Page 12 of Crazy In Love
“I’m gonna help you at the shop,” Franky declares, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Iset up the spreadsheets and stocking system, soI’llhave to explain it so you don’t mess it up.”
“See.” Fox gestures toward him. “The shop will need my full concentration. I would hate to mess up a flawless system.”
“What about when the baby comes?” Alana’s eyes dance with unshedtears. “I’ll want Franky to be with me, but I’ll need him to be with you, too. I don’t want him staying at the bookshop?—”
“I’ll be around.”It’s time to remind these people that I exist, dammit. I carry the smaller suitcase up the stairs and draw four sets of eyes, though only one set narrows and frames with fiery ire. “I’m just next door, remember? I’ll sleep on the couch for a few nights after the baby arrives, so I can help with Franky, but he’ll still be in his own home.”
“I’ll stay at the house,” Fox inserts, oh-so-fucking-sweetly. “You’ve set up a room for me already, so I’ll sleep in there tonight and whatever other nights you need me. When you want me around and need Franky close, that’s where I’ll be. And when you need me less, I’ll be at the shop.” She purses her lips and stares defiantly into my eyes. “No need for you to sleep on the couch, Christian. Not for as long as I’m in Plainview.”
“Listen—”
Tommy steps between us, his back to me, and forces out a fake chuckle. And because he’s still holding it, he offers her purse, hanging it from two fingers. “We have cheesecake inside and movie snacks. Why don’t you girls head in? Alana’s been waiting for tonight with a fierce desperation.”
“Oh, fun!” Fox takes her purse and tilts to the left, just far enough to meet my eyes. “Could you bring my bag in? That would besohelpful.” Then she turns on her heels and drags Alana into the house.
“It’s like she’s not even being careful!” Frustrated, I release her carry-on and watch it tumble back down the stairs—bang, bang, thud, bang—until it hits the dirt with a splat. “We’re out here treating Alana like glass, but that chick is manhandling her without a single care in the world.”
Shaking his head, Tommy trudges down the stairs and collects the case, pulling the handle out so he can use it and patting dust off the shell exterior. “You need to chill the hell out.”
“I’m just saying that Alana’s in pain, she’s tired, she’s already friggin’ crowning. She can’t just be running around and forgetting to be careful. But Fox comes in and body slams her? How is that okay?”
“Fox has already been with Alana during pregnancy and birth.” He sets the suitcase on the porch and gestures toward Franky, who merely watches us through smudged glasses. “He turned out fine, right? In reality, those two women have more experience on this front than you or Ieverwill. So let them do whatever the hell they wanna do.”
“Tommy—”
“I just care that my daughter arrives safely, and that Alana gets through in one piece. Fox can say and do whatever the fuck she wants because shehas a track record of not screwing this up. We don’t mess with a winning formula, Christian.”
“How come you don’t like Aunt Fox?” Franky grabs the smaller suitcase handle and wipes dust from the top. “What’d she do to you?”
“She—”
“She did nothing,” Tommy cuts in. “Chris struggles with inclusion sometimes. It’s not that he wants to be mean. He just doesn’t know how to accommodate Aunt Fox while she’s in Plainview to help with the baby. It makes him feel a little?—”
“Wary?” I suggest. “Appropriately concerned.”
“Redundant.” He flashes a taunting smile and places one hand on Franky’s shoulder, then he turns them both and starts toward the door. “Chris’ feelings are hurt because way, way, way back before you existed, there was just me, your mom, and Chris. We were a team, and we had a lot of fun together. Now there’s you, your mom, me, Chris, and Fox. And unfortunately for Fox, she’s outspoken enough to grate on his nerves and unlucky enough that Chris acts like she’s stepping on toes when she’s not.”
“Stop talking about me like I’m not here.” Anger bristles in my veins, throbbing to the beat of my heart. But do I turn around and leave? Fuck no. I blow out a huff of exasperation and follow them into the house, slamming the wire door in my wake and locking the wooden door to keep intruders away.
Then, I follow the sound of girly giggles and a cheesy rom-com playing on the television.
“Oh my gosh!” Fox’s face glows, her hands pressed to Alana’s belly. “She’s jumping like crazy!”
“That’s what I told you!” Alana’s long blonde hair sits high on her head in a messy ponytail, which is a stark contrast to Fox’s sleek mahogany locks, delicately draped over an off-white blouse suited to the office.
“Tommy thinks she’s gonna be a fighter,” Alana giggles. “She’s got strong legs already.”
“We’ll see how it shakes out,” Tommy counters, stalking past me to the kitchen, then back again with bowls already filled with dessert. “I like the idea of teaching my baby girl how to whoop some ass. But sending her into the cage is a whole other thing. If some other brat hits her, I’m gonna hunt her daddy down and take care of business. Here.” He leans over the back of the couch and places the first bowl in Alana’s line of sight. He drops a kiss to her forehead and another on the tip of her nose, then he moves on to Fox… though he skips the kissing part. “Franky and Alana made cheesecake this morning.”
“Mmm.” Fox digs in and makes sounds in the back of her throat that belong in the bedroom. It’s inappropriate. It’s rude!There’s a kid listening!“I would have known even if you didn’t tell me.” She scoops dessert onto her tongue and whimpers happily. “Alana hasallllllwaysbeen the queen of baking. In fact, before she moved here, I offered herfreeaccommodation for the rest of her life at my apartment in the village in exchange for monthly brownies.” She closes her eyes and savors her snack. “Lord, I’ve missed this.”
“You’re making it into a whole thing.” Blushing, Alana eats, too. Though she manages to do it with less oohing and noisy aahing. “I’m not working very much right now, but sitting down all day hurts my hips. So I’ve revisited my love of baking.”
“Which is funny, since you started at the end of your first pregnancy.” Smug, Fox peeks over and pins me with a look that screamsfuck you! “It sucks you guys never experienced that baking. It changed my life.”
“I’ll show you around the bookstore tomorrow if you want, Aunt Fox.” Franky strolls around the couch and climbs up to sit on the arm, tucking his feet under Alana’s thigh. “I can teach you the computer system and the storage room and stuff. We need to make a new book order, but Mom said we could save it for when you get here so you could see.”
“That sounds fantastic.” She lounges back, burying herself in the couch cushions, and hugs her bowl to her chest. “I’ll be up, bright and early, so whenever you’re ready to rock and roll, I’m ready to learn.” She meets his eyes and grins. “I’m quick on the job andalwayshave glowing references. Would you like to see them?”
