“She’s just like you were,” I said. “So bossy and outgoing.” I squeezed her shoulder to let her know I was teasing and we watched as Moxie grabbed a magazine that she knew had an Under Armour ad in it that featured Frankie, and forced the nearest person so look at it.
The young man in question was kind enough to indulge her, but as soon as Moxie walked away, he set the magazine back on the shelf.
“And like you,” Frankie added, nodding to where Moxie was now leading a man to the graphic novel section, her face full of joy as she showed him which ones were here daddy’s favorites. “So charming.” She turned so that she was facing me and wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her head against my chest so she could watch Moxie.
I set the keys to the store on the counter and hugged her back, kissing the top of her head. “It’s perfect,” I murmured against her hair.
“What is?”
“This. Us. Life.”
She pulled back and lifted her chin so that I could give her a chaste kiss. “It is,” she answered.
When she stepped out of my arms, her eyes fell on the keys, and she snatched them up excitedly, looking at the Maryland key ring and the old key that was attached to the main ring.
“You still have this?” she asked. She tilted the keychain so I could see it.
The flag was worn from me carrying it around in my pocket for many years.
“Of course. I never forgot where home was.”
“Have I told you lately how much I fucking love you?” she asked, her grin wide as she clutched the keys lovingly in her hands.
I lifted my hand and ran my fingers along her jaw. “You can tell me again.” I glanced at the keys. “After you tell me what that key goes to.”
She looked down at the original key she had put on the ring. The one that she claimed went to “the greatest treasure known to man.”
“So, what does the key belong to? A box with Pauly’s porn stash locked inside?” I asked.
Frankie rolled her eyes and punched me lightly in the shoulder.
“No. It belongs to my heart!” She turned the keys over in her hands and then shrugged. “Actually, it’s an extra house key.” She lifted her eyes to look at me. “But you’ve always held the key to my heart, and I thought that if you came home, you’d be coming back for me.”
I wrapped my hands around hers. “I did come back for you.”
She smiled and then leaned in to whisper, “I came back for you, too.”
“You will always be my home,” I told her. “You will always be my everything.”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I hope you loved meeting another Stone heart and that you enjoyed the antics of Frankie and Austin. I really had a good time writing this book because it brought back memories from the epic Prank War that my girlfriends and I had against the guys we were friends with in our college dorm. Jon, Riq, Kirk, Yaron, and Julio...you were worthy foes and you taught me to laugh at myself...and to guard my underwear drawer like a dragon guarding treasure. I will always look back fondly at those pranks and the fun we shared.
Johnny...you inspire me to write books about love and romance because that is what you bring to my life. I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to get to love you for the rest of my life.
Johnny Boy, Alex, and Chloe...you are my three greatest accomplishments and I hope you get to spend every day of your lives living out your dreams and doing the things you love.
Laura, Laurie, and Amber...thank you for reading the first draft of Hated and for all of your help working out the kinks. I couldn’t have done this without your support.
Amy Donnelly of Alchemy and Words....your editing brings out the best in my stories and I’m so grateful that I have you in my corner. You helped me find the magic answers I didn’t know were missing.
To all the bloggers and bookstagrammers out there....I’m afraid to start listing names because I don’t want to forget anyone, but I know that it’s because of YOU that readers discover my stories. Authors couldn’t do what they do without your love of books and your undying support....and I’m beyond grateful to count so many of you as friends.
Mom & Dad...thank you for teaching me how to believe in myself and for giving me the freedom to pursue the things I want out of life. I write strong women because you taught me how to be one.
Thank you to 2 Cellos for inspiring Austin’s character and the music he plays. Your music is phenomenal and I hope to one day hear it in person. I played it non-stop while writing this book.
Lastly, I want to thank Brittany Maynard for her courage and openness about her fight with terminal brain cancer and the right to die with dignity. I hope Dallas did her justice and that the world understands the bravery it took to live, and end, her life the way she chose.
HATED PLAY LIST
I Will Wait performed by 2 Cellos
My Way performed by Chase Holfelder
Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri
You Don’t Own Me by Grace (feat. G-Eazy)
Littlest Things by Lily Allen
Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne
Hurt performed by 2 Cellos
Bad Girl by Avril Lavigne (feat.Marilyn Manson)
Friday Night by Lily Allen
Believer by Imagine Dragons
Hysteria performed by 2 Cellos
Sk8ter Boy by Avril Lavigne
Good News by Ocean Park Standoff
Somewhere Only We Know by Lily Allen
Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Here’s to Never Growing Up by Avril Lavigne
May It Be (Lord of the Rings) performed by 2 Cellos
Waiting for the End performed by Chase Holfelder (feat. Linney)
Fuck You by Lily Allen
When You’re Gone by Avril Lavigne
Please Don’t Leave Me by P!nk
Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne
Hell of a Girl by Grace
Shape of My Heart performed by 2 Cellos
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The first thing Christine does when she's getting ready to read a book is to crack the spine in at least five places. She wholeheartedly believes there is no place as comfy as the pages of a well-worn book. She's addicted to buying books, reading books, and writing books. She even turned her dining room into a library—reading is more important than eating. She also has a weakness for adventure and inappropriate humor. Christine is from Forest Hill, Maryland where she lives with her husband, three kids, and her library of ugly spine books.
CONNECT WITH CHRISTINE:
Website: www.christinemanzari.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristineManzari
Instagram: http://instagram.com/xenatine
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Xenatine
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/xenatine/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Christine_Manzari
BOOKS BY CHRISTINE MANZARI:
Hooked (Hearts of Stone Book 1)
Hitched (Hearts of Stone Book 2)
Hated (Hearts of Stone Book 3)
Deviation (The Sophisticates Book 1)
Conviction (The Sophisticates Book 2)
Redemption (The Sophisticates Book 3)
The Pledge (The College Bound Series Book 1)
The Color of Us (The College Bound Series Book 2)
Hated (Hearts of Stone #3) Page 27
