Page 55 of Better Watch Out
Realization spread over her face. “And tonight?”
“I don’t think that was an accident.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me?”
Andrew worked his jaw. He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand hoping she would understand. “After the bookstore incident, I called Ryan to let him know there was a chance you might be followed if we got you on the plane back to D.C. and you needed to be protected. Ryan said it would be better if we didn’t tell you, so you—”
Frannie withdrew her hand from his and he saw the shift in her posture. “What? You both decided not to tell me because I’m too naïve, too incompetent to take care of myself?”
“He didn’t want you to worry.”
“No.” Frannie scoffed. “He wants to control my life.” She shook her head. “I’m not a child. I’m not fragile. And my life is mine. Mine to experience, and make mistakes, and figure out.” When her eyes found Andrew’s, they shined with tears. “I thought that’s what I was doing this weekend. Figuring out where I went wrong with Calvin and learning what it really is I want from my life and for my future. Our time together this weekend, you made me feel like I was capable of creating a future for myself but—” her frown deepened—“Did my brother make you hang out with me this weekend? To keep me safe?”
“No. I mean, he knew I would get you safely to the airport for your flight and my agency made accommodations so that we could keep an eye on you but Frannie, every minute I’ve spent with you has been my choice and not because I think you’re fragile.”
There was a hint of desperation in his tone to make her believe him. “At first, I had to trust Ryan’s decision but these last couple of days have shown me that while his intentions come from a place of brotherly love, I don’t think he knows how strong you are. You possess the kind of strength and courage that doesn’t let fear rule you. I won’t lie, I understand why it terrifies him.” He wanted so badly to make her understand. “If anything happened to you, it would be devastating.”
She turned to her window, hands folded in her lap and all he wanted to do was reach for them but his unanswered question from earlier wasn’t the only thing lingering between them now. Would she forgive him for not being entirely honest? Because without that—it wouldn’t matter how she answered.
ChapterTwenty-Two
Dickens should’ve written a fourth ghost. The Ghost of Missed Opportunity. Or was that the Ghost of Christmas Present? Frannie stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror of her hotel room after Andrew had dropped her off for the night.
Something had shifted tonight. Actually, it was more than one thing. The whole day had been magical and unexpected in all of the ways a writer would script for a Hallmark movie. Minus the nearly-getting-run-over bit.
That was more Lifetime Channel.
Especially after Andrew’s confession. She was furious with her brother, but it wasn’t surprising. But with Andrew … it was disappointing. For some reason, after only knowing him a few days, his opinion mattered to her. She didn’t want him to see her as a damsel in distress, although being rescued by him did have its perks. There would be no confessing the number of times she’d sniffed her clothing that had picked up his spicy cologne. So, which is it? Was she upset with him for not telling her or was she falling for him? Could it be both?
She was afraid to answer either question and it caused her head to throb nearly as badly as her ankle from twisting it on the sidewalk. Note to self for future trips to NYC: Forget what looks fashionable and go with comfort and stability. Being careful of her ankle, she stretched her toes in the pair of fuzzy socks that felt like heaven after wearing heels all day.
Frannie grabbed the box of chocolate truffles left by the hotel and folded her legs beneath her as she sat on the couch in her room. She’d left the lights off and allowed the glow of twinkle lights from the Christmas tree and the city outside her window to fill the room around her in an atmosphere of magic.
Future trips to NYC.
She unwrapped a chocolate and took a bite. A few days ago, this city was the last place she wanted to be and now … now she was considering the possibility of returning.
And whether she wanted to admit it or not, it did have something to do with Andrew.
Frustration turned the chocolate sour in her stomach. All those moments when she noticed the shifts in Andrew’s personality, she'd assumed it was because he was being forced to hang out with her—a favor to Ryan. Then at some point, she allowed herself to believe it was more. That the shared personal stories, deep questions, and looks that had her insides feeling perfectly gushy might mean something more.
Every minute I’ve spent with you has been my choice. And not because I think you’re fragile.
The distress to be believed was clear in Andrew’s voice when he spoke those words but the tiny whispers of doubt were clouding her ability to believe him.
If he only wanted to protect me, he didn’t have to take me to Bryant Park or to see the Macy’s Santa or to see the Christmas lights tonight. It had to mean something more, right?
She replayed the day over and over in her mind and it all led to Andrew’s question that she’d left unanswered.“And now?”
What did life look like for her now—without Calvin? Frannie sank deeper into the couch cushions. How was she supposed to answer that? She had no idea how to assess the confusion twisting her insides into a knot. It was one thing to admit that Ryan was right about Calvin but he was wrong to ask Andrew not to tell her about the mistaken identity threat. And would Andrew still believe she didn’t allow fear to rule her if he knew it had been she who had refused to accept all the signs that everyone else saw for an entire year—that her relationship with Calvin had long been over?
Frannie groaned. She needed to talk this out and there was only one person who’d be completely honest with her. Stretching to the coffee table, she grabbed her cell phone and dialed Vivian’s number. It was past nine so there was a chance her sister-in-law would be asleep, and Frannie just hoped she wasn’t going to wake up Jisoo.
“Hey, big-city girl,” Vivian answered. “If you’re calling to tell me your flight’s been delayed or cancelled again, I’m going to make you tell your niece and feel the wrath of her doe-eyed disappointment.”
“I’ll be on the six-fifteen direct flight to D.C. tomorrow night.”
“Whew.” Vivian’s sigh was dramatic. “I’ve lost count how many times I’ve had to explain to Jisoo why your flight was delayed, why the planes can’t fly if it snows, and of course that only caused her to freak out because Ryan told her it was snowing where he was and she’s worried Daddy isn’t going to be home for Christmas.” Vivian sighed again but Frannie heard the exhaustion in it. “When I pick you up tomorrow, I’m going to put my earbuds in and let you field questions on the drive home.”
