Page 66 of Better Watch Out
An airport shuttle van pulled up behind the Tahoe and a large family speaking Italian unloaded and filled the space around them with animated conversation and gesturing hands as they tried to communicate with the driver who was stacking their luggage on the sidewalk.
“I guess I should go—oof!” An older gentleman from the Italian family bumped into Frannie, sending her forward. Andrew caught her against his chest and secretly wanted to high-five the man. Frannie peeked up beneath her long lashes and smiled. “Well, then.”
Andrew brushed the hair away from her eyes, his thumb trailing a line down her cheek. “Well, then.”
“Thank you for a really nice time, Andrew.”
“It was my pleasure.” Her eyes were bright and inviting—an invitation he wanted to explore but he hesitated, unsure. Any doubt he may have had disappeared when Frannie slipped her arms around his waist. He wove his arms around her waist too, bringing her close to him, and nothing had ever felt more perfect.
Well… His gaze fell to her lips and he felt her lift onto her toes. He tipped his chin—
Fweeeet!
A shrill whistle rang in their ears and they turned to see the police officer who had eyeballed Andrew a minute ago standing nearby.
“Drop off only. Keep moving.”
Frannie’s arms dropped from his waist as she awkwardly stepped back and the emptiness he felt made Andrew want to shove the whistle—
“We were just saying good-bye.”
“Make it quick and keep moving. No parking. Drop off only.” The police officer continued to shout as he walked by them. “Ho, ho, ho, it’s time for you to go.”
Frannie wrinkled her nose. “At least he has Christmas spirit.”
“Sounds more like Scrooge.”
Grabbing her suitcase, Frannie rolled it around so she could pull it behind her. “I’ll let you know when I’m on the plane.”
“Merry Christmas, Frannie.”
“Merry Christmas, Andrew.”
ChapterTwenty-Six
Gah. Frannie blinked away the wetness gathering in her eyes and stepped forward in the TSA line. This was silly. There was no logical reason she should have such feelings for a man she’d met only a few days ago.
Especially so soon after Calvin ended it. A part of her worried all of this emotion was because of Calvin but there was a larger part that said her feelings for Andrew weren’t that shallow. She wasn’t trying to fill the void left by Calvin.
She was certain of that. Calvin was a nice guy and the right guy to help her navigate her newfound independence in college but looking back at these last few days, it was becoming easier to see that she was the one invested in making sure he followed his dreams. She couldn’t remember the last time Calvin even inquired about her job or if she was still writing.
And this whole last year?
Frannie snorted and the little boy in front of her laughed at her. She gave him a little wave before his mom and dad walked forward to the TSA agent.
The whole last year when Calvin was dating some woman at his office and knew he was falling in love—he still didn’t have the decency or courage to say something.
Somehow in just a few days, Andrew revealed to her what she’d been missing in her relationship with Calvin. Someone who didn’t just consider her hopes and desires but who wanted to see her achieve them—even if they were as silly as a Christmas bucket list.
Frannie went through the TSA security checkpoint and collected her carry-on. She had four hours before her flight to D.C. She studied the terminal map for a comfortable place to hang out for a few hours and decided onDiCampli Italian Bar and Grill. She headed that direction and wondered how soon was too soon to send Andrew a message.
The hostess sat Frannie at a small table that shared a long bench with other tables and backed up to a tall planter that blocked out the busy terminal. After a quick look at the menu, she ordered a bowl of minestrone and a cappuccino recommended by the waitress.
Pulling out her laptop, Frannie opened a blank document and decided the best way to control the urgenotto text Andrew right away was to spend the next hour or so enjoying her meal and writing about her bucket list adventure.
Thirty minutes in, she was second-guessing her decision to warm up with a soup and cappuccino. She’d barely made it to writing about the ice-tubing adventure before heat began to climb up the back of her neck. The sheer memory of Andrew squeezing her body against him as they hid from the good Samaritan still had her insides roasting hotter than chestnuts on an open flame.
She covered her smile with the tips of her fingers as she relived the way it felt to be in his arms, protected. She’d never felt so secure, and it made her heart dance with anticipation of possibility.
