epitome of chastity and choir boy living while you were living in Cedar Creek, there wasn’t a risk in just walk in here,” he said, bringing up a very valid concern. “But now that you’re here, Francesca, and you two have six years of separation to make up for, shall we start knocking?”
Frankie turned beet red while Nix barked out a laugh.
“No shit,” I said, adding my two cents. “There are things I just not need see in life.
And then Phoenix’s cockiness took stage, front and center. “Trust me, you guys will hear her way before there’s a risk that you might see her.”
“Okaaaay,” I stressed as I jumped off the bar stool. “On that note, I think I’ll pass on dinner.” Frankie turned and hid her face in Phoenix’s shirt, while Phoenix laughed.
Fucking asshole.
Chapter 4
Roberta~
My entire body hurt.
I sat in my tub, water hot as the sun and bubbles to my neck, but. My. Body. Hurt. Like. Hell.
Granted, today’s shift was the most I’ve moved in weeks, but I supposed I just wasn’t prepared for how sore my body would be afterwards. I thought the worst was behind me.
Wrong.
Once the water got cold, I stood up and took a showered in addition to the soak. I enjoyed baths for relaxing, but I never could get past the concept that, by the time the water cooled, it was probably dirty enough to warrant a proper shower.
Comfortable in a t-shirt and pajama shorts, I curled up on the couch with my Kindle. Even if I wasn’t as banged up as I was, Frankie’s kidnapping as left me gun shy. While I knew I had bad taste in men, I never imagined Randy would do what he did. I never imagined he’d stoop so low as to kidnap a woman for money. I also never imagined he’d let harm come to me the way he did. I guess it’s true what they say, the love of money is the root of all evil.
My phone rang and I saw Frankie’s named flash across the screen. My stomach dipped and I hated that guilt was a physical reaction whenever she called. With all my heart, I knew Frankie didn’t blame me, but I blamed myself. I will always blame myself.
The anxiety was real, but I answered anyway. “Hey.”
“Hey,” she immediately greeted. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good,” I hedged vaguely. “How are you doing?”
“Well, my classes have been confirmed, and I begin online schooling next week,” she replied, a smile in her voice. For years, a bunch of us at Brighton used to try to talk Frankie into going back to school and finishing her degree, but she always put it off. Now, while there wasn’t anything wrong with waitressing, Frankie only had one semester left to obtain her degree. It seemed like a waste if she didn’t go back.
“That’s great.” And it really was. I was happy for her. “That’s exciting. Are you nervous?”
“Kind of,” she admitted. “It’s been six years. I’m going to have to go back in time and re-familiarize myself with everything.”
“If anyone can do it, you can,” I said supportively. It wasn’t bullshit either. Frankie’s always been the smartest of us all.
“How’s Mona? The gang?”
I let out a genuine chuckle. “Everyone’s good, but we miss you. And Mona’s Mona.”
“I wish I could visit,” she replied quietly, and it was an unwanted reminder that she wasn’t ever coming back to Cedar Creek and why.
I did my best to steer clear of the why. “Like you have the time,” I teased. “You’re going to be busy the next few months chasing that degree, chic.”
And because Frankie wasn’t a coward, she didn’t let me deflect. “I miss you, Robbie,” she mumbled. “I really wish you’d come visit.”
That dip in my stomach was back. We’d been dancing around the subject for weeks, giving each other time to heal and come to terms with what happened. Most of our conversations had consisted of making sure we were both healing and being okay. We hadn’t really touched on her new life and what that meant for our friendship.
“Frankie, I miss you. I do. Terribly,” I told her honestly. “But…be real. I cannot imagine your husband would welcome me into your home.”
“Of course, he would,” she insisted. “There’s no way Phoenix wouldn’t welcome you into our home.”
I huffed at her naivety where her husband was concerned. “Frankie, he would let me come over because he loves you and wants you to be happy. But letting me into