Daphne: Let’s go out tonight.
Me: Can’t. I have plans.
Daphne: With who???
Of course she asked who. Daphne is too nosy for her own good. Me: Myself, duh.
Daphne: Are you sitting at home talking to the cat? Watching Twilight or Gilmore Girls or something?
She accused me like any of that would be a bad to be doing on a Friday night. Me: You know me so well.
Daphne: I’m coming to get you at 8.
Well, she would be in for a surprise. Me: Ok, but I won’t be here.
Daphne: Ha! We’ll see.
Yes, Daphne, we will see. I was going to be so much unlike the Francesca everyone knew. I was actually going to have fun with Cade, and I wasn’t going to regret it tomorrow. Nor was I going to overthink every word he said, or over analyze every move he made. He wanted to prove something to me? Ok, I’d let him, but I was taking it for what it was worth and nothing more.
Time had slipped away from me, and I noticed it was surprisingly close to 7:00 p.m. I glanced out the window, thinking I heard a car, but all I saw was a motorcycle. It was slowing in front of my house, and my heartbeat sped up. Cade had a car…didn’t he? The rider stepped off, removing the helmet, and I saw dark brown hair. His piercing blue eyes caught in the setting sun, and I stepped back quickly, praying he didn’t see me peeping. Cade Kelling was here…on a motorcycle.
Chapter Eighteen-Cade
Shadows moved quickly behind her curtains, leaving me chuckling to myself as I walked up to her door. My knuckles collided with the wood three times, then I stuffed both hands in my pockets. No girl had ever made me this nervous. I even dressed up for our date she wouldn’t let me call a date. My dark jeans were nice, no holes or anything in them, and the black buttoned shirt I wore was always a big hit at bars. I rolled the sleeves up because I remembered she told me it was sexy when I did that. I remembered everything she said, whether I wanted to or not. Hearing the hinges creak, I looked up to see her standing before me. Her blonde waves danced in front of me as her eyes glanced me over.
“Francesca,” I said, “You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks…but…” she peered down, then back to me, “we match, Cade.”
I chuckled, “So? I don’t think anyone is going to think we’re twins. Let’s go.” I held my arm out to escort her to my bike. She hesitantly linked us together at the elbows. I prayed she couldn’t hear the intense beating in my chest. She clicked the lock, checking to make sure it worked, and we started down the steps.
“Listen, if we need to take your car, it’s ok. Cason had to borrow mine for a few days, so this is all I have,” I explained, watching her from the corner of my eye.
Pulling her lip in between her teeth, she tensed and chewed as she thought about it. She looked at me, her eyes wide and laced with fear. “Do you have a helmet?” she whispered.
I grinned widely, “You bet I do! You’re going to love it. It’s so freeing to ride.” I pulled her over, getting the spare and gently placing it on her head. I smoothed her hair down, tucking it behind her ears and snapping the strap. “Adorable.”
She gave me a half smile and rolled her eyes. “Hardly. You haven’t been drinking, right?” she asked, appearing nervous.
I shook my head, “I told you I wouldn’t.” I couldn’t stop my finger from caressing her cheek.
Her eyes closed and she sighed ever so softly. It took everything in me to not kiss her right then. Her head leaned into my hands, snuggling me like her cat had. It needed to stop. We were getting lost in each other and our night hadn’t even begun.
“Come on,” I said, guiding her to the seat with a wink. I hopped on, patting the spot behind me for her to sit. “Just hold on tight. Wrap your arms around my waist and move when I do.”
“What if I don’t?” she said with a shaky voice.
I stifled a laugh, “Then you’ll fall off, of course.”
Her breathing deepened and I felt her struggling to get off. “I can’t do this.”
I turned, grasping her arm, “I’m kidding, Francesca. I would never let anything happen to you. Just try to move when I do, if not, it’s ok. I can handle it.”
She nodded, though it was unconvincing. I revved the bike to life, feeling her arms tighten against my stomach. Why didn’t you think of this years ago, Cade? I placed my hand on top of hers, giving a slight squeeze, then returned it to the handles. I sped down the road. Fast enough for her to feel the lightness of a motorcycle, but not enough to scare her shitless. She gripped me tightly the entire time.
###
The drive to the park was short, not giving me hardly enough time with Francesca’s arms wound around me. I glanced over my shoulder, seeing the confusion marking her face.
“We’re going to the park?” she asked, her eyes colliding with mine.
I hesitated. Every time our eyes met, I was speechless. Something about this dazzling woman in front of me drove me mad, crazy, insane. So I nodded. I flung my leg over, careful to not kick her, and placed the helmet dangling off the handle. I held my hand out, assisted her off the machine, and took her hand in mine. “Remember that time you came here when I was swinging?” I asked, leading her to the swing set. I heard a gasp. I turned, smiling at her sheepishly and shrugged.
“Really? We’re reliving it?” she inquired, her eyes wide as she took in the surroundings. “I haven’t been here since that night…”
“Francesca, that night was so special to me. I know you think I don’t remember because I drink too much, but I do. I can recall the way your hair shone in the moonlight, how saddened your eyes were when we talked about that slut, the way you kept reaching for your keys, and the gasp you let out when I told you we had something,” I said, walking closer to her. “That night meant so much to me, Francesca. You mean so much to me,” I choked out, sucking in a breath as I waited to see her reaction.
Her brown eyes brimmed with tears as she crossed her arms to hold herself. “Cade….”
“Why? Why are you so closed off to me, baby? Please, tell me how to fix it,” I pleaded.
“You can’t,” she exclaimed, turning from me. “You can’t bring her back.”
Bring who back? I wondered. “Francesca….”
“Did you leave her? Did you find her wrecked and leave her? Were you driving?”
Her sister. It all made sense now. She hated me because she thought it was my fault her sister died. “No,” I said sternly, shaking my head furiously. “I wouldn’t do that to you, to her, to anyone. Francesca, I called the ambulance that night.”
Her tears fell down freely. Her knuckles were white from gripping herself so tightly. “Cade…everyone told me….they said you were driving and left so you wouldn’t get a DUI.”
I practically sprinted to her side, pressing her body against my chest. “I would never do that to anyone, especially your sister. I was not driving, she was, and I was behind her on the road. I had been drinking too, but I was sober enough to call an ambulance immediately. I went up to sit with her, but Francesca, she wasn’t moving. I didn’t touch her because I always heard on those TV shows not to do that, but the ambulance got there pretty quick. It was too late. She’d hit her head, baby. I’m so sorry,” I explained, sniffling back my own tears.
Her body heaved with sobs. She clenched my shirt, her tears soaking through to my chest. I held her, letting her get it all out. We stood there, in the middle of the small park, for I don’t know how long. No one else came by, no one stopped to see what we were up to. I caressed her head, doing my best to relax her. Everything made sense now. Why she refused to talk to me after the accident. Why she was so cold to me that day at the restaurant. Why she fought with all she had to not get close to me again. Whoever told her that needed to pay.
“Cade?” she sniffled.
“Yes, baby doll.”
“Why didn’t you come to me?” she pressed, detangling her body from my arms.
My heart was heavy, breathing difficult. Sh
e was oblivious to everything that had happened. It wasn’t fair, it wasn’t right. “I tried,” I sighed.
“When?” she said, her eyes wide in horror. “No you didn’t.”
Nodding, I grabbed her small, delicate hands in mine. “Yes, I did. You were dating that guy you met right before you moved away. He refused to let me see you. He told me…” my voice almost broke, “he said you didn’t want to see me. I left it alone after that.”
She cried out softly, choking on her sobs. “Oh my God.” Her hands left mine, finding her chest. She breathed, leaning her head to look at the sky. “George was always jealous of you. He’d heard rumors,” she muttered.
“George? Figures that tool’s name was George,” I snickered.
She scoffed at me, rolling those beautiful eyes she possessed. “Don’t make fun of his name,” she chided. “Make fun of him.”
I laughed, loudly, and scooped her into a tight hug. “I’ve missed you so. I didn’t even realize how much until I saw you last week.” Her hair smelled nice, like lavender and…Francesca. Caressing her cheek, I searched her eyes for any sign she was feeling what I was. She gazed at me, biting her lip ever so slightly. I lowered my head, stopping inches from her to measure her reaction. Heaving breaths met my questioning glance. Our lips collided, the ever present butterfly feeling in overdrive. Our tongues danced and our breath mingled. She moaned into me, snaking her arms up my chest and into my hair. Her soft fingers gripped tangles and pulled my head forward. We were lost in everything that we were together. Perfection, a disaster, confused, happy, sad, and remembering. Our mouths parted far too quickly, foreheads leaning against each other.
“Cade,” she breathed, peering up at me. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips red and begging for me to reconnect.
“Francesca,” I replied, closing my eyes and inhaling all that she was.
We stood, pressed against each other in the moonlight. The stars decorated the sky, giving us a romantic backdrop. Neither of us spoke, because words weren’t needed. We’d spent years apart, each fighting a different battle, yet here we were, scathed and broken, but together. Our hearts beat to the same rhythm, creating a song just for us. After seconds, minutes, hours, I finally found the words to say.
“Francesca, it’s time for us to have a real date,” I told her, grabbing her hand and smiling widely.
She squealed, following me to the bike. If nothing else was, this moment was a perfect piece of heaven.
Chapter Nineteen-Francesca
There were a few things that happened to make this night unbelievable. One: I rode a motorcycle. Two: I didn’t just ride a motorcycle, I rode one with Cade Kelling. Three: I finally broke down and confronted him about my sister’s death, not something I’d planned to do tonight, and gotten the answers I needed. Four: Cade Kelling still had feelings for me. Five: I had the second most perfect kiss of my life.
I gripped his torso, feeling the smooth lines of his abs under his shirt. I longed to explore his body. I’d never been ready when we were younger, so we didn’t know each other in that aspect. Not that now was the time, but being so closely pressed to him made my mind wander. He skillfully weaved the bike in and out of the traffic, gaining on our destination. I had a feeling we were going to the same diner we went the day we skipped school all those years ago. He was set to relive all of our important moments. An incredibly romantic and unusual gesture on his part, but it made my heart flutter for him even more.
The wind whipped the hair falling down my back into tangled and knots I would regret in the morning. I cursed myself for not putting all underneath. I couldn’t think straight with Cade being so…real with me. It wasn’t enough for him to wear the sexiest outfit in the world, but he also had to open up the door on all his feelings. An unexpected move. My heart beat intensely, my mind still reeled from his confession.
I’d blamed him for Josie’s death for years. Years, and for what? No reason other than the rumors I heard. I mentally kicked myself for believing the lies. I was grieving, lost, and scared. Cade could have helped me. I could have helped him. Maybe…no, I couldn’t think of what if’s and other similar scenarios. We were in the here and now. It was time to live. I breathed in his woodsy scent as the bike slowed. We stopped in front of the diner much sooner than I anticipated. I was so lost in my thoughts of Cade I didn’t realize how quickly he’d be driving us.
He eased the bike into a spot, glancing back to give me the cutest grin. Cade could make my heart do things I didn’t know possible. I returned his expression, clicking the helmet snap off. I smoothed my hair, doing my best to detangle the ends. I cringed when my finger got stuck, pulling the roots hard against my scalp.
“You look beautiful, you don’t have to do that,” he said, reaching out and guiding my hand away.
I shrugged him off, working on a twisted section. “It’ll be a nest before morning. I have, ow, to do it now,” I explained, wincing with each knot.
He swatted my hand away, gently caressing and feeling my hair between his thumb and forefinger. Detangling wasn’t pleasant, but something about him doing it made it an immensely sexy process. His eyes never left mine. When he finished, he squeezed my chin and helped me off. “Do you remember what you ordered that morning?”
I snorted, “Of course, but do you?”
“I remember what we both ordered,” he stated proudly.
“Why?” I laughed beside him.
He moved forward a few steps, opening the diner door for me. “I remember everything about you,” he said like it wasn’t a big deal.
I stopped, unsure of what to say or do. “You….you…do?” I stuttered.
“Yep. Are you coming in?” he asked with an amused grin.
I hurried forward, feeling his warmth on the small of my back. He squeezed my upper arm and leaned in to talk to the hostess. Cade oozed sexuality and charm. The girl blushed and giggled at his nearness, then gave me a once over. She nodded quickly, grabbing two menus and leading us to the booth we sat at once before.
“Milady,” he said in his best British accent, sweeping his arm out like he was on a game show.
I smiled widely, giggling, and slid in the same side I had all those years ago. “Thank you, sir.”
“I’m glad you’re smiling around me again,” his voice all of a sudden rang out.
“This week has been…different for me.”
“How so?
“Well, I found out I blamed you when I shouldn’t, the bench we met at is being destroyed, and I was arrested,” I told him nonchalantly.
He held up his hand to stop me, “Wait,” his expression was serious, hard. “Did you say the bench is being destroyed?”
I chuckled, “Really, Cade? I tell you I was arrested, and the bench is more important.” I shook my head, bending to read over the menu.
“That was next question,” he shrugged, sipping his coke.
I grinned at his easy going nature. Nothing really ever fazed him. I wished I knew how to be like that. “Yeah, the bench is being destroyed,” I sadly admitted. “I saw the papers come through our office this morning.”
“Hmm….one second,” he said, pulling out his phone. He quickly typed out a text, then placed it back in his pocket and gave me his full attention. “Ok, next question. Arrested?” he drawled out, raising his brows.
I pursed my lips, nodding slowly. “I, uh, got in a fight. In the grocery store,” I said, clasping my hands together. “The one on Jackson.”
“You, Francesca Taymon, got in a fight? I don’t believe it.” His hands went palms up in the air, his face in disbelief. “What was it with? What was it over? An apple?”
“No, not an apple, Cade. It was…” I paused, why had I mentioned this? “Jadesmithson,” I mumbled, shoving the straw to my water in my mouth.
“Who?” he questioned, leaning forward.
Sighing loudly, I slammed the glass back on the table. “Jade Smithson,” I stated, rolling my eyes.
His mouth fell open and he st
ared. For a long time. When it began to get uncomfortable, he erupted in loud laughter. The surrounding tables gave us dirty looks, which I smiled apologetically to, while the staff whispered as if they didn’t know whether to kick us out or tell us to quiet down.
“Cade,” I hissed, “Shh.” I held my finger up to my lips, feeling like I was in grade school again.
“You got in a fight with Jade? Really? Who won?” he choked out.
“Me,” I said proudly, smirking at the revelation.
“What was it over?” he asked, a knowing look adorning his face. He knew he was making me nervous and he was enjoying it.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, waving his questions off. Luckily, the waiter came at that moment to take our orders.
We placed the same exact order as we had that November morning. We both smiled at the memories we were simultaneously having. We chatted, catching up on each other’s lives. Five years was a long time, and there was no way we would learn everything over one meal. We laughed, stared, and studied one another, reveling in being in company again. I didn’t think the night could get any more amazing.
###
The ride back to our town was short, but sweet. He kept squeezing my hand with his. I laid my head on his back, feeling tight muscles when he would move a certain way. I expected him to take me home, for the evening to be over, but we ended up at the bus stop. An abandoned truck was parked on the curb, a large Ford with a big enough bed to hold three of his motorcycles. I watched him curiously as he got off, reaching behind the back wheel to grab a key. He apparently knew the owner of this vehicle…or I was about to go to jail again. Maybe prison this time. “Uhh..Cade? What are you doing?” I questioned, pointing to the key.
“We, what are we doing,” he said as he pointed between the two of us. “Get off, please, I gotta load it in the back.”
“Why?” I inquired.
“Because, we can’t take the bench with us on the motorcycle,” he hissed in my ear.
“What? The bench?” I yelled out, staring at him like he’d grew two heads.
Mangled Hearts: Francesca and Cade (Scarred Hearts) Page 10