Frank bumbling a compliment after being gone for a few months:
"You look good, doll," he said, standing on your front porch as he waved a large hand in the general direction of your face. "You do somethin' different with your skin?"
Standing there staring at him as you held the front door open, your lips parted as you struggled to make sense of the very odd compliment he'd greeted you with. "Did you just...ask if I did something different with my skin, Frank?"
"Yeah, why?"
Your eyebrows rose up onto your forehead. "Who are you, Ed Gein? What the hell would I have done different with my skin?"
Throwing his hands up in exasperation, Frank's voice raised as an edge of confusion seeped into his words. "Shit, I dunno, sweetheart! You're the one always putting that stuff on your face."
"You mean skincare products?" you questioned.
He shook his head, clearly wanting to move past his failed compliment. "Was just pointing out that you look good, alright?" he defended. "Less tired."
"Less tired?" you repeated in disbelief. "I look less tired now, Frank?"
Frank's lips pressed into a thin line as a silence fell over you both. Aware he'd just shoved one of his large feet into his mouth, he jabbed his thumb behind himself at his truck parked in your driveway before taking a step backwards. "I'm gonna go grab you a coffee and come back and try this again."
"Are you getting me a coffee because I looked tired, Frank?" you called after him.
"Might grab you a cinnamon roll while I'm at it," he called back, grinning over his shoulder at you as he walked towards his truck. "And maybe I'll drive 'round the block a couple times afterwards for good measure."
"Why?" you called after him, fighting back the smile on your own face. "You trying to give me time for a nap?"
He shook his head as he opened the driver's side of the truck, muttering something under his breath that you couldn't hear but looked like an affectionate 'goddammit' as he climbed into the seat.

















