Page 12 of Craving Francesca

“All of them.”

“They’re heavy.”

“They’re not that heavy.”

“You’re so full of shit,” he said, pausing with the last one in his hands as my arms began to shake. “You should’ve at least put the bag down.”

“I’m fine,” I gritted out. “Would you give it already?”

As soon as he’d laid the last piece of wood on top of the others I spun and hurried back out of the room. The bed slats didn’t feel as heavy as long as I was moving, and thankfully the front door was wide open, so I sailed right through it. By the time I got to the new house, I was sweating and trying not to let it show that my arms felt like they were going to fall off.

“Damn, Frankie’s been lifting weights,” another one of Myla’s cousins called as I hurried through the house.

“You know I could kick your ass, Brody,” I called over my shoulder.

“You wish.”

I dropped the bed slats against the wall in my room and shook my arms out as I went back out to the living area. “I know,” I replied, smiling at him. “But I won’t because you’re helping me move.”

“You owe me,” he said, following me back out of the house.

“I’m going to hand out IOUs when we’re finished,” I assured him as he elbowed me. “Thanks for coming over to help.”

“No worries,” he replied with a shrug. “There were so many of us here it went pretty fast.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, pausing halfway down the street.

“Pretty much done, now,” he said with a shrug, moving on without me. “All that’s left is your bed and the couch.”

“No fucking way.” I jogged to catch up. “When the hell did you guys start?”

“Gray, Titus, Cian, and Bas started around noon, I think. Me and Mick got here around two. Everyone else trickled in after that.”

“I feel like such an asshole,” I groaned. “I didn’t know everyone was showing up so early, or I would’ve gotten off early.”

“I think Myla did that on purpose,” Brody said, grinning. “Lou didn’t get home until like fifteen minutes before you. I think My was trying to make things easier for you guys.”

“She’s so annoying when she’s thoughtful,” I complained.

“The worst,” he agreed.

We had to quickly move out of the way the minute we’d reached the porch as Mick and Gray carried out the headboard of my bed, and Bas followed them out carrying the footboard.

“Anything left?” Brody asked.

“Titus is carryin’ the bed rails,” Bas replied as he hefted the footboard higher in his arms. “He’s right behind us. Then just the couch.”

“Holy shit, seriously?”

“You’re welcome,” Bas said with a smile as he carefully stepped down the stairs.

“You’re the best, Bas!”

“I know.”

“This is insane,” I said, watching as Titus carried my bedrails out.

“I draw the line at putting anything away,” Titus teased. He was sweaty but still smiling. “You’re on your own for that.”

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