“Great,” I say, a sense of accomplishment and, dare I say, excitement. “I’ll see you then, Dad.” It’s starting to get easier, letting myself think of him as my dad.
“Looking forward to it, Frankie,” he says softly before we hang up.
As I end the call, I take a deep breath, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. It’s still hard to believe that I’m making plans with my dad. Everything outside of my comfort level seems to be coming at me at once, and it is giving me a little extra pep in my step.
Frankie's House
7:11 pm
I’m wrapping up my work for the day when my phone buzzes on the desk beside me. I pick it up and see a text from Carly. Just like clockwork. I swear, I could know what time it is when she has a shift based on her calls, texts and stopovers.
Finishing up my shift. Is it cool if I stop by? I can grab takeout on the way.
I smile at her offer and quickly type out a reply.
Absolutely. Takeout sounds perfect. How about Thai tonight?
Done. See you in a bit!
With that settled, I close my laptop and start tidying up, grateful for the break. It’s been a long day, and the idea of a quiet evening with Carly sounds like just what I need. I’m looking forward to catching up with her, especially after everything that’s happened in the last 24 hours.
“Delivery for the lady of the house!” Carly announces herself as she lets herself inside.
I laugh, walking to the door to greet her. She walks in with bags of food and her usual bright smile. “You’re the best,” I say, taking one of the bags from her.
“I know,” she grins, stepping inside. “And you better believe I’m here for all the details from last night. Deets, girl.”
We move into the kitchen, setting the food down on the counter. I grab some plates and utensils, and we start dishing out the food, the aroma of Thai spices filling the air. Carly’s eyes are practically sparkling with curiosity. Usually, it’s me living vicariously through her, but I think the roles have reversed lately.
“So,” she starts, leaning against the counter with her arms crossed, “I left your place after eight last night—how did you end up in his bed this morning?”
A blush climbs up my neck as I think about last night, the events still fresh in my mind. “Well,” I begin, trying to sound casual, “I took some of your unintended advice and texted him to see if he wanted to go for a walk last night after you left. He invited me over for steak, instead.”
Carly raises an eyebrow. “Um, you ate dinner with me. Did you eat twice?”
“A girl can never have too much protein. Especially when she's doing all of this working out she isn't used to.” I waggle my eyebrows with this last part, hoping the salaciousness of the suggestion is enough to satisfy her hunger for the juice.
Her eyes widen, and she lets out a low whistle. “And then you two had a slumber party after?”
I nod, my cheeks flushing again. “Yeah, something like that.”
Carly’s grin turns mischievous. “I will say you have a glow about you. And I saw how he looked at you at the hospital. I've never seen him look at another woman like that before. And he's had plenty of admirers.”
“Anyway,” I say, changing the subject, “have you heard any more about Grace?”
Carly shakes her head, her expression turning serious. “Not much new. She’s stable, but they’re keeping a close eye on her. It’s still touch and go, but she’s got the best team on her side. She’s our rock, even when she’s down.”
“That’s good to hear,” I say, relieved that she’s holding on. “I hope she pulls through. I know how much she means to all of you.”
“She will,” Carly says with confidence. “Big Mama isn’t going down without a fight.”
We fall into a comfortable silence for a few moments, eating and reflecting on everything that’s been going on. Even though Carly doesn’t ask, I find myself wanting to share something else with her.
“I had coffee with my dad today,” I say, almost casually.
Carly’s head snaps up, surprise written all over her face. “Really? How’d that go?”
“It was… good, actually,” I admit, surprised at how true that statement is. “We’ve been talking more since we reconnected, and today was the first time we really sat down and just… talked. I’m not saying everything’s perfect, but it’s a start. He’s trying, and I’m trying to give him a chance.”