Jupiter Burgers
“Frank can you please stop watching me?” I looked up from my computer, pushing my glasses up my nose and frowning at him where he was sitting on the floor with Lola.
“What? Me? Watching?” Frank feigned innocence, but a smirk was tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“I can feel you staring at me and it’s making it very hard to write this already terrible sketch.” I pouted, scanning the last few lines I’d written. “God this is pure shit.”
“I’m sure it’s not.” Frank said earnestly, pushing Lola off his lap and getting up. He stood behind me and pushed his thumbs into my shoulders, making me sigh as the tension in them dissipated. He leaned over my right shoulder and I slammed my laptop shut.
“No! It’s so bad, please don’t read it.” I said almost hysterically, turning my head to face him.
“Hey, hey, okay.” Frank put his hands up and backed away a step. “Didn’t mean to freak you out.”
I groaned and put my computer on the coffee table, dropping my head into my hands. “Sorry, sorry, I’m awful when I’m stressed.”
I lifted my head when I felt Frank’s knuckles under my chin and he gently removed my glasses and kissed me between the eyebrows.
“You’re never awful,” He said earnestly. “But you are stressed. Why don’t you take a break?”
“And do what?” I moaned.
“Well, I can think of at least one thing that would calm you down.” Frank winked.
“Frank, I simply cannot have sex again, we have done it 3 times in,” I checked my watch. “15 hours.” I blushed thinking about how Frank had woken me up with his face between my legs, which had led to lazy, slow, early-morning sex, and blushed even deeper thinking about how he had pushed me against the wall of the shower as we got ready for the day and made my moans echo through the entire bathroom. “I know you have some sort of superhuman endurance, but I am a mere mortal.”
Frank laughed. “We could go box or something?”
I eyed him up and down, noting that he was shifting from foot to foot and seemed anxious to get out of the house.
“Yeah, alright.” I said, unfolding myself from the position I had occupied on the couch since 10 am and wincing as my joints popped. I managed to change into workout clothes interrupted only twice by Frank tackling me onto the bed when I sassed him about how I would kick his ass at the gym.
“Ready?” Frank asked, tugging on the brim of his baseball hat so it sat low over his eyes.
“Yep.” I picked up Lola’s leash and we stepped out into the hallway. As we entered the stairwell, I heard a noise above us and looked up. I saw someone’s head on the landing above quickly whip out of sight and then footsteps running up the stairs.
“Everything ok?” Frank looked up at me from the few steps he’d already descended.
“Yeah,” I said, turning slowly, feeling the back of my neck prickle, though I didn’t know why.
----
“C’mon girl, hit harder!” I grunted and threw a right hook, which Frank dodged easily. I gritted my teeth and slipped left, reaching out with an uppercut that he batted to the side. I set my shoulders and feinted a jab before dropping down and throwing a low cross, which, to both of our surprise, hit Frank’s bare stomach.
“Yes!” I shouted, jumping back and throwing up my gloves in victory.
“Well, shit.” Frank said mildly, looking down at where I’d hit him.
I stuck my tongue out and paraded in a circle around the ring, blowing kisses to my imaginary fans.
“Alright, settle down.” Frank said, laughing. “You landed one punch in 30 minutes.”
“Yeah, but I’m not The Punisher,” I put my gloves on my hips. Frank rolled his eyes, but his smile didn’t dim. I ducked out of the ring and pulled my gloves off, taking a long drink from my water bottle. Frank grunted as he wiped a towel over his face and I licked my lips as his biceps and chest muscles flexed.
“Now who’s staring?” Frank teased, throwing his towel at me. I sidestepped it easily and pulled my hoodie back on.
“Can we please get some food I am starving.” I moaned dramatically, walking over to the office to let Lola out.
“If you keep wearing those leggings, we can do whatever you want.” Frank called back. I laughed and shook my ass in his direction.
“Can’t get enough of my ass, can you Castle?”
“Nope.” Frank was suddenly behind me, his sweaty chest pushed against my back. He gathered my ponytail in one hand and pushed it away from my shoulder, dropping a kiss onto my skin. Lola headbutted his legs and he bent down to scratch her ears as I closed the office door.
“What do you want to eat?” Frank asked as we gathered our belongings.
“A burger sounds heavenly.” I said.
“Atta girl.” Frank grinned and hefted both of our bags onto his shoulder.
“I know a place nearby. Let’s get changed and go.”
---
“Hey Annie, how are you?” I smiled up at our waitress and she put a hand on my shoulder.
“I’m just fine, sweetie. How are you and who is this handsome guy?”
“I’m great! Work is busy of course, but can’t complain. And this is Pete.”
Frank tipped the brim of his baseball cap. “Pleasure to meet you ma’am.”
“Pleasure’s all mine!” Annie winked at me. “So Ella I know what you’ll have, but what can I get you, Pete?”
“I’ll have what she’s having.” Frank said, nudging my foot under the table.
“Sounds good!” Annie put away her notepad and mouthed ‘he’s cute!’ at me before walking back to the kitchen.
“Been coming here for a while?” Frank asked, leaning against the cracked vinyl of the booth.
“Yeah, it was, uh, my parents’ favorite spot. They actually met here. My mom was a waitress and spilled ketchup all over my dad.” I smiled, remembering the story that my parents told every time we came to the Jupiter Diner. “Annie’s been here since I was born. She actually owns the place now.”
Frank reaches across the table for my hand, thumb stroking over my knuckles.
“I’m honored you took me here.” He said quietly. “I know how special places like this are.”
“You showed me part of your past at Mae’s and I wanted to return the favor.” I smiled. “Plus I love coming here. It never makes me feel sad, just a little nostalgic.”
Frank nodded and we started talking about my boxing form, but his hand didn’t leave mine until Annie returned with our plates.
“Two Jupiter burgers and of course, fries extra crispy!” She announced, putting them down. “More coffee honey?” She asked, noticing Frank’s empty cup.
“There’s not enough coffee in the world to satisfy Fr-Pete.” I said, stumbling over the last word, but correcting myself quickly.
“I’ll take that as a yes, then. Be right back!” Annie sang out.
“Shit, sorry, close call.” I winced.
“Hey, it’s okay. It’s weird.” Frank shook his head, dismissing my concern. We both picked up our burgers and took a bite.
“Holy shit.” Frank swallowed and put his down and stared at me.
“I know, right?” I said enthusiastically, picking up a fry. Annie returned and filled Frank’s mug.
“Good so far?” She asked.
“Ma’am, this is quite possibly the best burger I’ve ever had.” Frank said sincerely.
“Glad to hear it, hon. Just holler if you need anything else.” Annie beamed and went back to her spot behind the counter.
Frank and I dug into our food in earnest, chatting about random things. In the middle of our conversation, however, I felt that prickle on the back of my neck again and turned to the window on my right. My eyes immediately locked into those of a guy leaning against a black car outside, who was staring intently at me and Frank through the glass. Once our eyes met, he immediately opened the driver’s side door and got in, peeling out of the lot.
“Hey sweetheart, you okay?” Frank’s voice snapped my attention back to the table.
“Uh, yeah, just something weird outside.”
“What was it.” Frank’s voice was immediately serious and his fists clenched on the table.
“I’m sure it was nothing, just some guy happened to be looking at me when I looked out the window.” I tried to say casually, but there was no chance Frank was going to let that pass.
“What kind of guy? What was he wearing? Where is he?” Frank’s eyes darted from me to the window.
“I don’t know, Frank, he was wearing jeans and a black shirt maybe? Driving a black car, he drove away.” I sighed, picking up another fry. “I swear it was nothing.”
Frank relaxed a little, but I could tell his mind was racing. “I’ll be right back.” He said, sliding out of the booth and dialing a number on his phone.
I groaned and took a bite of my burger, watching as he went outside and put the phone to his ear. Based on what he’d told me about his friend David, I guessed he was the one on the other end. Frank was clenching his jaw and pacing as he talked. The conversation lasted just long enough for me to finish my burger and he sat back down just as I drained my coffee.
“Ready to go?” Frank’s trigger finger was twitching and he didn’t even look down at the food left on his plate.
“Really?” I sighed. “Where are we going?”
“I need to go meet up with David. I’m taking you home.”
“Frank, come ON.” I was getting angry. “It was seriously nothing please please can we just drop it?”
“Not a chance.” Frank said immediately, standing up and holding out his hand. I rolled my eyes, but knowing it was pointless to argue, picked up my gym bag and got out of the booth. We walked to the counter and Frank slapped two twenties on it.
“Thank you ma’am for the coffee and burger, both were delicious.” He said to Annie, who had looked up from her book when we approached.
“Going so soon?” Her brow furrowed as she took in Frank’s tense posture.
“Yeah, I have to work.” I smiled at her and her face relaxed.
“Alright, well, as you know, food’s on the house.” She said, sliding the bills back to Frank.
“No ma’am.” He said. “A burger like that cannot be given away for free.”
I mouthed “don’t argue” as Annie was about to protest and she smiled.
“Well come back soon then, both of you.” She pointed sternly at both of us and I promised we would, giving her a hug across the counter.
We stepped outside and Lola sat up from her usual spot under the bench out front and wagged her tail. Frank leaned down and untied her leash from the bench, handing it to me. I took it wordlessly and started walking.
“Hey.” Frank caught up with me easily and put a hand on my shoulder, spinning me to face him. I frowned up at him.
“I’m sure it was nothing, like you’re saying.” He said, one hand moving up to my cheek. “But I can’t take any risks. Especially because I know the Russians are active again. I need to,” he swallowed hard. “I need to make sure you’re safe, okay?”
My heart softened.
“I know.” I said, reaching up to cover his hand with mine. “I guess this comes with the territory.”
“Unfortunately, it does.” Frank set his jaw. “Which is why you really -“
“Don’t start.” I held up a hand and resumed walking. “We’re not having that conversation again.”
We walked back to my apartment mostly in silence, Frank constantly scanning our surroundings and only taking a deep breath when we were inside with the door locked.
“Stay here.” He said firmly, putting both hands on my waist and curling his thumbs into my hips.
“I will. I’m gonna finish my sketch.” I nodded.
“I won’t be long.” Frank grimaced before saying, “Maybe I should have Red come over.”
“I do not need a babysitter!” I stamped my foot, realizing as I did that this made me look like I was about five and absolutely did need a babysitter. Frank smiled.
“I know you don’t sweetheart.” He kissed my forehead and rested his chin on the top of my head. I breathed him in for a moment before stepping back.
“You should go. I’ll text you what groceries you should pick up on your way back.” I said, starting to think about dinner.
Frank nodded and gave me a quick kiss before dropping his gym bag and heading back out the door.