I paced my floor, wearing a hole in the creamy tan carpet. Daphne, my best friend since the age of seven, was on her way over to help me make sense of everything happening. Cade Kelling was my client. My first major client.
Cade Kelling.
My heart beat sped up, causing my breath to come out in short, raspy sounds. Waves of nausea flowed through me. I clutched my stomach and inhaled deeply. Breathing in and out. I stopped my pacing long enough to check my phone for any response from Daph. I’d texted her immediately after I learned I was on his case. Texting his name alone was enough for her to know that I needed her ASAP. She hadn’t sent anything back, so I hoped she was on the road.
I walked to the kitchen, my mind in a million different places. What would I wear? What would I say? What would he say? What if I made a mess of things? A fool of myself? I absent mindedly grabbed a glass, filling it with ice and water. I downed it, then another. I sipped the second a little slower, letting the coolness calm my nerves. The cup almost fell out of my hand when I heard the rapid knock at my door.
I rushed to the door, swinging it open with a fury. “Daphne,” I exclaimed, pulling her in for a hug.
“Oh, my gosh, Francesca. Cade? Really?” she asked, her brows turned down in confusion. Daphne was beautiful. Her long, dark hair fell in waves down her back. She was almost as tall as I, only much skinnier. Her big green eyes shone against the darkness of her skin and hair.
I nodded, fighting back the tears threatening to escape. “I know. I don’t know what to do,” I stuttered. Shutting the door, I slumped in the chair situated in the entrance. Resting my head in my hands, I looked at her for answers. Whenever there was a problem, Daphne was the first person I called. She was always there for me. We’d fought a few times, but we managed to find our way back to each other.
Seating herself on my couch, she pressed her lips into a firm line. Her I’m-confused-and-lost expression. “Francesca…have you talked to him since…?”
I shook my head. Biting my lip, I felt a single tear slide down my cheek. Sniffling, I lifted my finger to brush it away.
“Are you ok? You can always turn this down if it’s too much for you. Screw that stupid law firm. They haven’t treated you right since day one,” she rambled.
I knew she had a point, but a part of me, a big part of me, knew I had to do this. I needed closure. And I needed to prove myself to Mr. Phillips and the rest of the partners at my job. And Cade…well, I wanted to see him. I needed to see him. As much as it hurt, and as hard as it would be…tomorrow I would be seeing Cade for the first time in seven years. “I’ll be ok, Daphne. Will you stay here tonight? I need help getting ready tomorrow.”
“Of course! Sleepover, whoo hoo,” she yelled, trying to make me smile.
It worked. We spent the rest of the evening deciding on my outfit and calming my nerves.
Six a.m. met me with an uneasy night of rest, as usual. Only last night the dreams were of his face, his eyes, and his arms around my body. Just the sound of his name caused butterflies to come storming back into my stomach like an army on a rampage. I dressed in my best black suit. The pencil skirt showed off my curves while the jacket was snug enough to display my ample breasts. The fuchsia shirt I wore underneath complemented my light skin tone. After straightening my hair, and leaving it loose, I finally decided I looked good enough to face the day.
I slipped out of the bathroom to hear Daphne wolf-whistle at me. Rolling my eyes, I gave her a wicked grin. “Will I drive him crazy?”
“Absolute bonkers, dah-ling,” she said in her best British accent.
Giggling, I gathered my briefcase and swung my bag over my shoulder. “Breakfast?”
“Pancakes?”
“Of course. It’s a big day. Big days require pancakes.”
She smiled big, holding her arm out for me to take. I linked us together and we struggled out the door, laughing the whole way.
Daphne drove us to the local pancake place, Lola’s House. As she drove, my mind couldn’t help but drift back to the first time I met Cade….
9 years prior-September
At sixteen years old, I was insecure and quiet. I didn’t make friends very well. Girls were mean to me, though at the time I didn’t know why. Every day at school I read between classes, at lunch, and after while I waited for my second bus. The school bus dropped me off at the bus stop. Pathetic, huh?
It was a hot September day that changed my life forever. Nothing about me would be the same. Ever. I walked to the bench, oblivious to my surroundings. My nose was stuck in my current romance novel. I followed along as the girl fell in love with her best friend (the bad boy), wishing life was really that way. I didn’t even notice when he walked by me.
Or when he stopped a few yards from me, and came back in my direction to take a seat beside me.
“Hey. Do you want a cracker?” he velvet voice asked me.
I didn’t look up, I wasn’t sure if he was even talking to me. Why would an attractive senior be talking to me?
“Hey, I’m talking to you,” he said, a chuckle in his voice.
I slowly lifted my head, peering at him from under my long lashes. His dark brown hair swept across his forehead and his deep blue eyes made me gasp. He wore the ultimate laid back style, a white t-shirt and jeans. All he needed was a black leather jacket and he would be the bad boy from my book. The smile on his face was breathtaking, and I found myself unable to speak.
“Hi, I’m Cade,” he said, a huge grin on his handsome face.
“Hi, I’m Francesca.”
“Why are you always sitting here alone, Francesca?” he asked, placing his hand on my knee.
Shivers went up my spine while butterflies flew rampant in my stomach. A hot senior guy had his hand on my knee. My eyes looked at it, wondering what was happening. Was the world ending? Was this a prank?
“I like to read,” I stated lamely.
Laughing, he replied, “I can see that. You didn’t hear me ask if you wanted a cracker.” He held out a pack of those orange peanut butter and cheese crackers. I always thought they were disgusting, but I considered taking one in that moment.
“No, thanks,” I said, shaking my head. I gave him a warm smile.
“Ok,” he said. Before he could say more, my bus pulled up. Right on time, of all days.
“That’s my bus,” I told him.
“Ok,” he said, finally lifting his hand from my leg. “Do you mind if I come back sometime?” he asked, a twinkle in his eyes. Standing, he held a hand out to assist me.
“Not at all,” I said, giving him a genuine smile. He seemed nice. New friends weren’t a bad thing.
He walked me to the bus. “Ok, good. Maybe I’ll see you around school sometime. You should say hi.” He sauntered off, looking back long enough to wave.
I barely made it up the stairs. I stared after him until I couldn’t see him anymore. I couldn’t stop the smile from filling my whole face.
Present Day
“Francesca, are you listening to me?” Daphne practically yelled at me. The shrill of her voice brought me out of my daydream of remembrance.
“Oh, sorry. I was thinking…” I admitted. I felt bad for tuning her out so easily, though it wasn’t purposely.
“Oh, I wonder what you were thinking about. Or should I say who?” she said accusingly. Her voice sounded scolding, while her eyes showed sympathy.
Guiltily, I looked down. “I can’t help it,” I whispered.
She nodded and turned the edge of one corner of her mouth. “I know, sweetie. I know. We’re here and after breakfast, everything will be better.” She gave me a huge smile and I caught her enthusiasm. I wasn’t the same girl I was back then. Today would be fine.
I thought.
I hoped.
I managed to choke down a single pancake. Daphne kept giving me a knowing, accusing look, so I had to ignore her for most of the meal. My stom
ach was in knots, palms sweating, and head began to ache the closer the hand inched toward the nine o’clock hour.