He simply crouched down in front of him. “What happened?”
Frank laughed bitterly. “She doesn’t want me.” Jack’s face softened. “Abby?” Frank nodded. “She doesn’t love me anymore.” Jack didn’t know what to say.
Frank looked at him with tears running down his face. “I did everything, Jack. I did everything right. And it still wasn’t enough.”
Jack sat down beside him. “I’m sorry.” “I thought if I got better, she’d come back.“ “I know.”
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.” Jack looked at him. “You keep going.”Frank shook his head. “I can’t.” “Yes, you can.” “No.” Frank wiped his face. “I already ruined everything.”
“You had a setback. You didn’t ruin everything.” Frank looked at him. “I used again.” “I know.” “You should hate me.” “I don’t.“ “You should.” Jack shook his head. “No.”
Frank stared at him, confused. “Why don’t you ever give up on me?” Jack looked at him for a long moment.
Because I love you.
The words stayed inside his head. But he couldn’t say them. Not now.
Instead, he said, “Because you matter to me.”
Frank looked away. Jack gently took the drugs away from him and made sure he was safe. “We’re going home.” Frank was silent for a moment. Then he slowly nodded.
Jack helped him stand. Frank nearly lost his balance, and Jack immediately caught him.
“Careful.” Jack lifts frank up. One arm around the back and under the knees. Frank troughs his arms around jacks neck und puts in head again jacks chest.
A little “thank you “ comes out of franks mouth. Jack didn’t reply to and just nodded. Jack carried Frank to the car, still holding him carefully. Frank didn’t say anything. His head was resting against Jack’s chest, and his eyes were closed.
He could hear Jack’s heartbeat, steady and calm, and somehow that made everything feel a little less frightening. He knew he had messed up. He knew he had disappointed himself and probably Jack too. But Jack was still there.
When they reached the car, Jack carefully opened the passenger door and helped Frank inside. He made sure Frank was sitting comfortably before closing the door. Then he walked around to the driver’s side and got in. For a few seconds, neither of them said anything.
Jack started the car. Frank stared out of the window. “Are you angry?” Jack kept his eyes on the road. “I’m worried.”
“That’s not what I asked.”Jack sighed quietly. “Yes. A little.”Frank looked down. “I knew this could happen,” Jack continued. “I just didn’t expect it.”
“I didn’t either.” “I know.” Frank swallowed. “I’m sorry.” Jack glanced at him. “You don’t have to keep saying that.” “But I am.” “I know.”
The car became quiet again.
After a few minutes, Frank whispered, “I really thought I could handle it.” “I know.” “I thought I was stronger.” “You are strong.”
Frank looked at him. “Doesn’t feel like it.” “Being strong doesn’t mean you never fall.”
Frank looked out of the window again. “You always have something to say.” Jack smiled a little. “Someone has to.”
Frank laughed quietly. It wasn’t much, but it was real.
When they arrived at Frank’s apartment, Jack helped him inside. Frank immediately sat down on the couch and put his hands over his face. Jack went into the kitchen and got him a glass of water. He came back and put it on the table.
“Drink.”
Frank looked at the glass. “You really love telling me what to do.” Jack raised an eyebrow. “Apparently.”Frank smiled and took the glass.
They stayed there for a while. Frank slowly started feeling more tired. The adrenaline from earlier was disappearing, leaving him exhausted. Jack sat beside him, close enough that Frank could feel his shoulder against his. “I don’t want to sleep,” Frank whispered.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to wake up tomorrow.”Jack looked at him immediately. “Frank.”
“I don’t mean…” Frank stopped and rubbed his face. “I just don’t want to wake up and remember everything.” Jack’s expression softened. “Tomorrow will still be there whether you sleep or not.”
“I know.” “And when you wake up, I’ll be here.” Frank looked at him. “You promise?” Jack nodded. “I promise.”
Frank leaned his head against Jack’s shoulder. “Okay.”
A few minutes later, he fell asleep.Jack stayed exactly where he was.He didn’t move his shoulder because he didn’t want to wake him. He just sat there and watched him sleep. Frank looked peaceful for the first time that night.
Jack slowly reached over and pulled the blanket around him. “You’re going to be okay,” he whispered, even though Frank couldn’t hear him.
The next weeks were going great. Frank went to his appointments and to work. After the incident with Abby, frank asked jack if he could move in with him because something in his heart and head said he should ask him. Jack said yes and brought some things from his house to frank.
At first, it was only a few bags.
Then came boxes. Clothes. Shoes. Books. His things for the bathroom. His things for the kitchen. Soon, there were small signs of Jack everywhere. Two toothbrushes stood next to each other. Jack’s jacket was hanging beside Frank’s by the door.
There were two coffee cups on the kitchen counter every morning instead of one. Frank’s apartment slowly stopped feeling like a place where he was simply living.
It started feeling like a home. Their home. Jack still had his own job and Frank still had his. They didn’t spend every second together.
But when they came home, there was always someone there. Someone who asked how their day was.
Someone who noticed when Frank was quiet. Someone who knew when a simple “I’m fine” wasn’t actually true.
And Frank was slowly learning that he didn’t have to hide anymore.
One morning, Frank woke up before his alarm.He stayed in bed for a moment and looked at the ceiling.
Jack was still asleep beside him. Frank turned his head.Jack’s hair was messy, and one of his arms was lying across the pillow.
Frank smiled.It still felt strange sometimes. Not in a bad way. Just strange. His heart was pounding like crazy the last days when he was with jack.
A few months ago, he had been sleeping alone in an empty apartment. Now Jack was lying beside him.
Frank slowly got out of bed and went to the kitchen. He started making coffee.
A few minutes later, Jack walked into the kitchen.“You’re awake.” Frank looked over his shoulder.
“Unfortunately.” Jack smiled. “Coffee?” “You know where it is.”
Jack walked over and poured himself a cup. “Did you sleep okay?” „Yeah.” Jack looked at him. “Really?”
Frank laughed. “You’re becoming Abby.” Jack raised an eyebrow“ “Maybe that’s because you keep saying you’re fine when you’re clearly not.”
Frank smiled.
“I slept okay.” “Good.” Jack sat down at the table.
Frank sat opposite him. For a few minutes, they didn’t say anything.
It was comfortable. Frank liked that. He liked that they didn’t always need to talk.
Things with Abby were slowly becoming easier too. They finally got better and frank understood her decision. He apologized to her and they started hanging out again with the kids.
“I see you finally done it” says Abby while they were sitting on a bench in a playground, watching the kids play. “Yes, yesterday was my last appointment” “congrats” “thanks”. They both became quite before Abby ask another question.
”are you in love with jack?” Frank froze to the question and didn’t answer to it. “How do you get that idea?” “Well he basically lives with you, his stuff is all around your house and when he always speaks you look at him like there is no other person.” Frank just said “I don’t know…”
the rest of the time frank couldn't stop thinking about the question. Does he really like jack and if he would.
would jack like him too??
after a while Abby and the kids went home und jack came with the car to pick frank up. “How was the day?” “İt was great Abby and I finally get along.” “That’s great”
after 10 minutes of complete silence they arrived at franks home. Frank unbuckled his seatbelt but didn’t get out immediately. He just sat there, staring through the windshield.
Jack noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Jack gave him a look.
“Frank.”
Frank smiled a little. “You really are becoming Abby.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
Frank finally opened the door and got out. Jack followed him inside. The apartment was quiet. The familiar smell of coffee still lingered in the kitchen. Jack threw his keys onto the counter and took off his jacket.
“Do like living her jack?” Jack looked at him and smiled a little. “I do” “you know you can leave when ever you want” “I know”
“Then why don’t you?”
Jack didn’t answer right away und frank noticed that he hesitated to say something.
Frank stepped forward and put his hand on jacks upper arm.
“Tell me frank” “because you needed help frank”
“But right now I’m clean” Jack looked at him for a moment. “I know.”
“Then why are you still here?”
Jack looked away for a second. He seemed to be thinking carefully about what he wanted to say. Frank noticed the hesitation and waited.
“Because I want to be here.”
Frank frowned slightly. “That’s not really an answer.”
“It is.”
“No, it isn’t.” Frank kept his hand on Jack’s arm. “You always say you want to help me, but I’m okay now. I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can.”
“Then why?”
Jack looked into his eyes. For a second, he almost said it. He almost told Frank everything. That he stayed because he loved him. That he didn’t want to leave because being around Frank had become the best part of his day. That moving in with him hadn’t felt like a sacrifice at all.
But he couldn’t say any of it.
“Because I like living here,” Jack finally said.
Frank stared at him. He thought back to the question from Abby. His mind said do it so he did it
Frank put his hands around his neck and kissed him. Jack was shocked he didn’t know what he should do even though he was waiting for this moment a long time.
Jack close his eyes put his arms around the waist of frank. He started walking which made frank walk backwards and his back was against the wall.
Both of them didn’t stop. İt was to good to stop it.
Frank finally pulled away just enough to breathe. He looked at Jack, both of them still trying to understand what had just happened.
“I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” Jack whispered.
Frank smiled nervously. “Then why did you look so shocked?”
Jack let out a quiet laugh. “Because I didn’t actually think you would.”
Frank rested his forehead against Jack’s. “Neither did I.”
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Jack’s hands were still around Frank’s waist, and Frank could feel his heart beating almost as fast as his own.
“Are you okay?” Frank asked softly.
Jack nodded. “More than okay.”
Frank smiled and kissed him again, slower this time. Jack immediately leaned into him, his hand gently moving to the back of Frank’s neck.
When they finally separated, Jack looked at him with a teasing smile. Which made frank a little red.