Page 84 of The Last Love Story
“This apartment is gorgeous.”My eyes are wide as I look around Frannie and Mark’s spacious top-floor apartment. There’s a line of windows along the back wall looking out over the river and filling the space with light.
“Thank you. Mark was beyond frustrated when he found out this space was only used for storage—and used minimally at that. Same with the basement. His finance guy kept saying real estate isa good investment, so he offered to buy the other owner out, and jumped in to renovating the space.” She flips a hand through her wavy brown hair. “Well, paying someone to. Now this is ours. There’s a gym and laundry area in the basement, and two apartments below us. One that we’re hoping to rent out.” She looks at Justin playfully. “Since he left us for something better. One of the construction workers rented the other for him and his daughter. Anyway, I’m talking your ear off.”
“No, I love hearing about it. This is a beautiful place and such a cute town. Woods Junction is home, but Ida is beautiful.”
I look out the opposite window that frames part of the downtown silhouette.
“It is.” Frannie’s computer, sitting on the coffee table, makes a noise. She sighs. “That’ll be Kennedy.”
“Why?” Justin asks.
“Because she’s miffed that I get to meet Jade first, so she’s crashing it. Have a seat.”
Justin and I sit down on the couch as Frannie answers the video call.
“Oh my gosh! Finally!”
I laugh as Kennedy’s face appears on the computer screen in front of us.
Frannie rolls her eyes. “You couldn’t just let me have this, could you? Couldn’t let me meet her first.”
“Justin has been my best friend for like a billion years now?—”
“Ten,” Frannie corrects, but Kennedy ignores her.
“It’s my right to meet hiswifefirst. Plus, I started reading her books first.”
I lean over and whisper to Justin. “Is this weird?”
He laughs. “No. This is par for the course with the Baker girls.”
I stifle a laugh and look back at the screen.
“Well, I really don’t need you to compete over me. Especially about who read my books first. Justin already has the spot of number one superfan, and you’ll never replace him.”
Kennedy’s smile grows. “You’re making my little Justin so happy.”
“Isn’t he like two months older than you?” Frannie asks.
Again, Kennedy ignores her.
“Well, he makes me happy too.”
“This is adorable. I need to take a screenshot so I can have a picture of you two together.”
“How about I send you pictures?” Justin says.
“As long as they aren’t nudes, that’s fine by me.” A tallish guy with light brown curls sticks his head into the frame. “Hey, Jade. I’m Devon. Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“Oh! I’ve been meaning to tell you how gorgeous you looked in your wedding dress,” Kennedy says.
“She’s very excited to meet you,” Devon adds.
Justin meets Kennedy’s eyes through the screen. “She’s happy I’m happy. Just like I’m happy the two of you are happy.” He lowers his voice. “And even happier I don’t have to hear you banging anymore.”
Frannie stifles a laugh.
