Page 88 of Red Hot Harmony

“I just called to check on you. How are you?”

“Could be better, but you know me. I’m like a weed. No matter what you do, I’ll still ruin your tomatoes.”

“Gardening isn’t my thing.”

“Ha. You don’t say.”

The conversation was turning into awkward banter, where we exchanged random one-liners because that was the only way to avoid serious talk. Thankfully, Snowflake emerged from behind the stairs and his attack on my feet temporarily occupied my restless brain.

“Hey, listen.” Frank cleared his throat as if he were still debating about saying what he actually wanted to say. “You’re welcome to come over and stay with us if things get...out of control.”

“We’ll be fine,” I said mechanically, because his offer sounded a lot like pity.

A lot like something Cassy had pushed Frankie-boy into.

And, man, I hated when she did all his thinking for him.

“I mean it, Dante.” Pause. “If you have to evacuate, come here.”

“Okay.” I dropped into a crouch and swooped up the little rascal from the floor. “But Snowflake’s coming too.”

“Sure.”

“Where I go, he goes.”

“Absolutely.”

“And I just bought an alligator. His name is Jim. Jim’s coming too.”

“Umm.” There was some uncertainty in his voice. “Okay.”

“Make sure your pool is clean.”

“Yep.” He was clearly suppressing his laughter now.

“So…” I stopped fucking around with him. “Was this your idea or Cassy’s?”

“It wasouridea.”

“I see.”

“Look.” He sighed into the phone. “I’m not telling you this because it’s polite. I’m telling you because I care about you, and if you have to leave, we’ll be happy to have you. There’s plenty of room and it’s better than some hotel. Anytime. Day. Night. Early morning. Whatever. Should you...and your pets need a place to stay, you have it here. In my house.”

It all sounded very heavy. It didn’t have to, but it did, and the idea that Frank still worried about my ass after everything I’d put him through made me feel like the biggest jerk in the world.

And honestly, I probably was.

“Thanks? I guess,” I muttered, cradling Snowflake to my chest.

“Be safe.”

“You too.”

We said our goodbyes and shortly after, I was on my way to the hospital to pick up Malik.

The outline of the hills blurred and disappeared into a dark blanket of smoke. Somewhere on the other side of the mountain, helicopters rumbled and sirens wailed. I had to look at my phone several times to make sure it was indeed noon and not midnight. The blackness that filled the streets and covered the sky made my chest ache for Camille a little.

I wanted to call her.

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