summary : There’s a new maid cafe in town, and Frankie and his friends had to check it out!
word count :1.2k
warnings : the reader wears a maid outfit, reader is thick :3 , implied age gap (not specified), no use of y/n, reader uses they/them, slight fluff!
comments : i actually wrote this for someone else, but since i don’t write for them anymore, i revamped it to fit Frankie! theres another old one that i would like to fit into one of Pedro’s characters but i’m still debating on who hehe lil sneek peek of it, picnic date! (also ill fix the divider thing at the end later sorry!)
Ben learned of a maid cafe that had recently opened, and that it had already received positive feedback the first week it was open, with customers stating that the cafe is pleasant, has great food, and the maids themselves are all pretty. So it was only natural for Benny to invite the guys to the intriguing cafe.
The moment they enter, two maids welcomed them, adressing them as ‘masters’. One of the two approached them with a welcoming smile, escorting them to their seats, dismissing themself after giving them the menu.
They paused to take in their surroundings. The walls are painted light pink, while the floor and ceiling are white. Surprisingly, despite the bright colors, the room feels welcoming and pleasant. The cream chairs and tables also help to pull the space together. There’s also a showcase of delectable desserts, including a variety of cakes and ice cream flavors. The waitresses themselves are dressed in different pastel colored maid outfits.
After a few moments, you approached them and introduced yourself as their maid. You go on to describe the cafe’s set norms as well as the various amusements guests can order, such as a photograph with a maid of their choice. After you’d finished talking, you asked the guys whether they were ready to order, and you took it when they said yes.
“This place is pretty legit, huh. I feel out of place here.” Will states, the others nodding in agreement. As the guys conversed, Frankie eyed you from across the room. The light blue outfit you wore fitting your form to a T. You were chubbier than the rest of the maids, but to Frankie, that just made it better.
“Quit it, you know you’re not allowed to make moves on the maids,” the others said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“What? “All I’m doing is staring.”
“We all know you’re going to flirt with them as soon as they come back.”
“I’m not going to, but it wouldn’t hurt to look.”
“Suure, suure, oh wait! Isn’t there a way to request a photo with them? Why don’t you get one?”
“That’s a little excessive.”
“Oh, come on, it’s just a photo, what could possibly go wrong?”
The conversation came to a halt as they notice your figure approaching their table, laying their orders on the table. Every meal was cutely adorned, with sauces drawn in the shape of animals while the drinks sprinkled with edible glitter. “Wait, before you go, we’d like to request a pic with you.”
Frankie glares at Will, perplexed. “Of course, you can! One of each, yes?”
“Nope, only one, with him.” He triumphantly declares, pointing to a flustered Frankie. You smile lightly, informing them that the picture will be taken after payment is made.
“You. Are. Welcome.” Frankie looks at him, puzzled and slightly enraged. “For what? Embarrasing me?”
“Oh please! It’s a good chance to woo them.”
“Did you forget the fact that i’m not allowed to?”
“Forget the rules! They could be the one or something.”
“When did you get all sappy.”
“Relax, Fish. Just take the damn pic, Will’s paying anyway.” Santi suggests. “Wait, what do you mean im paying?!”
“It’s only fair; it was your idea, and you’re forcing him to carry it out.”
Will sighs, “Fine.”
As they ultimately delved into their meal, the topic faded from their minds. Frankie can’t help but be nervous. He hasn’t dated anyone in a long time, let alone someone like you. Innocent, young and cute, a mere opposite of him.
You visit the four men’s table after they’ve finished their meals, asking how their food tastes and offering them the check while you lay the empty dishes on the tray. You nod gratefully as you accept their pleasant responses and the check, remembering to smile as you depart from their table.
While waiting for their payment to be processed, your gaze is drawn to the man with whom you are about to take a picture. You take note of his features; his cap, which had been off while he ate, had already been reapplied, concealing his dark brown curls. His mustache was neat, yet his scruff was uneven but rather appealing. But there’s something about his dark brown eyes that draws you in. His looks appears rugged at first, but if you look into those eyes, you’ll notice a gentleness radiating from him.
The ding of the register jolts you out of your reverie, and you compose yourself before returning to their table. “I apologize for the delay; we can take the picture now!”
You motion them to follow you to another room, where they will find a small studio. You explain how this will work to Frankie, “Before we shoot the picture, I’ll let you pick out any props or accessories you’d like me or yourself to use. After the photo is taken, I’ll personalize the photo for you using stickers and markers. If you let me of course!”
Frankie gives you a quiet nod and a little grin to put you at ease. He walks up to the table, which is laden with props and accessories, and the others follow. “Put these ears on!” Ben made a suggestion.
Ben removed his cap and clipped the dog ears into his hair before Frankie could even refuse, while Santi handed you the cat ears. “Do you want me to put the collar on as well?” “No!” Frankie screamed, eyes wide. “ It’s all right!” He averted his gaze to hide his blush.
“Is that all for the accessories?” you inquire, slightly adjusting your dress. Frankie nods once again, afraid that if he speaks, his words would betray him.
Nodding, you gesture him to the set, encouraging him to strike a pose. He hesitantly raises one hand to form a paw, smiling as the photographer takes the image, ignoring the guys’ laughs. You dash to the photographer to get the photograph and present it to Frankie. “Is it all you’d like it to be?” “It looks all right.” “Great! I’ll go ahead and decorate it right now; don’t worry, I’ll be quick!“ Before approaching the desk with the decorating supplies, give him a friendly grin.
You attach the light blue and light brown stickers to match both your clothing, as well as draw a few mini cats and dogs to fit the motif, returning your gaze at the men before you place something else on the back of the picture. You quickly dry the photo by fanning it, wrapping it in a protective film then placing it in a small envelope. Last but not least, you sign your name and a ‘come back soon!’ on the front of the letter.
“Here it is! I’ll take you all to the entrance now!” You hand Frankie the envelope and head for the door as he takes it. “Thank you very much for taking the time to come by! We look forward to seeing you again soon!” You smile as you wave at them and watch them fade away.
He finally arrives at his own house after dropping off his pals at their homes. He took out the letter and opened it, sighing as he sat on his couch, appreciating your gorgeous self as well as your pretty writing and decoration. He was about to put it back in the envelope when he finally noticed the back.
summary: You wake up to find your long time crush, next to you!
word count:2.2k
warnings: reader has memory problems :( lil bit of angst, fluffly too tho always <3 oh and pancakes ! (no use of y/n and they use they/them!)
comments: hi! i’ve been having the most massive writer’s block lately so sorry for the lack of writings. i do have 3 other wips that i’ll hopefully finish soon! but for now hope yall enjoy this one!! (also yes this is a reupload)
As you awaken from your slumber, sunlight enters your eyes through your unusually open window. Your eyes blinking quickly as they adjust to the bright light. Migraine consumes you as you slowly sit up, attempting but failing to recall the events of the previous night.
“Good morning, baby.” A voice suddenly appearing next to you, making you jump. It’s a familiar voice you heard, but your drowsiness makes it difficult to tell who it is. Surprisingly, you slowly turn to face them, only to see your long-time crush, Frankie. It took a few moments for you to realize what he had called you. Baby? Why would he call me that?
Confounded by your staring and lack of response, he placed a hand on your cheek, gently caressing it before slithering his hand to the back of your neck and pulling you in for a quick peck. “Sorry, I have to leave, but I’ll be back later in the evening, okay?”
You nodded quickly, still taken aback by the nickname and now by his kiss. You watch as Frankie gets out of bed, gathers his belongings, and remembers to smile softly at you before leaving the room.
Your body is still frozen as a result of what just happened. You touched your lips as you lay back down on your pillow. You try again and again to recall the events of the previous night, but you’re unsuccessful. Although, this isn’t the first time you’ve forgotten something important. Your mind works in a complex manner, possibly much more so than that of some or more people. Having a tendency to forget minor or major details, events, or even something that has just occurred. But it appears that this is the worst possible time for you to forget.
Frankie had been your friend for a long time, having met you in a bar when you were down and him completely cheering you up. Surprisingly, despite your terrible memory, you can recall every detail of that day. Your friend had nagged you to go out with her, promising you a good time if you came with her. Only for her to abandon you for some girl she met. Frankie had come to that bar for a quick drink, which turned into a long one when he encountered your sulking self.
You aren’t a trusting person, and you initially turned him down when he approached you. What else could he want besides to get into your pants, you reasoned. But a quick glance at his face reveals a gentleness beneath his rugged exterior. So you gave him the benefit of the doubt. What a good descision that was. He listened to you and comforted you until he saw a smile on your face that lasted until the end of the night and more.
From then on, he turned into one of your closest friends. He was nothing more than a great friend at first, always willing to be there when you needed him. But as you spent more time with him and got to know him, feelings began to emerge. So it’s a little heartbreaking for him to suddenly be in your bed, kissing you, and you have no idea why or how he got there with you. Did he kiss me last night too?
From then on, he turned into one of your closest friends. He was nothing more than a great friend at first, always willing to be there when you needed him. But as you spent more time with him and got to know him, feelings began to emerge. So it’s a little heartbreaking for him to suddenly be in your bed, kissing you, and you have no idea why or how he got there with you. What happened last night?
It feels like an eternity waiting for Frankie to arrive. You couldn’t wait to ask him about what happened the night before. But hold on. What if he gets hurt because I forgot about it? Clearly, he had a good night last night. But, on the other hand, I can’t just accept the fact that I’ve forgotten what might have been my first time with him. You spent the entire day trying to remember, retracing your steps around the house, but nothing came to mind.
You eventually stopped trying to remember those events, choosing instead to clean the house and make yourself more presentable for Frankie. And then, before you knew it, the bell rang.
“Hey, bought us food.” He gave you a kiss before letting himself in, putting the bag of food down before sitting down himself. “I was thinking we could watch-”
"I have something to say to you, Frankie.” You sat down next to him, hesitantly taking his hand in yours.
“Are you all right?” He notices your worried expression and frown. His hands caressing yours helps to calm you down a little. “Yeah, I just have something I need to tell you.”
“Of course, anything.”
Taking deep breaths, you muster the courage to tell him, “Frankie, I have terrible memory problems. I forget things very easily, to the point where I sometimes forget what just happened or even an entire day. I can’t keep it under control, no matter how hard I try.”
"That’s fine, honey. If you forget something, I’ll always remind you.” He carressed your cheek, leaning in for a kiss.
“No, wait a minute. I’m not finished yet.” You hold his face a little longer before proceeding. “I- I don’t remember what happened last night.”
“What?”
You let go of his hand, averting your gaze from his perplexed expression. He waits patiently for you to continue. “I have no memory of what happened last night. I tried all day to recall something, anything, but nothing came to mind. I don’t know why you kissed me this morning and why you were in bed with me. I figured something happened last night for you to do that, but no matter how hard I try, I just can’t recall it.” Before proceeding, you take a deep breath “Did i say something to you? Did you say something to me? I just need to know what happened, and i’m really sorry that i forgot.”
Frankie paused for a moment, slightly saddened that you forgot, but as you said, you didn’t forget on purpose, and he knows it. "Hey, It’s all right, I’ll tell you what happened.”
The ring of the doorbell drew your attention, and you dashed to it, opening it to reveal Frankie. "Hey! What brings you here? Come on in.” You lead him into the house and then sit down on the couch, where he joins you.
“I have the day off today, and what better way to spend it than with you?” He envelops you with his arm, snuggling you close. You laugh, feeling your cheeks warm up. “You came at a good time, you know! I was about to start making pancakes!”
“Great! Let’s get cooking!” He stands up and takes your hand in his, leading you to the kitchen. The two of you prepared the ingredients and utensils. You also grabbed two aprons, one for each of you, and gave one to him.
Frankie notices the words ’kiss the cook’ on your apron. “Nice apron,” he says as he bumps his hips against yours. You frown, checking your apron, “Hey! A friend of mine got this for me.”
“It’s cute.” He mumbles as he stirs the ingredients in the bowl. “You’re also cute.” He looks down, confused, and discovers that he, too, was wearing the same type of apron. Then, above his head, a lightbulb went off. He smirks as he dips his finger into the batter and smothers it on your cheek.
Slowly turning your head in shock, you dipped your fingers in the mix and lathered them on his face. “Oh, it’s on.” He dipped his hand into the mixture and grinned at you. You stood on the other side of the counter, anticipating his next move. Frankie walks slowly around the counter, with you mirroring his movements. When he suddenly quickens his pace and sprints to you.
The both of you reached the sofa, one by each end. You swiftly make your way to your bedroom and hid behind the door. Minutes past and Frankie haven’t come in the room. You peak out the door, nothing. Sneaking through the hallway, no sign of Frankie yet.
When you get to the kitchen, there’s still no sign of Frankie. All of a sudden, you felt a pair of arms wrap around your waist, holding you in place. “Ha! I’ve got you!“ He says this while smothering both of your cheeks with batter, one arm still holding you in place.
As Frankie gently pokes and pinches your battered cheeks, laughter fills the room. You slither your way around his arms and turn to face him. You froze, your face only a few inches away from his. His gaze fell to your lips, parting slightly. Slowly, the distance between you two narrowed, and your lips finally intertwined.
For a brief moment, your lips molded together, until you drew away from him. "We should clean up.” Frankie nodded as he watched you slither away from his arms and disappear into the hallway.
You stood in front of the bathroom mirror, noticing your sloppy figure and pancake mix-smothered face. “Oh god, it had to happen with me looking like this?” You sighed as you washed your face and tidied your hair, then went to your closet. You rummaged through it and found an oversized shirt and a pair of baggy sweatpants for Frankie.
When you get to the living room where you found him, you hand him the clothes and tell him, “You’ve got some batter on your clothes, so—you can use my bathroom.” He took the clothes and nodded, then proceeded to the bathroom.
You decide to wait for him in your bedroom. You had to talk about that kiss; it had to mean something, you reasoned. Maybe it’s time to let it all out.
Frankie emerged from the bathroom, freshly dressed and clean. He notices you sitting on the bed and decides to join you. “So, about that kiss.”
“Y'know, I’ve been thinking about doing that since I walked in the door.”
“Really?” you blush, averting your gaze a little.
“To be honest, I came here to tell you how much I like you. I just can’t stand seeing you with other people. I want to be with you and treat you better than those idiots.”
“They weren’t that bad,” you chuckle.
“Oh, please! They were a fool to let you go. I’ve always thought that if anyone were to be with you, they would be the luckiest person in the world; god, you’re always taking care of people to the point where you don’t take care of yourself. You’re the sweetest person I’ve ever met. Every touch you send relaxes me in so many ways. It’s upsetting to see them mistreat you and leave you.”
"Maybe you’re right about some of them, but sometimes it’s me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you while I was dating them, and I couldn’t bear the thought of them wasting their time on me, so I broke up with them. I’m not as great as you think I am, Frankie.” you take a pause “I dated them because I didn’t believe I stood a chance with you. I thought you were a great guy from the first time we met, comforting me—a complete stranger at the time—for no reason. And as I got to know you better, my feelings grew stronger. But there was never a good time for me to say it or act on it.”
"I get that. In fact, I did the same thing. Dated other people to distract myself from my feelings for you, but it never worked. It’s stupid of me to realize this now, but I’m not going to waste any more time.” He envelops your hands in his, “I’m not afraid to say that I adore you in every way. I want to be the reason to your gorgeous smile. I know I’m not the best person, but I promise I’ll treat you well.”
Your cheeks warmed up at his words, tears threatening to spill over the euphoric emotions you’re experiencing. Instead of saying anything, you let go of his hands and placed them on his face. "Can I kiss you?”
“I’d be a fool to say no.”
Your lips molded with his once more, and your hands moved to tangle themselves in his hair. His arms are wrapped around your waist, gently pushing you onto the bed.
Frankie pulls back, hovering above you. “I love you so much,” he says as he gives you a short kiss.
“I absolutely love you, too, Frankie Morales.”
“We talked and cuddled the rest of the night. Eventually we fell asleep, and the rest is history.”
Your memories began to flood back to you. Your feelings and actions have finally returned to your mind. When you look down at your hands, emotions take over and tears flow from your eyes. “I mean everything I said, Frankie. I know I forgot it before, but I now remember saying and doing everything, I promise, I truly do love you.”
“I know, baby.” He pulls you into his lap, hugging you close. “I’m neither angry nor sad that you forgot. I know you were speaking from the heart last night, and I don’t doubt you for a second; I love you.”
The two of you relaxed in each other’s warmth, wrapped together till the end of the night.
it’s turning into fluffy with smutty… and it might be a while longer for me to upload it, so maybe enter my taglist (in my bio!) too see it when it comes out! <3
Summary: A little liquid courage reveals some big secrets.
A/N: So I was tagged in a post with a possible prompt idea and I couldn’t let it go so here’s my little twist on it. (Prompt will be in red yall!) Thank you @kteagueand@icanbeyourjedi both for your endless support, ilysm! Likes, reblogs, any love appreciated. Enjoy!!
——-
“Has anyone seen Frankie?”
“Upstairs in Ben’s room I think. That liquor is finally starting to hit him.” Will snickers as he throws a few more beer cans into the trash bag.
Tonight was all about celebrating Benny’s huge win during his latest fight. A total underdog going in, he had crushed the competition which ultimately called for a celebration. Everyone had stopped by at various times throughout the night except one person. The only person Frankie longed to see and talk to. They all knew your work had been hectic lately and the chances of you coming out were slim, but Frankie held on to that slight glimmer of hope with every passing guest through the door.
Summary: Star is content to spend time alone relaxing (and daydreaming about Frankie) after Little and Santi’s destination wedding. But toddler Rosie Morales ensures that’s not how the vacation goes…
Warnings: Language, adult themes, injury, mention of blood.
A/N: Here we go, part one of the follow up to my Little mini series! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!!
You dreamt of Frankie Morales when you went to sleep. The way his eyes fixed on you as you sang with Santi on the beach, his gaze warm and kind. How he had looked in his suit, and then how handsomely disheveled he became as the night wore on until he was rid of his tie, a few buttons undone, revealing the tan, hair-speckled chest beneath. How gently he’d held you as you danced together, as though he thought you were delicate and his large hands had to be extra careful.
I can’t even tell you how excited I’ve been for that. Babe I’ve been waiting for Starfish with little patience since you announced it but… but… then in Hawaii!?! Calling her Mi Amor!?! Saving little Rosie!?! Ahhhh!!! I can’t even tell you how my dog jumped when I read him calling her Mi Amor for the first time like… oh my god. OH MY GOD! And we still have Little being an absolute rock star of a Bestie, and that ending line had me cracking up. I loved the Little series so much l, I don’t even know how to say but I am so excited to read more about these two because Frankie DESERVES IT! And I know you are gonna take such good care of him. And so is star! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much for the feedback love! We love a good romantic vacation fic! And this was just day 1 post wedding! Whew!
Summary: Star is content to spend time alone relaxing (and daydreaming about Frankie) after Little and Santi’s destination wedding. But toddler Rosie Morales ensures that’s not how the vacation goes…
Warnings: Language, adult themes, injury, mention of blood.
A/N: Here we go, part one of the follow up to my Little mini series! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!!
You dreamt of Frankie Morales when you went to sleep. The way his eyes fixed on you as you sang with Santi on the beach, his gaze warm and kind. How he had looked in his suit, and then how handsomely disheveled he became as the night wore on until he was rid of his tie, a few buttons undone, revealing the tan, hair-speckled chest beneath. How gently he’d held you as you danced together, as though he thought you were delicate and his large hands had to be extra careful.
Yaaaaas! I’m so happy to get to read the first chapter! I’ve been (im)patiently waiting your update since you mentioned this story the first time! I’m already sooo invested
I’m so happy you like it so far! Drabbles are included in this mini series so be sure to submit a request for a moment between Star and Frankie!
Summary: Star is content to spend time alone relaxing (and daydreaming about Frankie) after Little and Santi’s destination wedding. But toddler Rosie Morales ensures that’s not how the vacation goes…
Warnings: Language, adult themes, injury, mention of blood.
A/N: Here we go, part one of the follow up to my Little mini series! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!!
You dreamt of Frankie Morales when you went to sleep. The way his eyes fixed on you as you sang with Santi on the beach, his gaze warm and kind. How he had looked in his suit, and then how handsomely disheveled he became as the night wore on until he was rid of his tie, a few buttons undone, revealing the tan, hair-speckled chest beneath. How gently he’d held you as you danced together, as though he thought you were delicate and his large hands had to be extra careful.
Ma’am!!! Again I’m furious. I need more!!!! I’m already hooked. I love this so much. I need to know what happens next. I need more background. Are we gonna find out how they became friends? Because I’m super suspicious right now that they hid a body together and I need the deets!! I love that Little is more amused by Frankie accidentally spilling his guts than she is worried for her friend. More please?
Friend you know I love a Drabble (or two or six ) so you best bet I’ll be posting some background snippets of our love struck idiots! And how Star and Little’s friendship evolved!
Just like with my Little mini-series, I’ll be taking requests for these drabbles! Thanks for the reblog love
Summary: Star is content to spend time alone relaxing (and daydreaming about Frankie) after Little and Santi’s destination wedding. But toddler Rosie Morales ensures that’s not how the vacation goes…
Warnings: Language, adult themes, injury, mention of blood, (eventual smut).
A/N: Here we go, part one of the follow up to my Little mini series! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!!
You dreamt of Frankie Morales when you went to sleep. The way his eyes fixed on you as you sang with Santi on the beach, his gaze warm and kind. How he had looked in his suit, and then how handsomely disheveled he became as the night wore on until he was rid of his tie, a few buttons undone, revealing the tan, hair-speckled chest beneath. How gently he’d held you as you danced together, as though he thought you were delicate and his large hands had to be extra careful.
The sunshine woke you late the morning after the wedding, golden rays filtering through the California shutters you forgot to properly close in your haste to fall face-first into bed when the reception had wrapped up. You were naked, save for your underwear, and a quick pass of your hand over your face reminded you that you had managed to wash away the makeup before going to bed. When you finally rise from the luxurious sheets and pad to the en-suite bathroom, you see your pretty dress pooled on the floor, a set of false lashes next to it, and your heels kicked against the nearest wall.
It looked as though you had evaporated, and you laughed to yourself before freshening up. You took time to hang your dress, then changed into a comfortable lounge set. You stared at yourself in the mirror for a few minutes, eyes drawn to your chest.
You had promised yourself that this week was a vacation, where you were staying among friends, and that meant you didn’t need to wear your usual bras. You could get away with wearing this looser, insanely comfortable sports bra. But as you gazed at your reflection, you felt that twist of self-consciousness that always arrived just before you were to be around others. Your chest had been the biggest, in every sense, target for bullies growing up. And now as an adult woman, it was all the men seemed to find interesting about you.
Usually, once they stopped admiring your tits, they didn’t stick around much longer.
This was one of the many reasons that had brought Little and you close when you went to school together. She was beautiful, curvy and busty and unapologetic—you adored her confidence, her determination to ignore the ‘standards’ and just be herself. And she sensed your anxieties pretty quickly, promptly spending the formative four years of university encouraging you to love yourself, pulling you out of your comfort zone at times. And she was just there for you, supporting and loving you no matter what.
But her confidence only rubbed off so much, and while you looked at yourself now and saw a gorgeous figure, you still cared too much about what others thought when they looked at you. It was impossible to completely ignore the intrusive thoughts, especially when, time after time, men usually proved to be thinking exactly what you suspected them of. You had been ‘accidentally’ groped or brushed against too many times to count, which was why you had formed the habit of wearing constricting bras and avoiding low-cut shirts. You wanted to fully love yourself, but sometimes you thought it would just be easier to get a reduction and slink into the background.
You were pulled from your thoughts when you heard some laughter filter in from outside your open windows and promptly pushed away your concerns—it was vacation. You weren’t looking at a normal bra for seven more days.
Based on the direction of the laughter and voices, you guessed there was a larger group in the kitchen and dining room now. Santi had done a great job on securing this place because it came with everything—even a large staff dedicated to attending to all the guests’ needs. You had poured over the online brochure for the AirBnB during the flight to Hawaii, and know that there was a number you could text for room service. You found the number, already saved into your phone, and ordered a light breakfast and dark coffee. When it arrived, you happily wheeled the cute breakfast cart out onto your private balcony and relaxed with a podcast as you ate and watched the earlier risers settle in on the beach.
The balcony had dividers between it and the rooms on either side, but they didn’t fully extend so you could, in theory, walk next door. But Little, in all her match-making efforts, put your room right next to Frankie’s, stating it was ideal for the best man and maid of honour to be close to one another. And while she wasn’t technically, wrong, you still knew her well enough to know that wasn’t her primary motive.
She had sensed the chemistry between you and her friend straight away, but you denied it at first. You’d almost walked into a wall when you had first seen him at the wedding of a mutual friend he, Santi and the Millers had also attended, but you knew immediately who he was and that he was certainly not going to be interested in a much younger woman. He had a kid, for fuck’s sakes. But the more you got to know Frankie, the harder it became to deny that there was something there between you. And the harder you had fallen.
It hadn’t helped that, for the last six or so months, you’d been helping her plan her wedding. Which meant that you and Frankie saw a lot of one another. Eventually, you had started texting on the regular—always about the wedding, even if sometimes it evolved into sending memes back and forth or making jokes at your engaged friend’s expense. And you might have sent him a dozen-ish photos of your rescue pit bulls, Anna and Elsa, while he sent cute shots of Rosie being adorable.
You were friends, it was normal banter really. Even if every time he messaged you, a warm sensation would fill your belly it was entirely platonic.
You’re sipping on the final dregs of your coffee when Little appears below, holding a large mug in hand and appearing to be speaking. You pull your AirPods out and stand, catching her eye.
She grins up at you, “Morning, Star!”
“Oh, good morning Mrs. Garcia!”
She giggles at this, and Santi steps into view and spins to look up at you, his grin an extension of Little’s. You don’t miss the way his hand secures to her lower back. “That’s the first time today anyone has said that! I love the sound of it.”
Little rolls her eyes at her husband, then adds to you, “We’re going to relax at our little cabana on the beach, come join us whenever okay?” She gestures over her shoulder, where a small, mint-painted beach cabana sits among the spattering of shaded loungers.
“You’ll see me once I’ve had my second cup of coffee. I’m still recovering.”
Little and Santi laugh, send you friendly waves and make their way along the path, away from the concrete and grass surrounding the infinity pool and into the sand. You watch them with a small smile, your heart swelling with happiness at the sight. Little had been in love with Santa for a very long time, and when she’d called to tell you they had gotten together because she’d overheard him admitting his feelings over the phone—to Frankie, no less— you had been over the moon for them both. Helping her plan this wedding was one of the great honours you could have been given.
You contemplate the rest of your morning because in reality there is a lot to do. Or a great number of places to go ahead and do nothing, including a tranquillity room, movie theatre, onsite RMT, steam room, private beach, pool and hot tub—the list went on. It was paradise, and you were momentarily overwhelmed with all of the options laid out before you. You had to remind yourself that you had seven days left to enjoy this place, so you didn’t need to get all of your relaxing squished into one day. You decide to make your way down for another coffee, changing so that your bathing suit is on under your lounge set, the green of the suit peeking out from beneath your peach-coloured shirt and shorts. You pack a bag with the essentials, including a book, water bottle and sunglasses, and head for the kitchen.
You give your room a final once over, ensuring you haven’t left a big mess for the housekeeper. It is a beautiful room, filled with rattan furniture and live plants, soft white linens and orange accents throughout. The bathroom is open to the bedroom area, the only thing hidden behind a door was the toilet itself, so you could see the large soaker tub and tiled shower, and couldn’t wait to take advantage of both later that day.
As you wander downstairs, happy that you can’t hear any voices, you think of Anna and Elsa. This was the first trip you’d taken since rescuing them two years before, and though you trusted your veterinarian parents to care for them perfectly, you still ached for them and wished they could understand why you had left, that you’d be back before they knew it.
When your turn the corner at the bottom of the stairs, you barely take two steps before slamming into a wall. The wall grunts, hands shooting out to steady you as you reel back in surprise, and you look up to find a tousle-haired Frankie standing before you.
Oh, Christ. He looks good.
“Shit, sorry Frankie!”
He smiles at you shyly, a hand reaching to rub the back of his neck. “No worries. How are you?”
He still hasn’t taken a step back, though neither had you for that matter, and you catch his masculine scent now; an intoxicating blend of freshly mown grass and cedar. “I was worried that Rosie wouldn’t sleep well, being in a new place,” He replies, his smile widening, “But she’s taken to it fine, which means I’m sleeping well. So I’m great, how are you?”
You laugh, happy for him because, with all he had been through with his ex, you knew he deserved to relax more than anyone. You remember suddenly what you’re wearing and blanch because your figure is more accentuated in this outfit, but his eyes haven’t strayed from your face for even a beat. Whether he finds you attractive or not, you appreciate how Frankie was a true gentleman.
“I’m really good, thanks. Slept like the dead, now I’m going for another coffee to take down to the beach.”
“I’ll see you there in a little bit. My mom and Rosie are on the same nap schedule,” He lowers his voice teasingly, and you giggle. You try not to notice how his eyes brighten. “I’m just going to wake them up, and then I want to take Ro swimming.”
You nod, “Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you soon, in that case.” You part ways from him and resist turning to watch him make his way up the stairs. It wasn’t about checking him out; you just really liked looking at Frankie, memorizing the ways he moved, the expressions on his face, what made him laugh.
Yes, you had it bad for the man.
You’re relaxing in your lounger, grateful for the shaded canopy and enormously comfortable cushions, reading one of several books you’d brought on the trip. Others filter by, most saying hello but giving you your space. Recognizing that as maid of honour, you were more than due for a good rest.
Benny stops by on his way to tease Little and Santi, who are swimming in the blue ocean water, and you end up having a fun conversation with him. You’re retelling one another the best moments of the night before, and agreeing on the parts you hope made it onto the wedding video—and the ones you hoped didn’t. You’ve always really liked Benny, he seemed to sense the type of person you were in that same way that Little had, and he had a way of making you feel normal. Where you and Will had a friendly enough relationship, Benny felt more like a brother. Protective and encouraging and just really nice.
When Will comes along, he says hi to you before Benny—who gives you a quick hug—leaps to his feet and bounds towards his brother, ready to wrestle in the water. You laugh, watching them dunk one another, then a large splash hits Little and Santi jumps into the tussle, and your friend makes her way out of the water shaking her head in exasperation. When she plops down next to you on the lounger, you’re both snorting with laughter.
“It’s like they’re twelve. Santi literally said ‘don’t be a butthead’ to Benny,” Little giggles, and you both watch them for another minute before she turns to you and lowers her voice. “So, how are you doing today?”
“I’m supposed to ask you that, Mrs. Newlywed.”
Little doesn’t take the bait, and you never expected she would. “You know what I mean, Star. Are you having fun? Can I do anything for you?” This was the thing about Little. She was not just a good friend, she was a thoughtful and caring one, the kind that you could call at midnight and ask to move a body and she’d show up with shovels. Which was basically what had cemented your friendship several years before, though you weren’t going to think about that right now. You were on vacation.
You lean in and press your forehead to hers briefly, “This place is incredible, I’m extremely happy. Please stop worrying.”
“I just…I know you never get time for yourself. Or to have some fun and unwind,” She takes hold of your hand and applies light pressure, “I know you have busy shifts with the rescue, long hours. I just want this week to give you the break you deserve—the wedding was absolutely perfect and that’s in great part because of you, Star.” At this, you sigh softly and pull her in for a proper hug.
She was right that you barely had time for yourself, you worked a lot at the rescue as a vet tech, a job you loved and wouldn’t change for anything. You were hoping to get a couple of new techs hired and trained so that you could reduce your hours in the next year or so, but it wasn’t an urgent thing. You just wanted a little more free time, because currently, you were operating on hardly any, always either working, sleeping or making your way to and from work. Around the time that Little had asked you to be her maid of honour, you had made the permanent switch to daytime shifts, and your life had greatly improved with the steady routine.
But you still had a dismal social life, only occasionally going out with Little or spending time with your parents. And dating? You literally would have to give up sleep to bother with it, and since you were hung up on a man completely out of your league, that wasn’t happening anytime soon either. So you understood her concerns entirely.
“Little,” You pull back from the hug and give her an encouraging smile, “You don’t need to be so worried, I’m having fun. I’ll try to socialize, I promise.”
She grins back at you, then glances down at your outfit, “Is that the swimsuit we picked out together?” She’s beaming with pride that you’ve worn it, and you shrug with a smirk pulling at your lips.
Little coaxes you into the water, and after applying another layer of sunscreen and ridding yourself of your clothing, you follow her into the cool ocean. You love the water and sink into it quickly as you glance back toward the beach, instinctively seeking out who might have seen you in your swimsuit. Will and Benny are sitting in beach chairs in the shallow water, deep in discussion, while Santi is back at the cabana, cracking open a drink. His eyes are on Little in that rapturous, protective way that makes your heart swell with joy for them. They were perfect for each other, there was no way around that.
You spend a good half an hour swimming and chatting with Little, who tells you about the new woman in Benny’s life that he’s insisted is just a friend, but she suspects there may be more to it. And when it came to Benny, both of you knew that if he was feeling something for someone, he would deny it. He liked to be the bachelor, the ladies man because he was afraid of commitment. You tell Little that he just needs to find the person he won’t be afraid of doing anything for.
Eventually, her brothers grow bored and begin taking turns jumping off the end of the dock situated at one end of the beach. You aren’t surprised when Little takes your hand and leads you out of the water, eager to join in on the fun. You let her pull you along, happy to break out of your comfort zone and, other than her brothers and Santi, no one else is around. You glance back to see if he’s coming to join in and almost stumble in the sand.
Frankie is standing with Santi, his eyes locked on you as he speaks with his friend. Rosie is in his arms in a cute little one-piece swimsuit that has the Little Mermaid on the front, and she’s craning her neck to look towards the noise the boys are making on the dock. But all you can focus on is how Frankie watches you, even as you meet his gaze, and you feel heat flood your cheeks. “Jesus,’ You turn away as you speak, and Little looks at you, eyes searching your face before she looks back.
“Oh,man, Frankie looks like he got hit over the head. You realize that you look like a goddess right now, Star?” She slows her pace so that she can keep her voice quiet, her head leaning closer to yours.
You scoff, “Please, Little,” But she cuts off your protests before you can even begin.
“He looks at you like that all of the time. Like you hung the moon,” You glance back at him again, trying not to look too obvious, and find that he is making his way over to the dock now too, being tugged along by a giggling Rosie, her little feet sinking into the sand. Looking away, you smile to yourself, but you can feel Frankie’s eyes on you, your senses in overdrive, and you wish you could be brave enough to just look around and smile at him. Toss a flirty wink, just like Little would do with Santi.
But you were no Little (Miller) Garcia. And Frankie Morales was most definitely not interested in you. You try to ignore the swell of misery within—Frankie was the perfect man. The universe seemed to enjoy dangling him in front of you, showing you everything you wished you could have was just out of reach.
The Miller brothers make more noise at the end of the dock as you and Little step onto the warm wood, drawing your attention their way as they do elaborate jumps into the water. You gaze along the side of the dock, into the shallow water, where you can see several large rocks piled. There’s a little sign on one of the dock posts here, advising to walk along this first section, and you can see an orange line painted across the dock just ahead, the indicator that the water deepens and clears starting there. You’re so focused on the line that you lose track of your feet and stub your toe on a slightly raised plank, hissing in pain.
You pause and bend to inspect it, ensuring there are no slivers. “All good?” Little says, patting your arm with concern, and you smile at her, opening your mouth to respond.
When Frankie’s panic-stricken voice cuts through the air, you both turn in alarm. He’s at the end of the dock, now rushing forward because Rosie had pulled from his grip and was darting toward Little happily, her giggles in stark contrast to the horror on Frankie’s face. She’s not much of a runner at her age, so Rosie teeters back and forth in a way that would be adorable if it weren’t for how close she was to the edge that drop into the rocky shallows.
“Rosie stop!” Frankie’s voice is strained in an effort not to sound too scary to his daughter as he yells, but she glances backward anyway, her legs still moving, and you react before you think. It’s probably because you’d spent years dodging kicks and bites and swats from your animal patients, that your reflexes work the way they do.
Frankie isn’t as fast as you, and you have the advantage because she’s moving towards you and Little—you shoot forward as fast as you can, and just as she sees her dad chasing her and loses her footing at the edge, you drop down and shove your arms out, catching her in the chest so that she’s knocked toward Frankie.
You see him catch her, hear her confused whimper, but the momentum you created darting toward her so quickly gives you no ability to correct yourself, and you skitter, then plunge right off the dock, falling face down into the water.
You hear the way your leg smacks off of a pointed rock, and then pain is lancing through your face as it glances off of another one. You’re dazed, but still aware enough to feel the splinter of pain in your thigh, and you cry out—only you’re underwater, so it’s garbled and you push your hands out to try and get your bearings and raise yourself—
“Mi amor estas bien?” Frankie’s rumbling voice fills your ears as he lifts you, turning you in the water before pulling you up and into his arms, and you don’t even register what he said, really, but you lock onto the fierce concern in his expression and the words begin to sink in. “Cariño? Jesus Christ, Santi get the first aid kit!” He yells, and you feel him moving out of the water and tilt your head, looking down your body.
You can see the brutal gash on your leg, and immediately recognize it’s not as bad as it could have been—but it gushes a decent amount of blood, and it stings from the saltwater and you whimper again.
“F-Frankie—is Rosie-?”
“Cariño, she’s perfect thanks to you,” You look at him again, surprised at the strain in his voice. He sounds wrecked, and you want to ask him if he’s okay but you don’t know how, and something about the way he’s holding you as he carries you—your instincts say that he’s not okay, and to let him take charge here. He reaches a lounger and begins to lower you down carefully, but your leg is jostled and the pain peaks; you start to cry, short sobs that you try to hide—Frankie makes a noise in his throat, and then his hands are cupping your face gently. “Mi amor, I’ve got you, I’ll take care of you. Please don’t cry.”
You stare at Frankie because this time, the words smack you right in the face and you can see that he means them. That he called you his love, twice now, and as you realize this, you see understanding flash in his expression and he doesn’t correct himself or try to deny it. Instead, he presses a soft kiss to your forehead, and then the others are surrounding you and a first aid kit appears and you can only slump back and cover your face.
The man of your dreams just said something that might change your life, but you couldn’t do shit about it right now. And then realization sets in that you just fell off a dock in front of him, and you want to die of humiliation.
You tilt your head to look away and your eyes land on Little, who has Rosie in her arms and one hand over her mouth—but you recognize the way she’s trying to hide her smug smile, and you glare at your friend. Her expression changes, and even though she doesn’t speak, you know exactly what she’s saying.
‘I told you Frankie loved you, didn’t I?’
Please consider commentingandreblogging if you enjoyed this story YOUR FEEDBACK IS GOLDEN!!!
Summary: Star is content to spend time alone relaxing (and daydreaming about Frankie) after Little and Santi’s destination wedding. But toddler Rosie Morales ensures that’s not how the vacation goes…
Warnings: Language, adult themes, injury, mention of blood, (eventual smut).
A/N: Here we go, part one of the follow up to my Little mini series! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!!
You dreamt of Frankie Morales when you went to sleep. The way his eyes fixed on you as you sang with Santi on the beach, his gaze warm and kind. How he had looked in his suit, and then how handsomely disheveled he became as the night wore on until he was rid of his tie, a few buttons undone, revealing the tan, hair-speckled chest beneath. How gently he’d held you as you danced together, as though he thought you were delicate and his large hands had to be extra careful.
@bookishofalderMy lovely, I’ so sorry I haven’t get to this faster. My Tumblr is weird again and not showing some notifications. Believe me, I was and still am so hyped for StarFish mini-series.(I’m sucker for Frankie but I’m even bigger sucker for YOUR Frankie) And you can’t even imagine how honoured I am you want me to read your work. Like, I legit woke up(I’m very zombie-like when I wake up so this is an accomplishment) and squeeled as if you stabbed me when I noticed. So, prepare yourself for a long review
I don’t know how you do it but every character you write is somehow so personal to me but Star is probably the closest as you could get (except the singing…I sign like a norca whale that is old and dying).The struggle of being big-chested is high and as I was bigger than most of my classmates(weight and heightwise) and the feeling that it may be the only reason men talk to you is sometimes very strong. It took me almost 15 years to realise that I’m more than just my body/chest. So the self-consciousness is hitting very close to home, even now, the social anxiety and the need to hide my body still sometimes overtaking my mind again. And you captured those thoughts so very clear…
I love it how you keep telling the story of Little and Santi through those little sniplets of what is happening-which I’m very glad for because I love them. They are comfort characters, despite their edges and problems-it makes them relatable. I love how caring Little is towards Star and boy, every person should have a friend like that in their life.
The place you describe for their honeymoon, I just imagined something like Maldives. Not sure if you went that direction but it just gave me the general feel and there is nothing more satisfying than to wake up at 4am to go to work but instead dream about sandy shores and azure-blue water.
I love how you think of your characters, you give them life. Star being a mother to two rescue pittbulls…rescuing animals is one of the most rewarding job you can do in this world and it fits the image of Star so much. I took my own Lady from a shelter and it was one of the best decisions I made for the last 3 years. I also love the names for those girls, Ana and Elsa. There is even a rescue pittbull in my town named Elsa so I can totally imagine that .
Now there is an important question-who doesn’t have it bad for Frankie? That man is a daydream and you make it even worse for me! My high expectations of men are not from Disney but from Lord of the Rings and people like Triple Frontier guys and Din Djarin…
Your way of describing the ways people behave with each other is so good! I love how you never forget to make sure that characters meet and know each other. Star’s relationship with Benny and Will, the big brothers of Little is totally realistic. Friendly and little wild on Benny’s side and warm on Will’s. How Star is adoring the relationship between Little and Santi.
Now, to Morales family. Rosie…I love kids to begin with so for me to say I love that little sunshine is nothing shocking for me. I love how Star loves Rosie and Frankie and how Frankie loves Rosie and Star and I’m sure he loves Star even more because she loves Rosie…it’s all connected and you are so good at capturing that with your writing! I almost got heart attack when she slid on that dock, even though I knew you would never hurt a child, even if it’s just a fiction story. I just know it. And Star falling down and slicing her leg…well, as a person with two left feet, I know that feeling of dread when you realise you made a fool out of yourself in front of people, especially somebody you fancy.
Frankie freaking out because Star is hurt but relieved his daughter is okay is an essence of being a parent. Him unknowingly turning to speak spanish from worry, letting him use words like cariño and amor- it shows the depth of his feelings, that need to be close to her, calming her down. His despair, for the lack of my knowlidge of better words, when she cried from the pain. Just…I had butterflies for those two and ever since I have discovered your writing, it happened a lot. And Little being a little sly sh*t, knowing her friends so well that she doesn’t even need proper words to tell Star she knew-it’s just incredible and marvelous.
I could go on and on about your writing but I cannot create an essay. I hope I have properly conveyed my love. I am limited by my knowlidge of English language and I feel like even then I would still be kinda lost for words. I hope it won’t sound cheeky if I could ask to be tagged in part two(and for Saviors Coffee House, and Catfish and Sushine…maybe all your works cuz they re addictive? And don’t make me start how excited I am for Between the Sun and Moon, I so wanna see your intake on Steve and Bucky).
Psst, I may have a little story for you later. As a thank you for always being so kind and generally my favourite person on this sometimes hellish site.
Omg ILY so much! For this literal essay you wrote me, the kind words and amazing feedback, THANK YOU!!
I am just so happy and grateful for followers like you. This kind of support only encourages me and gives me much needed confidence boosts. Posting my work here is in great part a way to connect with others who have the same way of taking a fictional character, falling for them and running wild with our imaginations.
Thrilled you enjoyed this first part my friend ❤️ I will most certainly add you to my permanent Taglist and look so forward to our next interaction. All the love to you ❤️❤️❤️
