Page 55 of Craving Francesca

“Can’t miss something you never had.”

“Sure you can.”

“It is what it is,” I said, copying his words.

“Still shitty,” he said, leaning back in his seat. The inside of his thighs rubbed against the outside of mine as he shifted his legs. “My parents were real big on keeping Ashley’s memory alive. Kept pictures of her on the walls. Told stories. You have that?”

“Uh, no,” I replied uncomfortably. My dad hadn’t talked shit about my mom, he’d just never mentioned her at all. “I don’t think it was an amicable breakup, her leaving him with an infant and all.”

“That’s too bad. If he married her, there had to be shit about her that he’d loved at some point.”

“I think that was probably the issue.” I set my fork down carefully on my empty plate. “I think he probably always loved her, so that’s why he didn’t want to talk about her.”

Gray nodded. His phone vibrated on the counter, and he leaned across the walkway to grab it. After looking at it for a moment, his head lifted to look at me. “You tell anyone where you are?

“No, why?”

“Just got a text from Bas sayin’ they’re goin’ out lookin’ for you because you’re not answerin’ your phone, and your Tahoe’s been parked at the house all day.”

“Fuck,” I cried, stuffing my hand into the kangaroo pocket of my hoodie. When I pulled my phone out there were so many missed calls and texts that the screen was layered with them.

Without checking all the texts, I called Myla.

“Where the fuck are you?” she yelled frantically.

I lifted panicked eyes to Gray.

“Tell ’em,” he said with a shrug.

“I’m at Gray’s,” I replied, swallowing hard.

“You’re where?”

“Gray’s.”

“What the fuck are you doing at Gray’s? No, I don’t even care. Why the fuck haven’t you answered anyone’s calls all day?”

“I wasn’t feeling good, and I slept pretty much all day,” I hedged.

“AtGray’shouse?” she shot back in disbelief.

“Camper, actually,” I mumbled.

“Oh, becausethatfucking matters.”

“Just calm down. I’m fine. I’ll be home in a little while.”

“Are you kidding?” she snapped.

“Call off the bloodhounds, My,” I said seriously. “I’m fine. Why the hell did you call everyone?”

The third degree was making my entire body tighten with dread. I hated being backed into a corner, and the fact that she and Lou had told everyone I was missing just made the entire day worse.

The phone was plucked out of my hand as Myla ranted.

“Hey, Myla,” Gray said calmly, holding the phone a few inches from his ear because she was so goddamn loud. “Yeah, she’s here with me.”

He paused, Myla’s irate voice coming through the speaker. I couldn’t understand what she was saying.

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