Page 127 of Famous Last Words
This is what matters most. More than anything. Even more than hockey.Her. FranfuckingKeller.
She’s been staying with me practically 24/7 since all the shit with Tadd went down because I don’t trust him not to show up at her place, seeking revenge. And I love having her here. I am not ashamed to say that I am completely fucking obsessed with her. I want her with me constantly. When she’s not with me, I feel like there’s something missing—a gaping, Keller-sized hole.
“Move in with me,” I say, surprising myself.
The book Fran’s reading slowly moves, revealing her face.
“Huh?” Her forehead wrinkles with obvious confusion.
“Move in with me,” I say again with a little more conviction.
She sits up, wincing a little. She’s sick. Another PCOS flare up. And I hate that she’s in pain. I’d burn down the fucking world if it meant she didn’t have to go through this almost every month.
Clutching her belly, she turns to fully face me, her gaze flitting between my eyes.
“Move in with you…” she says slowly, as if she’s trying the words out for herself.
“Yeah.” I shrug a shoulder as if it’s no big deal. I’m not an idiot. Of course it’s a big deal. But maybe if I pretend it’s not, she’ll believe it.
“No way!” She scoffs, like the entire notion is ridiculous. “Robbie, I can’t move in with you. It’s way too soon.”
I guffaw. “Too soon? We’ve literally known each other since we were sixteen.”
“Yeah, when wehatedeach other.” She snorts. “You’rethe one who won’t let me forget that I made you shit your pants.”
“Yeah, but I love you.”
She softens then, and I mentally pat myself on the back because she’s a fucking goner every time I bust out the proverbial big guns.
“Besides, you’re always here anyway,” I add quickly. “And your place isn’t safe. I don’t like you being there.”
Fran rolls her eyes. “Robbie, I’ve been living there for three years without incident.”
“Yeah,” I balk. “But that was pre-Tadd being an unhinged psychopath. And before you were dating the hottest hockey star on the fucking planet.”
“Okay, calm down,Dallas,” she scoffs.
I reach for her then, pulling her onto my lap, forcing her thighs on either side of mine so she has nowhere to look but directly into my eyes. I gently graze the back of my knuckles over her soft cheek, carefully tucking a lock of silky blonde hair behind her ear.
“I love having you here with me,” I begin. “You make this place feel like home. I’ve never had that before.”
Fran tilts her head to the side, smiling sadly at my words. “Robbie…”
I press a finger against her lips, silencing her.
“You belong here with me, Keller. Cuddled up next to me, reading your horny little romance books while I watch game tape.”
She rears back indignantly, pressing a hand to her chest like I’ve seriously offended her. “My books are not…horny.”
“I snuck a peak at the page you were reading last night in bed.” I smirk. “They’re horny, babe.”
Her cheeks flush, but she says nothing, biting back a smile.
I continue, “You belong here with me. Sitting on the kitchen island, watching me make dinner because you have literally no basic cooking ability.”
With a gasp, she swats at me, but the smile ghosting her lips tells me she knows I’m not wrong.
“You belong here with me.” I hold her waist, steadying her on my lap. “In my bed, every night, wearing one of my t-shirts and straddling my hips while you try to count my tattoos.”
