Page 79 of One Last Verse

“I can’t do this alone, doll.” His voice was small, shattered even.

“You’re not alone, Frank. You have your parents and I’m still here, but we need to have this conversation when you’re sober.”

“The house is empty without you. My life is empty without you.”

My hands slid down his chest. “Go home.” I adored his words. I just couldn’t get over the fact he didn’t tell me any of this when he wasn’t drunk.

Chapter Eight

Frank was quiet for a few days.

The texting and flower deliveries stopped. I wondered whether it was the liquor that was keeping him occupied or Billy. I called Brooklyn twice, only to hear her snobby “you should be here” lines.

Problem was, the damage had already been done. Despite Isabella’s overwhelming Spotify and Apple Music streaming stats, Frank’s sudden exit from the project cost us several sponsors, which didn’t sit well with Maria or Levi, or anyone on our team, for that matter.

The Hall Affinity album release party invite reminder that hit my inbox on Wednesday morning was like another nail in the coffin. I’d been so preoccupied with the duet disaster and my own broken love life that I’d forgotten about the event completely.

Later that night, when I was already in bed, Frank’s name flashed across the screen of my phone

Don’t pick up, my pride whispered.

As if on cue, stupid butterflies filled my stomach. My need to hear him was bigger than my hate toward everything he’d become. So I answered.

“Hey, doll.” His voice on the line seemed abnormally sharp.Was he sober?

“Hey.” I stared at the empty space in front of me, waiting. My wounded heart hammered.

The silence between us thickened.

“I need to see you before I leave town,” he finally said. As always, the man was blunt.

Inside me, I heard something snap, the soft, barely there sound of my self-respect cracking from the weight of his broken-man charm. It was impossible to remain indifferent when a man spoke to a woman the way Frank spoke to me—irreverently. Boldly. Without holding anything back. Without fearing he’d sound weak. “Where are you going?”

“There’s a rehabilitation center in Arizona…” The sentence slowly died on his lips.

I felt the air tremble as his words reached my ears and swirled in my head.

“I’m sorry about scaring you,” he continued in a hushed tone. “And I’m sorry about showing up at your place the other night. I want to fix this. Us. Our relationship. What we had.”

Emotions swelled in my chest. “I’m glad you’re doing it, Frank.”

“It’s a three-month program. I’ll probably have limited access to phone or email.”

“Phones are evil,” I joked. “I’d burn mine if I could.”

“I’m sorry for all the shitstorm in the press.”

“It is what it is. I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to go public. I only wish the timing had been better.”

“I promise things will be different when I come back, doll. Just don’t give up on me.”

“I’m not giving up on you, Frank. It wasyouwho gave up on you. I know you understand why I need time to myself.”

“Yes. I do.”

“When are you leaving?”

“In a couple of weeks, but I have to see you before then. I miss you.”

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