Page 80 of A Thirst for Franc

“I just want to forget about it.”

“But you were wronged.”

“Kaci, is it?” Franc said, shifting as if to protect me. “Quinn was just in a car accident. She needs to rest.”

Her head shrunk into her shoulders. “I know, and I’m sorry. That’s how I found you. Tell you what.” She reached into her bag and pulled out her card. “Think about it. I’ll be in town for the next couple of days. Heard there’s a Big Foot museum I want to check out. Call me.”

I took the card, surprised it felt so real in my hand. Perhaps I’m not hallucinating. “Thank you.”

“No, thankyou, Ms. Fraser. You kept my brother off the streets. I know for a fact if it weren’t for you that’s where he would have wound up if you didn’t come into his life when you did.”

Kaci walked to her car and pulled away.

I turned to Franc. “I wanted to tell you.”

“Tell you what? Tell me you’re innocent? That the people around you failed you. I don’t need you to tell me that.”

“How’d you find out?” I asked, my voice no more than a mere whisper.

“Rose. When Chardonnay didn’t find you in her search, I might have asked Rose to look. And I’m sorry I went behind your back, but I had to protect my son. I hope you can understand that.”

Gio was the most important thing in his life. He never hid that from me. “I’m not mad. I’m mad at myself for not telling you. I was scared.”

“Because people you trusted betrayed you.”

He understood me without me even telling him. Since the scandal, I didn’t know who I could trust. Everyone turned their backs on me as if I was some sort of monster when I was the victim. Franc knew I had kept a big secret from him. Knew I lied about who I really was, yet he was still here, standing in front of me, offering his kindness and warmth.

Tears pricked my eyes. He could have walked away, but he didn’t. He was here, giving me strength. For so long, I felt like I was lost in a sea of darkness, searching for something to grab onto. Franc was my pillar, holding my head above water, and reminding me that the sea, while dark and scary, was also full of beautiful things.

“They said such awful things to me. Called me a whore. A predator. A disgrace to teachers and humans in general. Such awful things. When they started in on CeeCee and JJ, I couldn’t stay. They were in a different district, but I was all over the news. Once the trial was tossed, I hoped things would get better, but they didn’t. It was as if my innocence wasn’t the outcome everyone had been hoping for. It was like theywantedme to be guilty.”

Franc took my hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. But he didn’t say anything. I’d been holding this in for so long, I didn’t know how to get it all out, but he was giving me time and space to do so.

“It’s a funny thing… innocence. It’s the outcome I hoped for, the outcome I knew to be true. I didn’t think that despite my innocence, my name would still be tainted. I couldn’t stay. My name was starting to taint my family, the only people who believed in me. So I left, and I felt like I left a piece of me there.”

I inhaled, closing my eyes, building the strength to continue. I opened my eyes, only to find Franc’s gaze so intently on mine. He deserved the world, and maybe I couldn’t give it to him, but I would damn well try. At the very least, he deserved the truth. No more lies.

“Then I found you and Gio. My mom believes in fate and the universe and all that nonsense. I never did. But if fate didn’t bring me into your tasting room at that exact moment it did, then I—”

“It was fate. You came into my and Gio’s life right when we needed you most. And other than the day Gio was born, it will be one of the greatest days of my life.”

Warmth blossomed in my chest, heated vines spreading through my entire being. “You said you loved me.”

“I do. I know it’s fast, but my grandpa always said when you know you know. I thought I knew once before, but that was stupidity and raging hormones. This. What we have. It’s love. I have no question.”

A weird combination of relief and excitement slammed into me. After everything I had been through, I never thought I could be happy again. Iwashappy. I was more than happy. “I love you, too. From the minute I heard you tell Nero,Stop ogling the poor girl.I knew I was going to fall for you.”

“You heard us?”

“Every word.” She laughed. “But I needed the job, so I pretended I didn’t.”

His eyes widened. An adorable shock flashing across his handsome features. “I’m mortified.”

“Why? You were the perfect gentleman. Nero, on the other hand, is a pig. But I’m pretty sure he’s harmless.”

“Unless you consider charm lethal, then yeah, he’s pretty harmless. But fuck Nero.” He took my face between his hands and pulled me to him. “You love me. That’s the only thing I want to think about.”

He kissed me, overshadowing my past with pure joy and happiness. I don’t think I could ever forget what happened to me, forgive those that turned against me, but I could move on.

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