Page 61 of Craving Francesca

“Gray’s a good man to have in your corner.” Frankie shot me a smile as she shuffled over and sat on the opposite end of the couch.

“You’re one of us now?” Lou asked.

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“You’re one of us,” she clarified. “So, I have to ask—”

“You really don’t,” Frankie muttered, like she already knew what the question was.

“Your mother actually, in real life, no shit, named you Gray White?” She widened her eyes at me.

“Jesus, Lou,” Frankie dropped her head back against the couch.

“What? It’s a serious question!”

Frankie patted the couch beside her, so I sat down instead of looming over them.

“No, she named me Grayson Leo Phillips.”

“Wait, what?” Lou asked in confusion. “Phillips?”

“Lily isn’t his birth mom,” Frankie supplied helpfully.

“Jesus, today is full of surprises,” Lou exclaimed. “Go on.”

I couldn’t help the laugh that came out of my mouth. “My mother’s last name was Phillips. When I was born, my parents agreed I would have her last name—not sure she gave my dad much of a choice—so my last name was Phillips. After she died, my dad changed my name to Grayson Phillips White so shit wasn’t confusing for me at school and all that.”

“Okay, that makes way more sense.”

“I’ve heard it all before. Kids thought it was funny as hell.”

“I bet. Poor little Gray.”

Frankie yawned and pulled her legs up and curled them under her.

“Movie?” Lou asked. “I’ll get drinks.” She shot up from the couch and hurried to the kitchen.

“I don’t know how long I’ll last,” Frankie informed me. “Even after that nap, I’m beat.”

“You’re healing.”

“Thanks for staying.”

“Not sure I did anythin’ to help.”

“Just knowing you were there helped,” she replied softly. “It’s all good now, if you want to go.”

I traced the lines of her face with my eyes. She looked tired, yes, but she was still fucking breathtaking. My stomach sank. I’d been reminding myself of all the reasons it wouldn’t work with her, but I was already past the point of no return. Somewhere between kissing against the wall in the clubhouse and watching her put too much lemon juice on her fish and chips that afternoon, I’d walked right into it without realizing. I was fucking gone for her.

“Don’t have anywhere to be,” I replied, reaching out to tuck her hair behind her ear.

Frankie’s lips tipped up as her eyes filled with relief, and she flipped her hair out from behind her ear.

“Okay, I got everyone sodas,” Lou announced, carrying them back into the living room. “I think we should do a rewatch, since everyone’s had a hell of a day. Any ideas?”

Lou and Frankie debated while Lou turned out all the lights. When she finally sat down, Frankie turned on some movie that I was pretty sure I’d seen years before with my sister. For the first half an hour they made comments and spoke in sync with the actors until Frankie’s head started drooping, and she leaned it against my shoulder. Fifteen minutes later, she was out.

“Oh good,” Lou said, leaning around me to look at her best friend. “She passed out.”

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