Closer to Love 💚

Chapter 19

Francesca smiled as Alison sat across from her at a local restaurant. She made sure to get a table outside so they would be seen.

Alison smiled, "here I am. I assume you've taken care of the paparazzi?"

Francesca nodded, "Lisa called them to let them know we would be seen out together."

Alison sighed, "okay."

Francesca smiled, "get whatever you want, Richard is paying for lunch."

Alison laughed, "awesome. In that case, let's have wine with lunch?"

Francesca nodded, "absolutely." After they ordered wine and salads, she leaned towards Alison, "I wanted to officially apologize for my part in everything. Richard and I knew each other before we started working together. Nothing happened prior to the photo that you took. Thanks for that by the way."

She laughed, "yeah. I probably shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry too. For the picture and for how I treated you." She sighed, "we are made to make personas and that's who we become. Sometimes it doesn't get shut off."

Francesca smiled, "it's all good." She poured them both wine, "let's just drink."

Alison laughed, "please."

Once they were finished, they were walking arm in arm out of the restaurant when they were stopped by paparazzi. Francesca felt a little overwhelmed with the cameras in their faces. Alison noticed, standing in front of her as they walked down the street, hearing them shouting questions at them.

'Why are you hanging out with the girl Richard cheated on you with?'

'Do you guys both date Richard?'

Francesca turned around to say something but Alison grabbed her hand.

"Richard and my relationship ended on good terms. There was no cheating. And Francesca and I are friends. We ask that you give us our privacy on our girls day out. That's all. Thanks."

Francesca watched her plaster on a fake smile as they kept walking and they stopped following them. She groaned, "you're good at that."

Alison shrugged, "you're good behind the scene, I'm used to being in front of the camera. Now let's go make Richard buy us ice cream before I go home."

Francesca laughed, "you got it."

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Francesca entered the apartment to find Margaret waiting for her on Richard's couch.

Margaret stood up, "finally!"

Francesca laughed, setting her stuff down. "What do you mean? I didn't even know you were coming."

Margaret rolled her eyes as she hugged her friend. "No." She pointed to Richard as he came into the room, handing Margaret a water bottle, "I meant you two. Finally."

Richard laughed, kissing Francesca on the cheek, "hey." He wrapped his arms around her waist, "how was lunch with Alison?"

She nodded, "it was fine. It was good. She isn't so bad."

"You had lunch with Alison?!"

Francesca sighed as she sat next to Margaret on the couch, "yeah. PR thing. Though like I said, she wasn't so bad." She looked at Richard as he sat across from them. "Not used to the paparazzi in my face. I don't care for that."

He sighed, "I know love. I'm sorry."

She shook her head, "it's fine." She poked Margaret in the leg, "I'm sorry about this one just showing up. I told her I moved in."

He shrugged, "it's fine Franny. She's your family. I don't mind. Though a heads up probably would have been nice."

Margaret laughed, "yeah. Sorry. Next time, I promise."

Francesca turned to face her friend, "so, how is Justin? Is it still Justin?"

She nodded, "it is. We're really good. Not moving in good, but good. He's at the hotel. Didn't want to bombard you."

Francesca laughed, "you could have brought him. Want to go out tonight?" She looked at Richard who only shrugged.

Margaret smiled, "could we? I was thinking karaoke?"

Francesca laughed as she heard Richard groan, "sure. I'll call Alison too. I'm sure she can find a random date."

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Francesca greeted Justin, hugging him as her and Richard met him and Margaret at the karaoke place. "Hey guys! Richard isn't crazy excited about singing, but I can't wait."

Richard laughed, "I'm perfectly happy to sit and drink and listen you guys sing."

She laughed as she followed them to a private karaoke room to find Alison waiting for them. "Hey." Francesca motioned to Margaret and Justin, "I think you all remember each other from my birthday."

Alison smiled, "right. Our dates were different."

Richard rolled his eyes, "very funny Alison."

Francesca laughed, "it's fine Richie. She's kidding." She looked to see Alison wink at her.

After the girls did a Spice Girl song Francesca got up on the stage, winking at Richard.

🎵 I hope that you don't think I'm rude
But I wanna make out with you
And I'm a little awkward, sure
But I could touch my face to yours, oh
And no one ever called me smooth
But I just wanna see the grooves between your hands, your teeth, oh
Tell me, do you think about me?
I just wanna kiss you
And even if I miss you
At least I'll know what it's like to have held your hand, oh!
No-o, hey!
Bad ideas, ay (Oh!)
I know where they lead (Hey, oh!)
But I have too many to sleep
And I can't get enough, no
I wanna kiss you standing up
Oh-oh, no!
And if tomorrow makes me low (No!)
Well it'd be worth it just to know
'Cause I can't get enough, no
I wanna kiss you standing up
O-oh!
Hey!
I don't know what compels me
To do the very thing that fells me
I wake up, still high on you
But by the night, I'm crashing through, so
So why'd I wanna kiss you
Even though I miss you
Guess I just wanted to know what it would feel like, oh!
No-o, hey!
Bad ideas, ay (Oh!)
I know where they lead (Hey, oh!)
But I have too many to sleep
And I can't get enough, no
I wanna kiss you standing up
O-oh, no!
And if tomorrow makes me low (No!)
Well it'd be worth it just to know
'Cause I can't get enough, no
I wanna kiss you standing up🎵

Richard laughed and shook his head as Francesca sat in his lap, kissing him.

Alison leaned over, showing her the video of them doing the Spice Girls song. "Can I post this?"

Francesca laughed and shrugged, "sure. Thank you for asking this time."

Alison rolled her eyes as she laughed, "you're welcome."