Chapter 16 #2
I don’t blame him. I’m about as steady as a newbie on a surfboard with a set of wicked waves behind her. One thing I’m certain about, though, is my relationship with Brandon. It’s over.
“What’s next, Frankie?”
I look at Cal, and with all the emotions swirling in my chest, I find calm in his eyes.
So, I ask him the thing I reckon we both want to hear. “Go back to the ranch? Try to figure things out there?”
Cal chews his lip. He doesn’t say nah, but he doesn’t say “righto, let’s do it” either. He says, “Let’s get your car.”
I blink, then remember. My car is still at Flamingo’s.
I pick up my bag, and he takes it from me. Then we walk in silence to his truck.
On the way to Flamingo’s, I can’t stop thinking about Malcolm.
He’s gone through heaps of work not only to find me, but to reach out to me.
I can’t ignore the last thing Brandon said about Malcolm wanting me to have what’s mine.
He has to mean the money I earned from TV and movies that he “managed” by tucking it away in a trust fund I couldn’t touch until I turned thirty.
When I married Bran, though, Malcolm changed the terms of the trust and made his personal assistant, Sybil, the trustee. Even when I reach thirty and have access to the money I earned, I’ll have to ask permission from Sybil to use it.
I’ve been fine without the money in my trust, but only by scraping and saving every penny I make at Flamingo’s that doesn't go to paying off Wild Coast Capital. That income’s gone now.
I don’t need millions to survive, but I need something.
And it’d be nice for that something to be the money I earned.
Even with that carrot dangling in front of me, I could ignore Malcolm’s message if he hadn’t included the part about Archie getting his money, too. Course, Malcolm would make that dependent on me. He knows Archie’s my weak spot. I’d do anything for my brother.
I’m so in my head, I don’t notice Cal hasn’t said a word until we’re a block from Flamingo’s. Suddenly, he swerves off the road and parks his truck in front of the empty lot next to Miss Merry’s.
He grips the steering wheel, starting straight ahead. “Look, Frankie. I think we’re at a crossroads here. You know my feelings about you. You’ve got to be honest with me about where you are with your ex.”
His question is so off topic from the monologue running in my head that it’s a few blinks before I can answer. “I’m not in love with him anymore, if that’s what you mean.”
Cal doesn’t look convinced, so I scoot next to him, gently turn his face to mine and look him in the eyes. “I promise Cal, wherever I go or whatever I do, Brandon McVey isn’t going to be part of it. I’m done with him.”
I sense the assurance he wants is bigger, but I'm not sure what else he wants to hear.
His chest rises with a breath, and he takes my hand from his cheek, holding my fingers in his.
“Yeah. I believe you.” He tightens his hold and exhales.
“But he’s not even my biggest worry. The floodgates are open.
Your life here isn’t a secret anymore. I tried to pretend it was, but seeing your ex in your apartment, hearing him talk about your dad…
” He lowers his eyes and shakes his head. “I can’t pretend anymore.”
I slide my hand from his. “So, what are you really worried about?”
With a sad smile, he raises his eyes to meet mine.
“If I’m letting you into my life—letting you into Junie’s life—I need to know you’re staying.
Whether it’s a few days or longer, once you’re at the ranch, my family is part of your life.
The publicity. The threats. The lack of privacy…
Everything that comes with being Frankie Forsythe.
” He scrapes his hand through his hair. “I have to be sure it’s worth it. ”
“That I’m worth it?” My eyes prick, and I blink back tears.
“What?” Cal looks at me, surprised, then pulls me close. “Of course you’re worth it. I’d sacrifice everything for you, Frankie…” He kisses the top of my head. “Except for Junie. I don’t want to expose her to publicity or have photos of her online or any of it if you’re going to leave.”
I sit up to face him, my heart thumping. “What is it you’re asking, Cal? To promise I’ll stay in Serenity Cove? To commit to you long-term?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I mean, that’s what I want to ask, and it’s not fair.
But, seeing you with your ex brought up more than feelings of friendship.
I’ve gotta be honest about that, and the fact that I’m afraid Junie and I will both get our hearts broken if you come back to the ranch then leave in a day or two.
” He throws up his hands in defeat and huffs.
“I've got no idea what I’m asking you to do, Frankie.”
I think about what he’s said and how to answer before I finally find the words. “I've got no idea what to do, Cal. I just—I need time to figure out what comes next for me, and… I think what you want is certainty.” I sigh. “I can’t give you that.”
Cal opens his mouth, pauses, and a lifetime later, speaks.
“I think you already know what you should do. If coming to the ranch is about running from a choice you don’t want to make…
if it’s about not facing your dad or Brandon” He looks at me.
“That’s not fair to me or to Junie. But most of all, it’s not fair to you.
You deserve closure, Frankie. If your dad’s as sick as Brandon says, you may not have another chance to make peace with him. ”
I nod and swallow back tears. “You want me to leave?”
“It’s not about what I want, Frankie, otherwise we’d be on our way back to the ranch.” His lips twitch downward, setting off a tight cinching in my chest.
I close my eyes. When I open them again, I’m ready to be honest, too.
“You’re right, though. I should see Malcolm.” Instead of constricting at that truth, my chest opens. “I don’t want to, and I can’t sort out why I’m being tugged in that direction.”
I take a breath and release another truth.
“The only thing I know is how I feel about you. Those feelings are real. I—” I swallow again, but the tears come when Cal’s eyes threaten to spill over too.
“I’ve never felt the way I do with you. Not with Brandon.
Not with anybody else. I’ve never felt the way I feel about myself when I’m with you and when I’m with Junie. ”
“We’ll be here once you’ve tied things up in LA.” He takes the camo Barry’s hat I set on the dash earlier and hands it to me.
I put it on and do the only thing I can to stop my tears.
I stroke his cheek, then press my lips to his.
There’s nothing hurried or frantic about this kiss. No hands gripping or mouths searching for more. It’s sweet. Tender. Salty with tears. Cal’s or mine, I can’t tell.
When we break apart, he tucks a loose curl behind my ear. “It’s not goodbye, just see you later.”
I nod, kiss him one more time, then grab my bag and climb out of the truck.