Chapter 4: Chapter 4

FRANCESCA

As he said he would, Leo is perched on my bed at seven in the morning.

“Rise and shine, Cheer. We’ve got a day to seize.” Leo nudges me out of bed without ceremony, and I tumble onto the floor with a muffled ~thud~.

“You’re such a pain,” I grumble, brushing my blonde curls out of my eyes.

“We’re just getting started. Up you go, and get dressed.”

“Should I dress for something specific? Where are we going?”

“Wouldn’t it spoil the surprise if I told you?”

I roll my eyes and head for my closet. Thanks to Leo’s house staff, all my clothes were neatly arranged while I was out yesterday.

I’m torn between feeling weirded out that someone rifled through my duffle bag and being grateful that I didn’t have to unpack myself.

After a few minutes of indecision and a shout from Leo to hurry up, I choose a maxi skirt, a tank top, and a cardigan.

I emerge from the closet, clothes in hand, to find Leo sprawled on my bed with a breakfast spread before him.

“What’s this?”

“I asked one of the maids to bring it up. Tea or coffee?”

“Tea, please. I’m going to take a quick shower, I’ll be right back.”

Leo nods, engrossed in his breakfast, and I tie my hair into a topknot as I head for the bathroom.

My shower is a brisk two minutes, and I apply a light layer of makeup before getting dressed. I’m pulling my tank top over my head as I rejoin Leo.

“Can’t you give me a hint about where we’re going?” I ask, my voice muffled by my top.

“Wherever you want to go, kitten?”

I freeze at the sound of the familiar Italian accent and hastily pull my top down to cover my bare stomach.

“What are you doing here?”

“What would you like me to do, gattina?”

“Leo was supposed to be—”

“He got a work call,” Christian interrupts, lounging on my bed in the same spot I left Leo.

“You’re in my place.”

“Feel free to join me,” he says, popping a blueberry into his mouth.

“That’s my breakfast,” I mutter, and his smirk makes me roll my eyes.

“Come and get it,” he teases, and I can’t help but smile back.

I shake my head, reminding myself of all the reasons I should keep my distance.

~And what were those reasons again?~

~He’s an arrogant jerk. He’s full of himself and cocky, and he judged me the moment he saw me.~

The aroma of the food and my growling stomach become too much, and I scoot onto the bed next to him. I snatch a piece of bacon, pop it in my mouth, and moan at the taste.

~God, I’m starving.~

I glance up to find Christian watching me with a look of pure desire.

“Okay! I’m all yours now, Cheer. I cleared my whole day, which means maybe two more calls tops.”

Leo strides back into the room, oblivious to the tension. “Uh, and I forgot your cup of tea. Can we grab one on the way?”

“Sure,” I reply with a shrug.

“Great. Let’s get going.”

“But I haven’t finished—”

“Don’t worry, one of the maids will take care of it.”

“No, I mean, I haven’t finished eating.” I finish my sentence, but he’s already gone.

I grab a scone from the pile and pick up my shoulder bag from the floor. When I look back at Christian, he’s glaring at the door, unmoving.

“Well, I guess that’s my cue. If you’re going to hang out in my room all day, make sure you read ~Harry Potter~.”

“You haven’t eaten,” he says, still glaring at the door.

“I’ll be okay.”

“Eat.”

“Leo is waiting. I have to go.”

“Francesca.” Christian’s eyes lock onto mine, and I shiver.

“Christian.” I mimic his tone, trying to keep my face impassive. “Seriously, best book you’ll ever read,” I say, tossing the ~Philosopher’s Stone~ onto the bed and heading for the door.

Once the door is closed, I take a moment to breathe without his intense gaze on me. I still don’t understand him, but he stirs feelings in me that I’ve never experienced before.

So, when Leo said another two calls, he was way off. It was more like ten, and that was just in the car.

He let six go to voicemail once we arrived at the mini-golf course. I thought it was sweet that he chose mini-golf; it was our thing in high school.

But after those six calls went to voicemail, he answered the next five, and now I’m sitting by a Japanese Koi pond at the seventh hole.

Another group of teenagers passes us, and Leo glances at me, mouthing another ~sorry~. I shrug, unsure of how else to respond.

I know a lot has changed since high school and even more since Leo graduated from Harvard and I from NYU, but this Leo is unfamiliar.

My stomach growls loudly, and I wince, reminded once again that I haven’t eaten. I think we were supposed to eat about twelve calls ago.

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out of my bag. I smile at the text from my coworker, Cassandra Little, or as everyone calls her, Candy.

Candy

Hey girl! We miss you. Hope London is dreary and you get your ass on a plane home.

Francesca

So far London ain’t too shabby. I’ll be staying until the wedding.

Candy

Hold up! Wedding? Yours? Did you finally tell him how you feel?

Francesca

NO! Turns out Leo is engaged. I’m one of his groomsmen.

Candy

OK shit is getting weird. I don’t know whether it is just the time difference but you are talking crazy. I have to sleep before my shift. The regulars miss you. Talk later, Cheer.

I smile as she uses my nickname. When I told everyone at work about my high school and college days, the nickname just stuck.

Francesca

Sweet dreams, Candy. Give everyone my love. I’ll see you in a month and a half.

“Okay! ~That~ was the last call.”

Leo tucks his phone away and slides back next to me.

“Let’s just head home, QB.”

“No, Cheer, I promised to spend the day with you.”

“And you are, and I love you for that, but let’s be real, you can’t take a day off. The CEO is just too important.

“So let’s go home and lounge on the couch and watch terrible movies like we used to, where you can answer your phone as much as you want.”

Leo drapes his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest. He kisses my hair, and I melt into him.

“I love you, Cheer.”

“I love you too, QB.”

***

“Excuse me, bitch?”

“Bitch? Watch your fucking language in my house!”

“Your house? Bitch, please! This is my brother’s house!”

Leo and I cautiously step into the Chambers’ mansion.

“Does that sound like—”

“My sister,” Leo says, finishing my thought.

A look of pure, unadulterated fear crosses Leo’s face as we venture deeper into the house.

As someone who has been on the receiving end of one of Lily’s tirades, I can’t help but grin, knowing there is only one person in this house foolish enough to argue, and she’s about to get exactly what she deserves.

“Lily?” Leo calls out, and all heads whip towards us.

“Francesca!” Leo’s parents rush to my side, pulling me into their arms. Leo rolls his eyes with a smirk.

“Thanks, guys. I see how it is,” he mutters.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers,” I mumble into the hug. Mrs. Chambers has tears in her eyes when they finally let go.

“Oh, Francesca, we have missed you. You haven’t been home in years, honey.”

“New York is pretty much my home now.”

“Nonsense, you will always have a home in Jackson, Francesca.” Mr. Chambers rests his hand on my shoulder.

“Of course she will. Frankie is part of the family. What I want to know is who the fuck this bitch is.” Lily’s voice interrupts the warm family moment I was having with her parents.

“Lillian,” her mother scolds, but it falls on deaf ears.

“Lil, Mom, Dad, I see you have met my soon-to-be sister-in-law Evelyn Walker.”

“This bitch thinks the sun shines out of her ass,” Lily scoffs, and I can’t help but laugh.

“At least I am somewhat sophisticated. Whatever backward hick town it is you came from, you might as well go back there. There is no way in hell my father will pay for this wedding.”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that, Evelyn?” An unfamiliar male voice echoes through the house, and from the way Evelyn shrinks back, I’m guessing this is her father.

“Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, it is a pleasure! I’m John Walker.”

“John, I’m Thomas, and this is my wife, Jennifer.”

“I should apologize for my daughter’s behavior. She tends to feel entitled.”

“That is one word for it,” Lily says, not subtly. “I’m Lily Evans. Leo’s older sister.”

Beth walks in behind her father. She moves straight to Lily, wrapping her in a hug. Lily stares at her awkwardly, standing ridiculously still in the hug.

“Lily, it is so nice to finally meet you! And, Daddy, this is Francesca Barton, Leo’s best friend.”

I shake hands with John Walker before Beth leads us all to the dining room for a late lunch.

Conversation flows easily now that Evelyn has been silenced by her father’s presence. John asks about life in Jackson and what Mr. and Mrs. Chambers do for a living.

“You must be incredibly proud of your son.”

“Of course we are. Leo has always been a go-getter, and we knew nothing would stop him.”

“He said that he has offered you money, but you have refused.” John raises his eyebrows in question as he speaks.

“Yes, we lead a happy life and want for nothing. Leo’s money is his, and he has earned it. Who are we to ask him for such a thing?” Mr. Chambers says with a smile.

“Both of our children are successful. While Lily might not be a billionaire like Leo, there is no denying she and her husband Kyle are good at what they do.”

“And what is that?” The question comes from Evelyn.

“My husband and I own and operate a dairy farm. We also run a few farm stays on our excess land,” Lily explains.

“Smart,” John comments.

“Thank you.”

“Sorry I’m late,” Christian says from behind me. “Urgent business.”

“Nothing bad, I hope.” Leo laughs as he stands from the table. “Mom, Dad, Lil, John, this is my best friend and CEO of the New York part of my company, Christian De Luca.

“Chris, this is my family and Beth’s father, John.”

Christian politely goes around and shakes hands, completing the introductions. He wins brownie points with Mrs. Chambers and Lily when he kisses the back of their hands.

I giggle slightly when I see Lily actually blush.

“Chris, please sit. We are just about to have a late lunch,” Beth insists with her usual smile plastered on her face.

With two spare seats at the table, one beside Evelyn and one beside me, I’m not surprised when Evelyn pushes out her cleavage.

“Christian, this one is free,” she says, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.

“I’m fine here, Evelyn,” Christian replies in a curt tone, falling into the seat closest to him, which happens to be the one next to me.

“God, she is so desperate.” Lily leans closer to me to whisper, and I let out a small laugh. “Fuck, he is hot.” She looks over my shoulder toward Christian.

“Lil, you are married.” I laugh.

“Hey, there is nothing wrong with looking at the menu as long as I eat at home.” She winks.

I squirm in my seat, struggling to keep my giggles under wraps, when a hand lands on my thigh. I stiffen, my body reacting to his touch. I can feel my skin warming up, and I’m pretty sure I’m blushing.

“Why are—” I start to whisper, but he interrupts me.

“What’s for lunch? I’m famished.”