Page 63 of Craving Francesca

“To each his own,” I murmured.

“What the hell are you doin’ here?” Grandpa Casper asked. “Shouldn’t you be out sowing your oats and raisin’ hell?”

“Too old for that shit.”

All of them laughed.

“Borrowed my mom’s rig earlier, and I brought it back so she could pick it up in the mornin’.”

“Don’t you have a truck?”

“Truck wasn’t here when I needed it. Ma’s was.”

“Fair enough,” Grandpa Casper replied.

“You know anythin’ about Myla’s little friend goin’ missin’ today?” Uncle Grease asked. “Tommy called askin’ if anyone had seen her, but we didn’t hear anythin’ else about it.”

“She was never missin’, just not answerin’ her phone. She’s fine.”

“Oh, good,” Uncle Grease said with a nod. “Figured I woulda heard somethin’ if they still hadn’t found her.”

Grandpa Dragon was staring at my face.

“What?” I asked, smoothing down my short beard. I needed to shave, but I’d been too lazy.

“You tell me.”

“Nothin’ to tell.”

“There’s somethin’ to tell,” he countered. “You’ve been makin’ that same face since you were three feet tall whenever you were tryin’ to hide somethin’.”

“Frankie was at my place,” I replied shortly. It had always been irritating as hell that he could see through me so easily.

“You’re fuckin’ Myla’s little friend?” Grandpa Casper asked in surprise.

“She’s twenty-five years old.”

The old men guffawed.

“And I’m not fuckin’ her.”

“And now you’re lyin’,” Grandpa Dragon said with a scoff. “Christ, kid.”

“Why the fuck do any of you care?”

“Because it’s entertainin’ as hell,” Uncle Grease replied. “Bumblin’ idiots, all of you.”

“I’m not fuckin’ her,” I repeated through my teeth. “She’s dealin’ with some shit—”

“I’ve heard this story before,” Grandpa Casper said, looking at Uncle Grease. “You heard this one before?”

“Too many times to count,” Uncle Grease replied dryly.

“She’s a friend,” I said, getting to my feet. I was too fucking old to get teased by a bunch of old men about my love life. They were too fucking old to evencareabout who was in my bed.

“Pretty wound up about a girl that’s just a friend,” Grandpa Dragon said seriously.

“I’m outta here,” I said, turning to leave. “I love all of you fuckers.”

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