Frankie took a long look at Mimi, who was not what she was expecting, though she didn’t know what she was expecting, to be honest. She was beautiful. Certainly. Striking with green eyes and red hair and freckles across both cheeks. This reminded Frankie of Ezra’s own band of freckles, that crescent moon that spanned from his left eye to his ear. They would have adorable children, she knew. But there was something about Mimi that repelled Frankie. And it wasn’t that Frankie was jealous, though it was possible she was jealous too, which surprised her. But it was something else, something familiar: a layer beneath the surface that Frankie knew too well from LA, from nightclubs and fandom and plenty of circles around the globe with superstars; a frenetic, hungry energy that could be passed off as sociability but in reality was too often desperation. Frankie listened to Mimi ramble about the perils of her trip, seeking reassurance from Ezra, who kept starting sentences and letting them drift.

“But I’m here now, Ez, I’m here,” Mimi said. Ezra made a face that Frankie thought was meant to be a smile, but honestly it looked like Ezra was trying not to vomit. “Ez,” Mimi said again. “I’m here, despite everything.” She finally rested her hand on Ezra’s leg. “I know how important that is to you.”

At this, she cast a side-eye look at Frankie, as if she were Ezra’s white knight, protecting him from the evils of his ex-girlfriend. It was a little on the nose, Frankie thought. Ezra murmured his thanks, and Gregory turned his head just enough to catch Frankie’s eye, then rolled his far back into his head. She wondered if he sensed it too: the insecurity, the hunger.

The drive to the hotel was only ten minutes. Gregory gave the driver cash and held the door while the three of them tumbled out. Well, mostly Frankie tumbled out.

“Your head?” Gregory said.

“Oh right, you were there,” Frankie replied. It was a relief to have another memory backing hers up. “It’s better, thanks.” She paused and assessed. “Your nose?”

Gregory shook his head and winced. “I think there is a very decent to probable chance that a deviated septum surgery is in my future.” He turned to the side. “But then I can get this bump smoothed out and can tell everyone it was for breathing problems.”

Mimi and Ezra had dipped inside the Inn by now, so Frankie took Gregory by the wrist and pulled him to the side, hanging back.

“Hey, did we get married last night?”

Gregory’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets. “You and me? We got married last night?”

“No, no, Ezra and me.”

Gregory’s hand thumped over his chest. “Oh, thank sweet Jesus. You know I’m fully out now, right? Not that my mother wouldn’t have been thrilled.”

Frankie smiled. “Yes, I know. And I’m sorry about your mom.”

His shoulders rose then flopped. “You can’t choose your family.”