Nine
Frankie
“Francesca Smith?” I hear my name softly whispered from the front bars as the door slides open with a bang, making me wince. I lift my head as a new, older cop enters my cell.
“I’m Chief Cruz. I am so sorry about this, ma’am. Seems the rooky here,” he growls toward an ashamed-looking Larry? Lawrence? Douche canoe. “Got a little too eager on his first solo ride. The real perp was arrested yesterday across the Georgia state line.”
“Does that mean I get to leave?” I ask, my voice small, my body feeling smaller.
“Yes, ma’am, come along this way, and we’ll take care of you.”
I don't reply or talk as he walks me through the station and toward the front of the building.
“We didn't have time to tow your van back into impound, so it's still out on highway fifty. I can have the good officer here take you back, maybe make him grab you whatever you want from wherever you want. It will be on him. But only if you would like. Or I can personally drive you myself,” he says, but I’m already shaking my head. After this little run in, I want to be as far away from this station and anyone associated with it as soon as possible.
“Okay, hun, I understand. I can call you a ride, though. I can't tell you how sorry I am about this situation, and I promise you Officer Louis,” So that's douches name, “Will not be getting off the hook for this one so easy.”
I nod, but don't make another peep as I walk toward the doors and out into the morning sunshine. I have no clue what time it is, and I don't care. The only thing I care about is getting back to my van, my safety, and getting the hell out of this damn town. It has been nothing but heartache and trouble since I got here. I wrap my arms around my stomach as I make my way down the stairs of the police station.
“Frankie! Oh, thank the lord. Schnooks, I’m so…” I hear that familiar voice, and instead of the comfort I usually feel, this time, I flinch. I flinch even further as he puts his hands up like he’s going to touch my cheek. When my eyes find his, the heartbreak and hurt are written all over his face, and I almost want to comfort him, but right now, I can't. I have to get myself away from him and away from this town.
“I need to go,” I say, barely above a whisper.
“Schnooks..” I flinch again, then turn to walk down the sidewalk. “Frankie baby, please. I need you to let me explain.”
“I just can't, Beck. I can't. I need to go. I need to get out of here, away from all this,” I tell him, trying and failing to keep my breathing under control. I feel the panic attack coming, wondering how I'm going to get back to my van. I was freaking out so much yesterday, I don't even know where I am. The police station is back off the main road, and I don't know which way to go.
“Hey hey hey. Frankie. Breath for me, baby. In then out,” he says, bringing my vision back from the tunnel I didn't even realize was about to take over. When I’m finally calm, he pulls back away from me, and it almost breaks me again. I know I asked him for space, but I forgot how safe his touch was. Then the image of him with another girl hits me again, and I want to throw up. I turn and start walking, mumbling to myself.
“Just get to the van. I need my van. I just need to get to it. Everything is going to be okay,” I whisper to myself.
“Frankie, where is your van?” Beck asks softly from behind me. I guess he was following me, but my brain is too focused on getting away.
“I don't know. They pulled me over on the highway, out past the ice cream shop. I don't know which way the ice cream shop is.”
“Hey, it's okay. I know where the ice cream shop is. How about you let me drive you there? I promise to take you straight to your van. No other stops,” he pleads with me, and it seems like my only real choice right now.
I could have sucked it up and rode with the cop, but if they would have made me sit in that backseat again, I probably would have thrown up all over the place. That would have shown them. Rather than speaking, I just nod and let him lead me to his truck. No matter what I say or how much I try to cut it off, I still can't help but feel safe as I climb into Beck's truck. The familiar smell of grease and metal wrapping around me creates a blanket of safety. I finally feel completely safe for the first time since everything happened yesterday.
“Please, baby, tell me what happened? I swear I had no clue what was going on. I was…” I cut him off, wanting to get this over and done with.
“I was pulled over yesterday by some rookie cop. Apparently, there was a robbery three towns over. I think someone might have gotten hurt. I guess the guys drove off in a van similar to mine. The rookie saw my van and pulled me over, then arrested me on sight. He didn't run my plates or tell me why I was being pulled over…” My voice breaks on the last sentence, but when Beck places his hand over mine in my lap, I’m able to breathe again. Quickly, I finish, “They put me in cuffs, took me to the jailhouse, took mugshot and prints, then they took me to an interrogation room where they told me why I was arrested. I tried to tell them I was with you that night, but they didn't believe me. When I finally got to make a call, your number was the only one I knew. I dialed it over and over.”
This time, I'm not able to stop the sob as it racks my body, and I give in. I sob loudly, barely feeling the truck veer as he pulls over to the side of the road and pulls me into his arms. I want to be strong and pull away, but I can't. This is the only place I’ve wanted to be since they arrested me. Now that he’s holding me, I can feel my heart calming. The panic recedes, and I know I need answers. I won't be able to leave this town, leave him without knowing the truth. Knowing if he was with some other girl while I was behind those bars.
“I’m so damn sorry, baby. I know I should have been there.”
“Where were you?” I ask, turning my head and looking up at him through my lashes. “Were you with Grace?”
I hold my breath as he goes still, then looks down at me with his brows drawn in.
“How did you know?”
At his question, I try to sit up and pull away from him. How can he admit right to my face he was with another woman while I’m sitting right here in his arms? How could I have been so stupid?
“Let me go,” I seethe.
“Woah, Frankie. What's going on? Who told you about my sister?”
“Sister?” I nearly breathe out as my heart slowly beats in my chest. Grace is his sister? “Your sister's name is Grace?”
“Okay, you're starting to freak me out here a bit. Please tell me what the hell is going on in your fascinating head so that I can fix the tangles that seem to be weaving in and out.” He tried to joke, but with the sadness in his eyes, I can tell this situation has taken a toll on him just as big as it's taken on me.
“The Rookie, when I told him I was trying to call you, all he would tell me was that you and some girl named Grace were always attached at the hip. Then when you didn't answer….”
“Shit, you thought I was playing you. Baby, look at me,” he whispers as he uses his finger to lift my chin. When I meet his eyes, I see the pain in them.
“You can check the records. Hell, call my parents and ask them. Or the hospital. I can give you her doctor's name. I was with my sister at the hospital all last night. There is no other girl that isn’t related even close to me, and never has been. Over the last few weeks, has it not been clear how fucking insanely obsessed I am with you?” he asks, giving me a small smirk. There's my Beck.
“I know, but do you know how many times I’ve been chosen, then just tossed aside when the shine wore off? I thought maybe that's what I was… something shiny.” I cry again as Beck once again pulls me close.
“You are shiny… but just call me baby, baby. Because I will never be able to look away or toss you aside. I promise to polish you up every single day like the treasure you are. You are my light when there's only ever been darkness. Please believe me.”
I laugh through the tears at his words and look up into his face, only seeing the truth, and I swear my heart is overflowing with love for this man. Then my head clears, and I realize how absolutely selfish I have been all night and all day.
“Oh my gosh, what happened to your sister? Why are you here instead of with her? I'm so sorry for being unreasonably selfish.” I start to go on, but he leans in and silences me with a deep kiss. When he pulls back, the smile lighting his face erases the entire night, and I take a deep breath for the first time.
“I just got a call right before I pulled up to the station and saw you trying to run from me,” he laughs. However, I can still detect the hint of panic. “They are trying some new trial drug that will hopefully keep the seizures down.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” I breathe a sigh of relief for his family.
“There is just one more thing left to do,” he says and I raise my brow in question.
“I want you to meet them…”
Queue, for the second time today, freakout.