In the morning, we meet up in the lobby and I decide that it wouldn't be such a bed thing to let Lottie drive for a little while. She says she's feeling up to it, so Frank sits with her in the front and when he holds her hand, I shout, "Ooh, does my itty bitty niece-y have a boyfriend?" She rolls her eyes, but Frank answers with an, "I hope so". Lottie squeezes his hand. Hard."only if that means that you have a girlfriend too. And that it's me." She says very matter-of-factly, her smile growing faster than a cheetah can run.
Gee leans over and whispers in my ear, "well look at that, you seem to be a matchmaker and a psychic".
Charlotte notices my giggling in the rear view mirror and yells back, "is there a second couple in the car?"
"No, You're all alone in that honey, looks like you're just that special". I reply, with a little bit of sass in my voice.
Frank clears his throat as we pull into a gas station and asks, "can I switch places with Alice for a little bit? There's something I want to talk to Gerard about..."

---

Gerard's pov
Oh god...I hope Frank doesn't want to talk to me about what I think he does, I think to myself as he and Alice get out of and back into the car. He buckles his seat belt and turns to me, smiling," So, Gee, buddy", he starts to whisper,"What's this I hear about you and a certain neighbor girl you've been in love with since the fifth grade not dating?"
I look at her in the passenger seat, her eyes are closed, she's asleep.
"Look, I don't know how she feels about me,okay? I can't take that chance, Frank, I don't want to lose my best friend. Besides You, Mikey and Ray, She's really all that I have, you know that". I tell him, hanging my head, "I wish I had the courage to at least find out how she feels, or, or...something".
Frank just smiles, smug, like he's about to win a game of wits. "I know how she feels about you man, Char's been talking about her and what she talks about, WHO she talks about..." I can feel my eyes grow bigger and bug out of my head.
Now I'm talking a mile a minute," would you please spare me my sanity and tell me everything you know?" I ask, eager for the truth.
"Dude", Frank begins,"apparently you're like the only thing she talks about, It's a sure thing, she's wants a slice of the Gee man. She told Lottie about how great of an artist she thinks you are, how great of a singer she thinks you are", he pauses, then elbows me softly and adds, "how cute and hot she thinks you are... Your chance is coming; do something abut it. We're headed for the grand canyon soon, think about how romantic that would be, to ask the love of your life to be your girlfriend in a place as beautiful as THE GRAND CANYON. think about it.."
And I do, I contemplate ways to make this dream come true the entire time she's asleep and Frank is sitting next to me

Notes