Where's your heart?

I wait another half hour and Frank doesn't call so I pick up the phone and dial his number, bringing the phone to my ear as it starts to ring and just as I give up hope he's going to answer, expecting his voicemail any second now my ear is flooded with the sounds of a loud crowd, Franks voice sounding a second later. "Hey, I was just about to call you" he says and I swallow hard before saying "Things at the club take that long?" Frank doesn't answer for a few long seconds and the background noise coming through the phone sounds like a crowded bar. "Gee, I'm sorry I didn't call earlier. Things at the club took longer than I thought and then Nicole and I...." "Where are you right now?" I ask, not interested in excuses, having dealt with all this with a past girlfriend who cheated and a long second later Frank says "At a bar." "How long have you been there?" I ask, Frank breathing out into the phone before saying "A few hours." "Ok, well have fun" I spit out before hanging up, throwing my phone on the coffee table before standing and walking across the room, my hands coming up to run through my hair. As I reach the door and turn to pace back my phone starts ringing and as I approach the table I see Franks name on the screen and I contemplate not answering but I surprise myself by reaching out and grabbing the phone, pressing the button to answer as I bring it to my ear. "Gee" Frank says when he realises I've answered and I remain silent for a long second, trying to figure out what to say when he continues. "I'm sorry I didn't call." "Frank it's fine, if you didn't want to call you didn't have to I just....we're exclusive right?" "What? Of course babe, why would you...." "Because I've been through the whole I'm at work but really I'm at a bar fucking someone else in previous relationships and I'm not looking for...." "No, no Gee I'm honestly not like that, at all. I don't sleep around and I'm not interested in starting." I remain silent after that, unsure of what to say and after a minute Frank speaks again to ask "Do you want to come out? We'll still be here for a little while." I breathe out slowly, thinking it over before saying "Where are you?"

After Frank tells me what bar he's at we hang up and I wander into my bedroom to change, crossing to the bathroom to fix my appearance before I grab a jacket and head out, heading to the club and when I get there I take a moment before going inside. When I go in I look around, trying to spot Frank but the bar is packed and as I start walking through the crowd I am approached by a slightly chubby guy with blonde hair. "Hey, can I buy you a drink?" He asks, a sly smile on his face and I try to smile back as I say "I'm here with someone, sorry." "Really?" He asks, looking around before his eyes focus back on my face as he adds "Doesn't look like it", his tone slightly threatening. "Look I'm not...." "Come on its one drink, you think you're too good?" He spits, his hand coming up to grip my arm and as I try to pull away, feeling slight panic I hear "Hey babe, is there a problem?" And I turn my head to see Frank approaching us, his eyes slightly dark. "I..." I start before I'm cut off by Frank saying "Patrick, let go of my boyfriend, right now." The guy releases my arm and I immediately step over into Franks side, my whole body shaking slightly as his arm wraps around my waist and the guy says something to Frank that I don't catch, my head turning to bury my face in Franks neck and a second later Franks body turns fully towards me, his other arm snaking around my back and pulling me into him. "You ok?" He whispers in my ear and I nod against his neck, taking another long second before I pull back and Frank smiles at me before leaning in to peck my lips. I kiss back before Frank pulls away and drops his arms from around me, taking my hand instead and we head towards a booth where I see a heap of guys and girls I've seen before at the warehouse.

An hour later I've had a drink and I feel more relaxed, Franks arm wrapped around my waist as we sit side by side in the booth and I let the chatter happen around me, just listening and taking everything in until Frank and Nicole tell everyone they need to head back to the club for work. After a slight protest from their friends Frank and Nicole stand, stepping out of the booth and I stand to follow, Franks hand reaching out and taking mine and after another goodbye the three of us make our way across the club and back out onto the street. Nicole walks to the end of the building before stopping and leaning back against the brick wall as she pulls a cigarette out and lights it, looking the other way and clearly giving us a moment and Frank turns to stand infront of me, his hands gripping my hips as he leans in and seals his mouth to mine again, his tongue slowly snaking its way into my mouth and I can taste all the fruity cocktails he's been drinking as I let my eyes slip closed and I melt into his touch. "Can I see you again tonight?" Frank asks softly when we pull apart, his eyes studying my whole face before locking with mine and I bite softly on my bottom lip before nodding, the voice in the back of my mind telling me he'll stand me up again. "I finish at two, I could come over then or maybe I could swing by and pick you up, we could go to my place if you prefer." "Mines fine" I tell him, his face pulling into a huge smile and just as we lean in to kiss again a cab pulls up and Nicole walks back over to tell us we need to go. I lean in and kiss Frank one last time, expecting him to go with Nicole and leave me but when we pull apart he takes my hand and leads me over to the cab, ushering me inside and as I settle between him and Nicole she gives the driver the address for the club and we pull away from the curb.

The ride to the club is spent mostly in silence, my hand clutched tightly in Franks, his thumb rubbing soothing circles over the back of mine and when we finally pull up Nicole climbs out while Frank presses one last kiss to my lips, staring into my eyes as he pulls away to say "I'll see you later, yeah?" I nod, offering a small smile and Frank smiles back before pulling away completely and climbing out of the cab, quickly making his way to the drivers window and I hear him give my address before handing over a few bills and before I can protest he smirks and winks at me, stepping back further into the sidewalk and letting the cab pull away.

Notes