She huffed a laugh, but there was at least a little bit of real humor there. She gave Frank a smile when he came back. "Well, that's because you're a real man and not a stupid little boy parading around as one."

Nina had never understood why boys - or men - could act like their girls or their wives were somehow a burden on their lives. Fine, she should find someone better. She'd given dozens of girls the same advice. She tucked herself against Frank and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," she murmured. "You're getting off kind of easy, you know. I had Sweeney meet me in a bar and insisted he drink most of a bottle of alcohol for me."