Page 42 of Craving Francesca

“This is too much,” I argued, trying to hand it back.

“Cover anyone who doesn’t have the cash,” he said, putting his wallet away.

“That would be…me,” I joked.

“There ya go.”

I smiled and turned back toward the kitchen to count the cash and see how much we could order.

The night was going pretty well, considering I’d had the most stressful two weeks of my life. Scott was getting more and more brazen at work, and he’d even shown up at my house twice. Lou had told him that I wasn’t home, but my Tahoe had been sitting in the driveway, and he hadn’t believed her.

I didn’t know what to do to make him get the fucking hint. I didn’t want anything to do with him. If it was up to me, I’d never have to see his slimy face again. Unfortunately, he seemed to be everywhere. It’s why we hadn’t had people over to our house. I’d been too worried that he’d show up, and someone would let him in not realizing that he was persona non-grata.

The tiny bright spot in the last two weeks had been the clean bill of health I’d gotten back from my STI screening. Learning that the asshole had given me syphilis would’ve been the cherry on top of the shit sundae I was already dealing with.

“Whoa,” Myla said as I waved the cash at her. “That was fast.”

“Everyone’s hungry.”

“Why do you think I was trying to feed them?” she bitched as she slid a tub of sour cream back in the fridge.

“What were you going to do with that?”

“I don’t know.” She threw her hands up in the air, and I laughed.

After counting out the money and making a massive order at the closest restaurant, I stuffed the cash into my back pocket and made my way over to where Lou was talking with Nova on the couch.

“What are you two gossiping about?” I asked. As I spoke, someone turned down the music, and my voice rang through the room. “Well. That was awkward,” I said a little quieter.

“We’re not gossiping,” Lou said, leaning against my side. “She was telling me about Bird.”

“He’s good?” I asked, perking up a little. Nova’s little brother was the shit. He was going to school across the country, and I hadn’t seen him in ages, though we did send funny cat pictures back and forth pretty regularly.

“He said he’s almost done with his PhD,” Nova replied, grinning. “I can’t freaking wait for him to be home. I don’t know why he couldn’t have gone to school somewhere closer.”

“Said every parent, ever,” Lou teased.

“I know, right?” Nova laughed. “I’m so proud of him.”

“Never expected anything less from the little fella.”

“I’m going to tell him you called himlittle fella,” Nova threatened.

“Do it. If it bothers him, he can bring it. I kicked his ass before, and I can do it again.”

“You’re so full of shit,” Lou said with a cackle. “He had you pinned like a pretzel.”

“Agree to disagree,” I replied loftily.

“You can’t agree to disagree withfacts, Francesca.”

“Watch me.”

We chatted for a while about everything and nothing, and I remembered for the thousandth time how much I liked Rumi’s wife. Nova was smart and thoughtful and didn’t take any of Rumi’s shit. They fit together so well, I couldn’t imagine either of them with anyone else.

When the doorbell rang, I sprang up from the couch and headed to the door, stumbling over someone’s bag that they’d left in the walkway.

“I’m coming,” I called, laughing.

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