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“What? Why? No. What are you….” Ginny blew out a frustrated breath at the victorious look on Frankie’s face. “You’re the worst.”
“Milo said that to me last night too. But only because I was edging him and he was losing his mind.”
Ginny groaned at the overshare, but was also not at all surprised at what came out of Frankie’s mouth most of the time. Turning the jar around in her hands, she made sure it looked okay before reaching for the another.
“Come on, you tell me everything about the fun you have. Why not this time?”
Because he’s not just fun?Sighing heavily, she straightened up and said, “I miss the days when you barely had time to interrogate me about my love life because you were stressed about yours.”
“Was I ever really stressed, though?”
“Okay, maybe you weren’t stressed. But frazzled for sure.”
“Youcertainly look frazzled.”
Ginny shook her head, moving onto the next table as one of the caterers started setting the table. “I have nothing to be frazzled about. Gavin and I are…friends.”
You are so much more than friends, though.Ginny swatted away her inner voice, because she was right. They were in a ‘relationship’, as Gavin so aptly pointed out, but she wanted to take things slow and not parade everything around in public. Granted, Frankie wasn’tpublic, but Ginny wanted to keep this close just for a little longer. If she could.
“Ooh, hesitation.” Frankie tapped the shoulder of the young man at the table with them. “You sensed the hesitation too, right?”
The kid, clearly aware that Frankie was the boss, nodded and then scurried away as Ginny glared at him. “We’re complicated friends.”
“Ginny.”
“Frankie.”
Frankie’s eyebrow lifted and a flirty smile tugged at her lips. “I thought it was only hot when Milo said my name that way, but—” she fanned herself, fluttering her eyelashes “—that wasveryhot.”
“You are ridiculous.”
“I’ve been called worse. But in all seriousness, you’re okay?”
Ginny nodded, smiling as she set the last jar to the side and stepped back. “We’re good.”
“You know thatweare friends, right? So if you ever need to vent or rant or just talk, I’m still your girl.”
“I appreciate it, Frankie. Thank you.” And Ginny was serious about it. Because as much as she loved Spencer and their friendship, there was only so much she could tell him without making it awkward.
* * *
The original plan was that Ginny would stay on until Monday afternoon and drive back with Frankie. But once they’d finished setting up and she realized that she didn’t have anymore work left to do, Ginny checked in with her friend-slash-boss and made sure it was okay if she left a little earlier than planned. Which allowed her to rent a car and drive all the way back to Wildes. It was an impromptu plan and she knew that she wouldn’t get back in time for lunch, but she had every intention of spending some time with Gavin before heading into another crazy work week.
With intel from Spencer, Ginny knew that Gavin had gone back to the shelter after family lunch, so she drove there and let the rental company know where to pick up the car. Quietly letting herself in through the front door of the shelter, Ginny left her things in the lobby and then tip-toed to his office only to find it empty. Just as she returned to the lobby, the door to the Cages swung open and Gavin appeared with Copper on his shoulder and Cedar by his side.
“Surprise,” she cheered, throwing her arms up in the air, startling all three of them.
Cedar was the first to respond, bounding over to press her face into Ginny’s thigh. She laughed at the confused expression on Gavin’s face and arched an eyebrow.
“What are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d come see my two favorite girls, apparently they missed me.”
Gavin smiled, shaking his head as he closed the gap between them, one hand sliding into her hair. “Hi,” he whispered as his mouth descended on hers. Ginny sighed, fingers curling into the front of his t-shirt as she parted her lips against his.Thiswas what she liked about Gavin—he was always so giving and open with his affection. Kissing, holding hands, gentle nudges, cupping the back of her head and playing with her hair.
Pulling away from the kiss, Ginny patted his chest. “Why aren’t you relaxing at home?”
“Been slacking off a little this week, distracted by a certain someone and their texts,” he told her with a smirk and helped Copper down from his shoulder so Ginny could snuggle her. “Wanted to catch up on things.”
