Chapter 20: Chapter 20

FRANCESCA

Christian doesn’t seem to mind staying with Leo’s parents. He’s the perfect guest, even offering to cook dinner tonight. He said he had to be on the phone for work all day, so he might as well do something useful.

I’m starting to feel like we’re a real couple. Being with Christian feels right, especially here in my hometown with the only family I have left.

I’m worry-free.

We got here yesterday morning. After a few hours of sitting on the porch, I finally went inside my dad’s house.

It’s in pretty good shape for a house that’s been empty for six years. I owe that to Mr. and Mrs. Chambers. They’d never admit it, but I’m grateful.

The real estate agent came by last night with all the paperwork. The buyer wanted to stay anonymous, but I can make out a small, neat signature: “A. Romano.”

“I love this picture.” Lily’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. She’s packing up some of the photo frames scattered around the house.

I peek over her shoulder and smile at the photo from the homecoming game our sophomore year.

Lily was a senior, Leo had just played his first varsity game, and I got to cheer with the varsity cheerleaders. We’re all smiles.

“We look so happy.”

“Can I keep this?” Lily asks. I smile.

“Sure.”

“How’s it going, girls?” Christian’s voice startles me. Lily smirks as I blush.

“She’s better at throwing stuff away than I thought she’d be,” Lily jokes. Christian wraps his arms around my waist.

“Why don’t we call it a day? I could use your help with dinner.”

“I should head home. I’ll come back and help tomorrow, Frankie.”

“Thanks, Lil. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Of course, hun. You’re family.” Lily pulls me into a hug before leaving through the front door.

“Do you have much to store?”

“Just a few boxes. Mostly photos and some of my mom’s stuff.”

“You don’t talk about your mom much,” Christian says. I shake my head.

“I think…I think I’m starting to forget her,” I whisper. Christian pulls me close.

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

“I remember things we did together, and I remember her when I look at photos, but my mom is getting harder to recall. It feels like so long ago.”

“I feel the same about my nonna.”

“Your grandmother?”

“She raised me. I owe her everything, including my fettuccine recipe you’re supposed to be helping me with.”

“Right, let’s go.” I take Christian’s hand and lead him out of my family home, locking the door behind me.

***

On Friday morning, Toby walks into the Chambers’ Jackson home with three other men in suits.

“I’m getting a strong sense of déjà vu,” I joke, sipping my coffee. Toby smiles.

“Good morning, Miss Barton. Is Mr. De Luca around?”

“He’s on a business call. What’s with the suits, Toby?”

“Mr. De Luca wanted to make sure everything you wanted from your father’s home was taken care of in one go.”

“Wow. Well, here are the keys. I’ve labeled the boxes for storage, and everything else is being donated to the local women’s shelter.”

Toby hands the keys to one of the other men, and they all leave the house.

“These CEO types sure know how to get things done, don’t they?” Jennifer Chambers walks in with a plate of homemade bagels.

“I remember when Leo offered to paint this place for us. It was done in a day! A day!”

“It’s a different world.” I sigh, my worries about my relationship with Christian surfacing.

“No, don’t look like that. You’re happy, Francesca, and you deserve to be happy. Christian is a good guy. Jill and Brad would be so proud of you.” Tears well up in her eyes.

“Thank you for everything. You always…” I trail off, not sure what to say.

“Oh, Frankie, you’re like a second daughter to me. You never need to thank me. We’ll always be here for you.”

Jennifer pulls me into a hug just as Christian walks in.

“I thought I smelled pastries. I swear, Jennifer, I’ll gain ten pounds staying here.”

“Oh, hush. We’re going to miss you two. You’re welcome anytime. Be sure to come back and visit.”

“We will,” Christian and I say together.

We spend the rest of the morning lounging around the Chambers’ house. It’s nice not to worry about work, about reality.

“What are you going to do with the money?” Christian asks, running his hand through my hair. I can feel his chest rise and fall beneath me.

“Pay off all my debts. It’s just enough. I can start saving and even pay rent for the ridiculous apartment you’re letting me stay in.”

“I won’t let you pay rent.”

“Then it can go toward paying off that bottle of wine I destroyed.”

“Francesca.”

“Christian.” I mimic his tone and look up at him with a smirk.

“Watch your tone, kitten.”

I blush at the nickname, and I feel Christian chuckle.

“When’s our flight?” I ask, snuggling into him more.

“In two hours.”

“Back to reality.” I sigh.

“Promise me ~this~ won’t change.”

“What?”

“Promise me that when we’re in the city with QB and the club, we’ll still find time for this.”

His voice carries a desperation I’ve never heard before. This is the real Christian De Luca.

“I promise.”

We stay like that for nearly an hour, wrapped in each other’s arms, neither of us willing to let go.

When Mrs. Chambers knocks on the door, I feel like a caught teenager, but Christian holds me tight.

“Your bodyguard is back, dear,” Jennifer tells Christian, and he sighs.

“We should probably head to the airport.”

“Can I borrow Frankie one last time, Chris?”

“Of course, Jennifer.” Christian kisses my hair before lifting me off him with ease and setting me on my feet.

He picks up the bags we packed earlier and heads out, probably to where Toby is waiting with the car.

“He loves you,” she whispers once he’s out of sight.

“No.”

“He hasn’t said it, but it’s clear in the way he looks at you.”

“No, he…” I trail off, unsure how to explain Christian.

~Do I want him to love me?~

Christian is the only guy who’s ever made me forget about Leo. He’s possessive and controlling, but also sweet and caring. He’s a god, and he looks at me like I’m a goddess.

“I…” I sigh, and Jennifer smiles.

“I always kind of hoped you’d end up with Leo, but you never looked at Leo the way you look at Christian. You feel the same way, don’t you?”

“I…I don’t know.”

Jennifer smiles and pulls me into a hug.

“Just don’t wait too long to tell him.”

“Isn’t it a bit soon?”

“There’s no such thing when it comes to love.”

“Kitten?”

I’m blushing like crazy as Christian steps back into the room. Jennifer is trying not to laugh when I look at her. Christian is instantly at my side, his arm wrapping around my waist.

“Everything okay?”

“F-fine.” My voice cracks, and I mentally kick myself. Maybe he affects me more than I thought.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Jennifer, but we really need to get back to the city.”

“Of course.” Jennifer pulls us both in for a hug. “We’ve loved having you. Safe travels.”

Christian leads me to the waiting car, and we’re off to the airport. His private jet is fueled and ready, and the flight staff are extra accommodating as we board.

I notice that the smiles and gentle touches Christian gets from a flirty flight attendant bother me.

“Can I get you something to drink, Mr. De Luca?” Lara-the-Flirt asks, batting her eyelashes at Christian.

She doesn’t seem to care that Christian has my legs draped over his lap.

“Coffee, black,” Christian says gruffly, and for once, I don’t scold him for his CEO attitude.

~That’s right, bitch. He’s mine.~

~Mine?~

~Is that what you want, Frankie?~

My thoughts consume me during our four-hour flight.

I finally admit to myself that I love him. I love Christian De Luca. It might be fast. It might be crazy, and we might be totally wrong for each other, but I can’t deny it any longer.

I love him.

I lov—

“Francesca?” Christian’s worried eyes scan me. “We’re landing, kitten.”

“Oh!” I look out the window, and sure enough, the familiar skyline greets me.

CHRISTIAN

Francesca is rethinking everything. I recognize that doe-eyed look when she’s in over her head. I can tell right away I’m losing her.

But I can’t lose her. I won’t.

“Christian, I—”

“Anything you need before landing, Mr. De Luca?”

Francesca is cut off by the flight attendant who’s been vying for my attention all flight.

“No.”

“Are you sure I can—”

“No.”

She scurries off like a scolded puppy, and I turn back to Francesca.

“What were you going to say, kitten?” I ask, and Francesca sighs before giving me a small, unconvincing smile.

“Nothing. Now isn’t the right time.”

Her vague answer makes me want to press her. She leans forward, pressing a light kiss to my lips, but I can’t shake the feeling that something’s bothering her.

She’s mentioned before how CEO Christian is mean. Maybe I—

“Mr. De Luca, I brought you a warm towel.”

“Oh, for god’s sake, he said no,” Francesca snaps.

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me. Maybe I wasn’t too rude to the flight attendant after all.

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

“I know! You haven’t offered ~me~ anything all flight.”

I love hearing Francesca stand up for herself, especially against an obvious gold digger.

“Laura, isn’t it?” I interrupt.

“Lara,” she corrects softly.

“Lara, I’ve told you I don’t need anything. Miss Barton has told you I don’t need anything. Now, please, leave us alone.”

“Mr. De Luca, I was hired to attend to your needs, surely this—”

“Finish that sentence, I dare you,” I growl, my voice low.

“Christian,” Francesca says softly, squeezing my hand. “Let it go.”

“I won’t let my girlfriend be belittled. As of when we land, you’re fired.”

“W-what?”

“Leave.”

Lara is nearly in tears as she hurries up the aisle.

“You didn’t have to fire her for me.”

“I didn’t just do it for you, kitten. She’s been getting on my nerves the whole flight.”

Francesca chuckles at my words.

“Since when did I become your girlfriend?”

“Uh…I…”

“Do you usually assume girls are your girlfriend without asking them first?” Francesca seems to relish my flustered state, and I’m at a loss for words as she smirks at me.

“I said it for effect,” I manage to say. “Date didn’t seem like the right word.”

“Right.” Francesca quickly masks her expression and shuts down, letting me know that was definitely the wrong answer.

I feel like banging my head against a wall as Francesca stays silent while we get off the plane.

“Do you have to work tonight?” I ask as Toby drives us closer to our apartment building. This ride feels like it’s taking forever.

“No. Tomorrow night.”

“Would you like to have dinner with me?” I ask before I lose my courage. “Mrs. Godfrey makes amazing lasagna.”

“Sure,” she replies with a small smile.

We lapse into another silence.

“I really enjoyed spending time with you this week, Francesca. Thanks for inviting me.”

“Thank you for coming with me.”

I’m having a hard time reading her as we step out of the limo and walk through the lobby to the elevator. She lets me hold her hand but doesn’t say anything.

“Francesca, I—” I’m interrupted as the elevator doors open. She looks at me expectantly, but the moment has passed. I shake my head, simply taking her hand again and stepping out into the hallway.

As I open the door to my apartment, Francesca gasps and quickly lets go of my hand. I’m not sure why until a voice echoes through my apartment.

“My two favorite people!”

“QB?”

“Hiya, Cheer. Happy to see me?”