My eyes widen. I didn’t expect this to be so easy. “That’s very generous of you. Why would you do that for me?”
“You really did some superb work here with the clients, Frannie. You took the time to get to know each of them as individuals, and giving them journals to help them express themselves was very impressive. I believe what occurred between you and Mr. Douglas was a one-time situation, and I trust that, in the future, you will be more careful when it comes to being intimate with a client.”
I put my hand up. “I promise you, this will never happen again.”
“It better not,” Tyke chimes in, and Wayne laughs.
Wayne stands and extends his hand out to me. “I wish you the best, Frannie. Tyke,” he turns and shakes Tykes hand, “take care, and remember you can always come back if you need to.”
Tyke shakes his head while he wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his side. “No need, Doc. I’ve got my own personal counselor now.”
Standing on the porch with Tyke, while we wait for our ride to pick us up, drives home the fact that I’ll never see this place again. The pure beauty of this place will never leave my mind. I’ve never been in a surrounding as peaceful as this. Serenity Hills is definitely a fitting name for this facility.
The screen door slaps closed behind me and Kimmy comes bouncing out in a bright orange skirt with an off-white top. Her blond hair is pulled into a high ponytail that swings as she makes her way toward me. “I wish you didn’t have to go, Frannie. We were just starting to be good friends.”
I poke my bottom lip out. “I know. It makes me sad that I won’t see you anymore. There’s always emailing and video chatting?”
She laughs. “In this place—doubtful. You know the signal is crappy here, but emailing is a definite must. You still have my address from when I wrote it down earlier, right?”
I nod. “I do.”
The moment the purr of a motor creeping up the drive catches our attention, Kimmy embraces me in a tight hug. “Take care, Frannie.”
“You too, Kimmy. Keep at the design school thing. You’ve got a real eye for that stuff,” I tell her.
“Frannie?” Tyke’s voice causes me to turn my gaze in his direction. “I’ll wait for you by the car.”
Tyke kisses my cheek and then grabs my bag off the porch and carries it out to his brother’s car.
“Have fun with the sexy man meat.” Kimmy gives me a wink before heading back into the house, leaving me alone on the porch.
I turn and gaze up at the tall columns of the porch, taking one last look before I turn and head toward Tyke, who is waiting for me with open arms.
“Slow Ride” – Foghat
It feels fucking amazing to be back, staring out at a sold-out arena while the four of us play our hearts out for the fans is like being home again. It was a long, hard road to get back to this place, but I feel like all that we’ve been through in the past few years has made us stronger as a unit. We really are a family.
I glance over at Riff who smiles at me as he plays the rhythm of “Ball Busting Bitch” while Noel bends at the waist and belts out the chorus. My bass matches the steady beat of Trip’s crazy-ass drum playing, taking the song to another level.
Black Falcon is back, and we aren’t going anywhere any time soon.
Contentment fills every inch of me, and I glance over at Frannie who’s waiting at the side of the stage with Lanie and Holly. What almost felt like the end of one of the world’s greatest rock bands was just the beginning to one of the most infamous love stories: mine and Frannie’s.
Frannie smiles one of those breathtaking smiles at me, and I can’t help but to fall in love with her all over again. My woman has a heart of gold. Not only does she challenge herself with nonprofit work as an addiction counselor, but she also puts up with my crazy ass. She couldn’t be any more perfect for me if she tried.
We play the last few notes in unison while Noel thanks the crowd. The fans jump, push, and pull one another trying to capture one of the tiny picks I fling to them. Being a rock star is insane.
I follow the guys off stage and immediately find myself in Frannie’s waiting arms. “I missed you.”
She giggles as I press my lips to hers. “I didn’t go anywhere. I’ve been right here watching you play the entire time.”
I continue to assault her with kisses. “You were too far away. Next time, I’m just going to have to bring you out on stage with me.”
She shakes her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
As I’m about to kiss her again, a familiar voice halts me in my tracks.
“Did you find one for us to play with, Tyke? It’s been a while, but I’m game,” Gabby says as she licks her lips while checking out Frannie.
I try to push Frannie behind me, not liking the idea that Gabby would even think that my girl is some random groupie. I open my mouth to tell her to piss off, but Frannie beats me to it.
“Gabby, is it?” Frannie asks in a smooth tone.
Gabby lifts her chin. “Yeah, what of it?”
Frannie steps around me. I reach out to stop her, but her determined blue eyes cause me to freeze. She clearly wants to handle this.
Frannie extends her hand to Gabby. “I’m Frannie.”
Gabby glares at her but finally shakes Frannie’s hand. “So?”
“I just wanted you to meet the woman who owns Tyke Douglas’ heart. This is your one and only warning to stay away.”