Or maybe it’s just her job.
The box slips from my hands, hitting the floor with aboomthat echoes through the apartment.
She stops mid-moan and Nick twists around, eyes wide.
“Frankie! What are you doing here?”
I slam the door and cross my arms. “Gee, Nick. What does one do in one’s own apartment? Certainly notfucksomeone who isn’t their significant other. No—that’s whatyou’redoing.”
Ava scrambles off him, grabbing her clothes as I stalk forward. I swipe the framed picture of Nick and me off the end table and hurl it at the fireplace.
“Oh my God!” she screams, as if she’s the victim here.
“Ava, what the fuck? Was this your plan? Steal my job and my boyfriend?”
“Franks, calm down.”I fucking hate when he calls me that.He hops on one foot, trying to pull on his shorts. “What do you mean, steal your job?”
“Oh? So you’re innocent? She just happened to fall on your dick?” My voice rises as the words spill out. “You had no idea she stole my ideas, twisted them, and made it look like I sabotaged my own clients? The company?”
I grab a lamp, dragging it with me as I pace.
“She’s crazy!” Ava yells waving her hands toward me. “You’re crazy!”
I let out a bitter laugh. “The only crazy thing I did was believe loyalty still meant something. Whether it’s coworkers or lovers, character matters. Being a good person matters.” I lift the lamp. “You two? Not good people.”
I throw the lamp and it shatters. Ava screams, grabs her shoes, and bolts for the door.
Nick doesn’t move and his silence says everything.
“Nothing to say, honey?” I shove past him and storm into the bedroom, yanking suitcases from the closet, and slamming drawers as I pull clothes from them.
“Francesca, talk to me. You got fired?”
I don’t turn around. “Yeah. Ava lied, faked paperwork, and Mr. Bloom bought it. Then she came here—toyou—and waited for me to walk in.” I whirl around. “How long, Nick? How long has this been going on?”
“Frankie—”
“Answer me. How. Long.”
He doesn’t answer and that tells me everything.
I drag the suitcases into the living room. “Touch nothing else. I’ll send one of my brothers for it.”
“You’re leaving?” Panic creeps into his voice. “We can fix this. I’ll help you find another job?—”
“This isn’t about the job, Nick! I lost something I was damn good at, yes—but I caught you with the woman who made my life hell at work. You knew how I felt. You let her play you. And us. You couldn’t stand up for me,” I continue. “You have no backbone. And I need a man who standswithme.”
I grab my purse and leave.
Once in my car, I pull out my phone and open our group text—Wild Ones.
Billy: We miss your face!
Tom: We know you’re a big shot in the city, but maybe call occasionally.
Adam: Yeah, or maybe take a weekend off and come home.
I take a deep breath as I pull out of the garage.Looks like you’re getting your wish, boys. Sissy’s coming home.