Finding The 10

21 - Overprotective

Eli's POV

I watch the screen as mine and Macos avatars kick and punch each other ferioucously. We are both mashing the buttons on our play station controllers so hard that I swear one will break pretty soon.

With a final blow, I manage to knock out Marco's character as he growls in defeat.

"Damn it! Let's go again." He says and we restart the game.

We begin the same routine of combination kicks and punches followed by a few special moves when a question begins gnawing on me.

"Not that I don't love your company, but why are you here again?"

"I came over with Beth. She's helping Frankie find an outfit for some date today." He says with a shrug as my eyes widen in shock.

Frankie is going on a date with someone?

"I didn't know she had a date today." I say trying not to sound bothered but the truth is that it hurts like hell.

"Yeah, some guy she met the other day wants to take her to lunch somewhere. That's about all I know."

"Who is the guy?"

"Not sure."

"What's his name?"

"No idea."

"Frankie didn't tell you?"

"Nope. We don't talk about this type of stuff. She normally just tells me when she thinks things are getting serious and she wants the guy to meet some family."

"So, you're not at all curious of who this guy is?"

"Not really. Frankie can handle herself."

This is not going the way I expected so I choose a low blow. I bring up the ex.

"Didn't look that way when she was with Dex." I mutter knowing the full weight of the words I spoke.

Those few words ignite a match in Marco just like I knew they would. Now he is as eager to know more about this guy as I am.

Marco presses pause on our game and turns to face the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. 

"Hey Beth, can I talk to you for a minute?" He yells out as I sit back and cross my arms against my chest.

Beth appears momentarily and perches herself on the armrest of the couch, right where Marco is seated.

"What's up babe?" She asks sweetly.

"Who is this guy Frankie is going out with? Do you know much about him?" Marco interrogates while I listen in.

"I know his name is Colt and he is a lawyer I think."

"What sort of name is Colt?" I whisper and Marco chuckles with me.

"When did she even meet this guy?" Marco asks Beth.

"Not sure. Just recently I think." Beth adds with a smile. She is just too sweet.

"Right. I'm going to get to the bottom of this." Marco announces as he gets up from the couch.

Just then, Frankie enters the room and with one look at her, my jaw is on the floor. She looks stunning.

She has squeezed herself into a deep red 1950s style swing dress that has a simple black ribbon around the waist. Her lips match her dress and black hair  has been left in loose curls. She is even wearing black peep toe heels and showing off her tattooed legs.

She stands in front of us doing up the clasp of her earring and raises a brow.

"Get to the bottom of what?" She asks Marco.