Franny Simmons has no luck. In the space of three months, she called off her wedding, and lost her beloved grandmother, who left more than a few surprises in her will.
In order to inherit her grandmother's apartment, Franny must move in with Mason...
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Dear Granny Gene,
We just got back from the hospital.
I have a second degree strain in my left calf muscle and it's agony. The doctor gave me a list of things I need to do like rest and ice it every couple of hours. Also informing me I will be signed of work for the next four weeks.
It isn't ideal.
I know how busy the season is for the zoo at the moment and as you know, me being the on-site Cupid for most of the mammals we have several babies due within the next few months.
"What is it you do for work again?" asks mum, chewing loudly on her gum at the edge of my bed.
"Zoo curator."
She's humming. "I do wish you had a more girly job."
I don't bite, because it's not worth the argument. Nothing I ever do will please her, will it? I learned that a long time ago.
The pain is pretty bad. On a scale of 1-10, I'm at about 1000. And the pain killers are doing nothing.
I try closing my eyes to shut her out, but it doesn't work because she's smacking that gum around in her mouth like her life depends on it. Do you remember the time I let you try my bubble gum and your dentures fell out?
"What's so funny?" she asks.
Sorry, I know how annoyed you got at me for laughing about your denture misfortune on the bus, but I'm sure you can take pity on me considering the consequences?
*BANG* *STOMP* *STOMP*
"Franny?!"
That's Mason making his way in here.
Is it weak of me for bursting into tears as soon as I see his face, gran?
"Oh, baby," he's cooing, completely ignoring mum when she tries to get his attention. "I came as soon as I heard. Jeremy called to let me know he saw you at the hospital. Why the hell didn't you ring me?"
You'll be happy to hear his brother took great care of me.
And he's still rocking that mullet.
"Aren't you going to say hello to me?" Mum is pestering at his back when he attempts to plump my already plump pillows.
The quietness which follows reminds me of his stubbornness.
As you know, they never got on in the first place, but by the flaring of his nostrils, he looks sort of violent.
*BANG*
The second door slam is not a good sign.
If that's Nova.
Mason stops his overzealous plumping action to stare towards the door.
Oh, crap. it is Nova!
I can't watch.
If there's longing in his eyes then there will be no hope for what's left of my heart.
To quote you; you could cut the atmosphere with a knife.
You didn't create that saying by the way.
It's funny how I'm only brave enough to say that when you're dead.
"Mason," she breathes all attractively and it guts me. "Mason, oh wow, hey. You look absolutely amazing as always."
Nope, that's the rest of my heart muscle exploding.
"Nova," mum has the decency to hiss, but I'm too busy tracing the patterns on the quilt with my stinging eyes. "Please show some kindness around your sister."
Sister?
No thank you.
"I can't help it if he's so gorgeous. Are those new muscles I see? And you grew your hair out longer, hmm?" she giggles.
It's almost laughable, right?
If it wasn't so cutting.
Mason doesn't say a word, but there is a loud breathing noise coming from his nose.
"Francesca is one lucky girl for getting to live with you, Mason," she carries on.
I get some pretty awful visions of the two of them writhing around on a bed together and the nausea which follows is definitely not because of the seriously strong pain medications I just took.
She knows what she's doing by moaning his name like that.
Bloody bitch!
Couldn't she wait until I'm not in the room to make her move?
Mason's sorry eyes fall on me, then snap angrily in her direction, "Fuck off!"
It's a surprise to hear him swearing so foully at someone, but I would be totally lying if I said it didn't feel good.
My belly cramps terribly and it becomes very clear I'm about to throw up. I need you. I need you so much right now. I imagine you holding my hair back as my stomach ejects everything at once.
Nova screams.
Mum screams.
Mason picks me up.
There's a lot of tears in this apartment. For a lot of reasons. Mine are because my head just let me feel the jealousy raging through my every fibre. Theirs is because my vomit just splashed back.
"You did that on purpose," Nova cries, but Mason shouts back at her to shut up.
Why does he have to be so nice?
It's always easier to hate someone when they're horrible.
But, he's never really been horrible has he, gran?
Not really.
"It's okay," he whispers, using my scrunchie on the side to tie my hair back as I hang over the toilet. "I'm so sorry she's here. I'm so sorry."
I smell Spicebomb.
The aftershave you always bought him for Christmas.
"Get them out of our home. Please," I say, just needing them out of here.
Why the heck is he looking at me like he's just seen a ghost?
Does he not want them to leave?
Well, he can go too if he likes.
I just need to barf in peace.
"Mason," I shout.
Is that tears in his eyes too?
"I'll make them leave," he promises, not before wobbling a little on his feet.
