Page 120 of Craving Francesca

“Me and Frankie are old friends,” Grandma said with a scoff, smiling.

“You ready to bail yet?” I asked, pulling Frankie against my side.

She looked up at me happily. “Are you kidding? This is awesome. Farrah just welcomed me into the fold, and as soon as Casper gets in here, I bet I can lure him into an argument about car emissions or something.”

I choked on a laugh.

“Dragon’s more like you, so I think if I just keep all sudden movements to a minimum. He’ll realize I exist, but I’m also not a threat.”

“He likes you,” I assured her.

“He doesn’t reallyknowme yet.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “But your Grandma Brenna digs me, so that should be smooth sailing.”

“I thought you were nervous,” I mused, letting my hand slide down to her hip.

“I was for about half a second,” she replied, turning further into me. “But then I realized that number one, I already know all these people.”

“Which is what I’ve been tellin’ you for days.”

“And two,” she continued. “If you thought anything would go wrong, you wouldn’t have brought me.”

“Girl, who taught you manners?” my Grandpa Casper groused as he walked in from the living room. “Don’t even say hi when you come into the house?”

“Sorry, I was raised by wolves,” Frankie chirped, going over to give him a hug. “How you doing, old man?”

“That’s it,” he barked, shoving her away playfully. “This one’s defective. I’m clearly in my prime. Take her back, Gray.”

Frankie looked at me wickedly over her shoulder and whispered. “I didn’t even have to mention the emissions.”

Both me and my mom, who’d clearly been eavesdropping, burst into laughter.

“Good job, son,” she murmured, loud enough that only I could hear her. “Perfect for you.”

I smiled and watched as Frankie pretended like she had to escort Grandpa to the table while he brushed her off, laughing.

“Heads up,” my dad said, pausing next to me on his way through the kitchen. “Brody’s on his way to bail Bas out.”

“He got arrested?” My gaze shot to his. Frankie was going to freak.

“Assault,” Dad muttered, shaking his head. “Idiot.”

“Who’d he assault?”

“No fuckin’ clue.”

Epilogue

Frankie

“Ican’t believeit’s done,” I muttered, staring at our finished house as the sun set, making the windows glow. “I can’t believe it’sfinallydone.”

“You’ve been here every day,” Gray reminded me, wrapping his arm around my belly.

“I know, but I didn’t expect it to actually happen. The vendor said he’d sent the hardware for the cabinets, but Terry couldn’t find it all week. I was ready to move in without it.”

“I think it’s a little late to move in tonight,” Gray said, kissing the side of my neck. “But if you want, I can pull the mattress in from the camper, and we can camp out on the floor.”

“I want,” I replied instantly, spinning in his arms. “I really want.”

---