“Quiet?” James asks. “Like shy?”
“No,” Frannie says, but she seems to have trouble coming up with the right word. “He just…” Her cheeks get pinker. “Seems to like watching me.”
Cas whistles. “Nice.”
“He needs to ask me out!” Frannie exclaims. “He can watch me all he wants up close and privately!”
“That’s right,” James says encouragingly. “Why don’tyouaskhimout?”
“That’s what I said!” Fiona tells them.
“That’s not really my style,” Frannie says.
“But lonely and horny and bored is?” Fiona asks.
They all laugh.
I sit just watching them all, probably grinning like an idiot. I love all of these people and love that they can be friends like this. Even after I leave, they can still get together for brunches and talk about their lives. James and Cas can give the girls pep talks when it comes to men and dating. They can even vet the men. Of course, Frannie and Fiona have their brother Ford for that too, but there are never too many people watching out. The girls can have James and Cas over for dinner parties and Oscar watch parties so they have a social life outside of dad-hood but more low-key than their nightlife in Philly.
It will be so good for them all.
And that sharp stab of envy I feel is nothing to worry about. I’ll be fine. Totally fine.
I did wonder briefly if one of the twins could even fill my role with James and Cas. The casual, fun, sexy role of woman-in-the-middle.
But I don’t think any of them would go for that.
The guys need somethingverycasual. Not someone they’ll run into all the time long term. This isn’t arelationship.It’s a friendship with very, very hot sex as a benefit. And the sex stuff is temporary.
The doorbell rings and Frannie and Fiona look at one another. They both shrug and then get up together and head inside.
“They’re the best,” Cas remarks as he reaches for more fruit.
“They really are. We need to hang out more often,” James says.
See? They’re already making future plans.
I love that.
And I’m jealous as hell. Of all of them. These four people are awesome and I’m going to miss them like crazy.
“Uh, care to explainthis?” Fiona asks from behind me.
I turn to find Frannie carrying an enormous bouquet of flowers.
Wildflowers.
They are an exact replica of the ones Grayson gave me on my last day with Evelyn. Except this is twenty times bigger.
What the hell?
“Who sent those?” I ask.
“I’m askingyou,” Fiona says as she clears space on the smaller deck table and Frannie sets the flowers down.
“Me?”
“Did you guys send her flowers?” Frannie asks James and Cas.
