Page 63 of More Than a Billionaire

“See you later.” Skylar waved goodbye and noticed the suitcases on the sidewalk. “I wish we could stay longer and spend more time together. I miss you guys.”

Genevieve hugged her. “We’ll be together for the holidays, and then for the wedding.”

Skylar smiled at that. “I can’t wait.”

“We’re moving into the new house this week,” Sebastian told her, “and we have a lot of work to do to make it ready for our guests.”

“Oh, you guys, that’s so exciting. I’m happy for you.”

“But if you need me for anything, you know you can call. I want to keep supporting you until you are fully transitioned into the new job.”

“Thanks, Bash. It’s nice to know I’ve got your help if I need it, especially with Gus being gone and everything.”

He stepped forward and gave her a hug.

“I really thought he’d come this weekend,” she said sadly.

Sebastian hugged her tighter. “I know.”

Skylar let go and gave Genevieve another hug. “Thanks for coming.”

“We wouldn’t have missed it,” Genevieve replied.

They grabbed their suitcases and walked over to load them into their car, leaving her and Franky alone.

“Are you leaving too?” She noticed his suitcase.

“Yeah.” He glanced toward the winery and back at her. “Meeting up with Luca this morning, I see.”

“Not meeting up. I was out for a walk, and we ran into each other.”

“Convenient.”

“The party’s over. I’m not your date anymore, so why does it matter?”

He shrugged. “It doesn’t.”

Her eyes narrowed. “We talked about this last night, Franky. You apologized for acting jealous and territorial. But I take one walk with another guy, and I feel like I’m doing something wrong where you’re concerned.”

Franky held his hands up in defense. “Okay, I get it.”

“It can’t be this way every time I meet someone. Our friendship won’t survive.”

He looked away, and Skylar grew quiet as she composed her thoughts.

“I’m thirty years old, Franky. I want to fall in love and get married and start a family of my own. I want that more than anything. And … as my best friend, you should want that for me too. You should be supportive of me wanting to find someone nice, like Luca, to spend my life with. You can’t have me all to yourself.”

Franky’s brow furrowed, and the corners of his mouth turned down. “I know that.”

She wanted to bring up their kiss again and press him further to see if there was any truth to Luca’s theory. Oh, how she wanted it to be true. She wanted him to tell her to look no further, that he was the one she should be with.

Franky came closer and took hold of her hands, and her heart picked up pace.

She squeezed his hands, hoping he was about to tell her what she longed to hear.

“I’m sorry for acting so weird this weekend. I’ll try to be more supportive and less overprotective from now on. And I’m so sorry again for last night. You deserved better from me, and I promise to be on my best behavior from now on.” One side of his mouth curved up as he gave her those puppy dog eyes that were always her weakness.

Skylar forced a smile to hide her disappointment. It was clear Franky harbored no deeper feelings for her. Luca’s words had taken her hope to an all-time high, and Franky had just knocked it back down again.

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