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.
Chapter 20
“Slow Ride” – Foghat
Tyke 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.”
“And if I don’t?” Gabby fires back.
A wicked grin slides over Frannie’s face as she steps into Gabby’s personal space, making her seem very intimidating in a crazy way. “I’ll make you wish you had.”
Gabby swallows hard and her eyes flick from Frannie to me before she steps back. “Fuck this. He’s not worth it.”
Frannie stands there with her glare fixated on Gabby as she hurries out of sight.
I come up behind her and pull her back into my chest. “I didn’t know you were such a badass, babe.”
She laughs. “I’ll do anything to protect you, including fighting off crazy ex’s.”
I kiss the top of her head. “The feeling’s mutual. I’d maul a bear for you.”
She turns to face me. “A bear? Really?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’d make that fucker wish he’d never been born if he messes with my babies.” I reach down and place my hand on her stomach. “I love you, Frannie.”
My fingers fly over the strings of my bass as I bust out the last few licks of the song. Things have really come together since we found our way back into the studio as a cohesive unit. The day Frannie and I left Serenity Hills, I took her back to the place I own with my brother Trip. It’s in the hills of Kentucky, not that far from Noel and Riff. Since Noel and Riff have the kids running around their respective places, we did most of our songwriting sessions at our house.
These tracks that we’ve come up with are unlike anything we’ve ever done before, and we blew through the songwriting process. I wrote like a man possessed. Everything just flowed out of me. The melodies, the beats—everything. We have a mixture of dark, dirty beats that I’m sure the fans will go crazy for, as well as some soft ballads, most of which I wrote with one woman on my mind.
“That sounded amazing, Tyke,” Jimmy, the producer says into my headphones as soon as I’m done with the song.
I open my eyes and adjust the headphones on my head. “Thanks, man.”
“Why don’t we lay down a vocal track for “Push and Pull”? You up for it?”
I nod and my eyes flit over to Frannie, who stands behind the glass in the booth, watching me intently as I work. She hasn’t heard this song yet. It’s the one I’ve held back to surprise her with. Staring into her eyes, knowing she’s growing rounder every day with my child, makes me smile. I know it’s the perfect time for her to hear me sing the words I have written just for her. I never get sick of telling her that she’s always on my mind, and how much I love her.
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I place my bass back on the stand and say, “Let’s do it.”
I step up to the mic as the melody we previously recorded begins to play. I remain focused on Frannie’s blue eyes as I open my mouth and begin to sing.
“Your skin makes me wanna touch you Be a part of your world So I push you, but I won’t let you fall But you’re a hard girl to get through to All I want is to hold you and tell you it’ll be all right . . .
When I push you . . .
You pull me back
There’s nothing like, a love like that A love like that
Let me ask you
When’s the last time you’ve felt like that Bet it was with me
Bet it was with me
I’m falling for you
It’s easy to see
Without you girl, I just ain’t me There’s no future without you Give it a chance girl, give into the pull When I push you . . .
You pull me back
There’s nothing like, a love like that A love like that
Let me ask you
When’s the last time you’ve felt like that Bet it was with me
Bet it was with me.”
When I’m finished with the first take, I fully expect Jimmy to tell me to get ready to do it again, but instead I hear his voice cut through my thoughts with an entirely different message. “Hot damn, man, I think that was the one. It’s like a new fucking record. We got the entire song on the first take. Everything was perfect—the pitch, the emotion. Wow. I’m impressed. If I’d known you had that in you, we would’ve let you take the lead on a few songs before.”
I laugh. “I don’t know if I’d have been able to do that before. That woman in there beside you has blessed me with a new lease on life.”
I wink at Frannie and smile when she mouths the words, “I love you.”
It’s in that booth, staring at the people I love through the glass—Frannie, Trip, Noel, and Riff—that I finally find peace with myself. Those people in there are my family, and I would do anything in this world for them, and I vow never to return to the dark hell of my addiction ever again. I will be stronger. I will always be a man that Frannie and my child will be proud of. I’m going to make sure that the rest of our forever is fucking perfect.
Epilogue
“Marry You” –Bruno Mars
One Year later
Frannie readjusts the veil on the top of her head as she stares at herself in the mirror. After a few moments, she begins to spot some of her twin’s features in herself. It makes it feel as if in some small way she’s standing by her side on this special day.
As she stares in her own eyes and pretends they’re Annie’s, she smiles. “There you are. You don’t know how much I wish you could be here with me. I miss you—every day, but I’m in a good place now. Tyke makes me so happy, Annie. He loves me so passionately and completely that he doesn’t give me a chance to ever feel lonely or unwanted. You’d really like him.”
A knock on the door startles her as she pulls her attention away from the reflection and says, “Come in.”
The door opens and in walks Tyke with a baby in each arm. Frannie’s heart instantly warms at the sight of her soon-to-be husband holding their twin boys, sleeping in his arms.
Tyke’s crooked smile greets her before his words. “Hey, Mom. Are you ready for our big day?”
She leans over and softly presses her lips to his, scolding him quietly. “It’s bad luck for you to see me, you know.”
Tyke smirks. “I don’t believe in luck—only fate, and baby, you’re mine. Nothing will ever change that.”
One of the boys begin squirming in Tyke’s strong arms and then lets out a wail loud enough to wake his brother who also begins to cry.
Both babies crying at the same time would probably make most first time parents frazzled, but not Tyke and Frannie. Instead, they smile at one another, knowing that the powerful connection their twin boys feel toward one another has already begun. When one’s in pain, the other will know.
Another knock on the door occurs before it opens and Frannie’s soon-to-be sister-in-law, Holly, comes rushing in with Aubrey and Lanie at her side.
Aubrey immediately stretches her arms out to Tyke. “Need a little help in here?”
Frannie smiles as Aubrey and Lanie each take one of her boys into their arms. “I think they’re hungry.”
“No problem,” Aubrey says. “We’ll get them all taken care of so they can sit with us and watch their parents make it official.”
“Don’t forget their Uncle Trip and Aunt Holly,” Lanie adds before turning to Holly with a huge smile. “I can’t believe you’re finally making Trip an honest man.”
Tyke laughs. “My brother has been waiting on this day for the last three years.”
Holly blushes. “I know he has, but waiting was the best thing for us. We’ve grown so much closer, and the track is doing the best it’s ever done. We’re finally ready.”
“I’m glad he has you, Holly. You make him happy,” Tyke tells her.
The wedding coordinator rushes into the room red-faced. “There you all are. It’s time.”
Frannie nods, and then turns her attention back to her babies. “Let me kiss them before they go.”
Aubrey and Lanie bring both the little boys swaddled in blue blankets to Frannie so she can lean down and kiss each one’s pink cheeks. “You boys take care of each other.”
“We’ll see you out there,” Lanie tells Frannie before she and Aubrey leave the room holding the babies.
Frannie turns toward her future husband who takes both of her hands into his large ones, and threads his fingers through hers. “I can’t wait to marry you. You make me so happy.”
Tyke releases one of her hands and cups her cheek, stroking his thumb over her delicate skin. “You’re my definition of happiness, babe. We’re always and forever.”
She melts into him as he leans in and kisses her passionately, knowing that this is just the start of their happily ever after.
Holly Pearson stands behind the double wooden doors that separate the sanctuary of the church from the rest of the building. Through those doors is the beginning of her new life as a married woman, and she couldn’t be more ready to start it.
The blond wedding coordinator stoops down in front of Noel’s son and Riff’s daughter and straightens their clothes before it’s their turn to walk down the aisle. “Okay, James and Hailey, remember to stand nice and tall and take your time walking. Hailey, don’t forget to toss the petals as you go, and James hold the pillow nice and tight.”
Holly smiles warmly down at the children before bending down and kissing them both of the cheek. “You two are adorable.”
“Yuck!” James exclaims as he wipes away Holly’s kiss, causing the soon-to-be bride to chuckle. “Girl germs.”
“Girls don’t have germs,” Hailey scolds him instantly, shaking her blond curls in the process. “Boys do.”
“Nu-huh!” James shouts back, his blue eyes narrowed at Hailey.
“Shhhh! Children,” the wedding coordinator says, trying to diffuse the situation.
The moment the woman moves away from the kids, James sticks his tongue out at Hailey, and she smacks his arm.
“Ow! Brat!” he whispers harshly.
“Poo-poo head!” Hailey fires back.
James scrunches his brow. “I don’t like you.”
Hailey curls her pink lip up. “Well, I don’t like you either.”
“Children!” The wedding coordinator warns them again. “I’m about to open the doors. Let’s be quiet and smile. Ready? One...two...three.”
On three, the heavy wooden doors open and the children march side by side down the aisle. A collective awe fills the room when the crowd spots how absolutely adorable James and Hailey are. James is wearing his all black tux with his Chucks, and Hailey wearing a beautiful tulle dress and pink Chucks both put out a mini rock star vibe.
Through the crowd, Holly’s eyes meet Trip’s bright gr
een ones. The traditional tuxedo he purchased has been dressed up in true Trip fashion with a black dress shirt and vest, the only pop of color is a pink tie that matches the rest of the wedding party. The thick, black hair on the top of his head has been slicked back for the special occasion.
Holly smiles as the wedding march begins to play and her father, Bill, holds his elbow out to her. “Ready, honey?”
“Yes. I’ve never been more ready for something in all my life,” she answers and then hooks her arm through the crook of her father’s.
Their steps match in time as they glide to the altar. Each movement brings her closer to Trip. As Holly floats past the guests in the pews, it warms her to see people she’s really gotten to know over the past few years sitting there. Aubrey and Lanie have become like sisters to her, and the woman walking behind her, Frannie, has been nothing but lovely to her and made her an aunt to two of the cutest babies on the face of the earth. Someday, when they’re ready, she knows that she and Trip will be great parents and will have nothing but support around them when the time comes.
Max, her best friend, stands proudly beside Trip with a huge smile on his face. He winks at her and mouths, ‘love you’ just before the pastor asks, “Who gives this woman to this man?”
Bill squares his shoulders and replies, “I do.”
Her father turns to her and lifts her veil, kissing her cheek before putting the sheer material back over her face and placing her hand in Trip’s.
Trip takes both of her hands in his and rubs his thumbs over her knuckles. His green eyes fix on her face, and his plump lips pull up on one side, revealing the devilish grin that she initially fell for. “You’re beautiful.”
This only makes Holly’s smile grow wider as she can’t believe how unbelievably lucky she is to have found the one man on the planet who loves her unconditionally. This rugged tattooed badass before her has the heart of pure gold, and his love was something she would cherish for the rest of her life.