11. Francesca

11

FRANCESCA

I lug my grocery bag and purse down the hall to my apartment.

I feel like I barely survived lunch with Tonya and Megan.

Note to self. . . stay as far away from Tonya as possible. Toxic.

I reach the apartment door and dig through my purse for the door card. It's buried under my wallet, but I fish it out and push it into the door lock.

Nothing.

What the hell?

I try it again and the light shows green for one second and turns to red again.

I set my grocery bag down on the hallway floor so I can focus on getting into my apartment.

I try the door card at least five more times with the same result— the light is green for a few seconds and goes to red. Even when the light is green, the door handle won't budge.

Great. I'm locked out of my apartment.

I lean against the doorframe and look up and down the empty hallway. I run my hand through my hair.

Not what I need.

I check my watch and hope Theo is home from the hockey game he had this afternoon.

I grab my grocery bag and make my way down the hallway to Theo's apartment and tap on the door. I can hear movement inside. At least he's home and hopefully he'll answer the door.

The door comes open a crack and peers out. "Hey, you."

"Hi. I've got a problem."

He opens the door all the way which allows me to get a full look at his face that he's holding an icepack on.

He removes the icepack which reveals his swollen check with several stitches.

I gasp. "Oh my gosh! What the hell happened?"

He shrugs. "I took a stick to the face. Six stitches later and I'm good as new."

I bite my bottom lip. "A fight?"

He chuckles. "You'd think, but actually it happened during the game while we were trying to take possession of the puck." He winces as he puts the icepack back to his swollen cheek.

I take a step closer. "Looks painful."

He smirks. "You thought I got into a fight, didn't you?"

I lightly touch his face. "Maybe…How many stitches?"

"Six. Doc Mitchell patched me up."

I let out a sigh. "Did they give you some pain meds?"

He nods.

I notice his appearance. Shirtless, mussed up hair and sweatpants.

He's delectable.

"What's going on with you?"

Although I'm tempted to research Tonya's theory, I try to keep my eyes on his face.

"I can't get into my apartment."

He furrows his brow. "You forgot your card?"

"No, I have my card, I can't get the door open."

"Let me grab a shirt." He points to my grocery bag. "You have cold stuff in there?"

"No, just a loaf of bread and a few other things."

He turns away and I can't help my eyes ogling his back— muscular biceps, well defined traps. And his ass in those sweatpants.

He grabs his shirt, turns around, and catches me in the act of enjoying the view.

He chuckles and stands facing me. "Like what you see, do you?" He winks and takes a deep breath which expands every firm muscle of his chest— pecs, his six-pack abs. He has a tattoo on his pec and bicep. The right artwork is impressive and I'm a fan.

I melt like an ice cube on a summer day.

My face heats up. "Pretty impressive, I must say."

"This is what six days a week in the weight room gets you."

"Conceited much?" I grin. "Nothing to be disappointed about, that's for sure."

He slips the T-shirt over his head, and I follow him down the hallway.

"These things can be a pain," he says as he puts the card in the reader. "That's weird."

"It only lights up for like barely two seconds."

He messes with the door for a few more minutes then pulls his cell phone out of his pocket.

"I'll call building maintenance," he says as he holds the phone to his ear. "Aaron? Hey, it's Theo on third floor." He goes on to explain the situation and his brow furrows. He rubs the back of his neck with his free hand.

"No, don't call her." He winks at me. "Exactly, you can't bother a woman in labor. Not cool."

Somehow this doesn't sound good.

"Don't worry about that. She can stay at my place tonight."

Stay at his place?

He ends the call. "Okay, here's the deal. Aaron said they won't be able to get someone here until tomorrow afternoon to fix your door. The building manager along with the maintenance staff are on their way back from a conference and won't get home until tomorrow afternoon." He hands me my door card. "Marissa, who is our "in case of emergency gal" is at Concord General in labor."

"I guess it isn't technically an emergency. I can walk to the Brighton and get a room for the night."

"Don't be ridiculous. You can stay at my place… it's just for one night." He winks. "Besides, what're you going to do in the hotel all by yourself? Sit on the bed and snack on that loaf of bread in your bag?"

"You don't know that I don't have a jar of peanut butter in here." I point to the grocery bag still on my arm.

"Do you?"

"No." I shrug. "Teabags, a package of almonds, a cake mix, and a lime."

"It's settled then. You'll stay with me."

He invites me inside and I'm impressed with the décor. Lots of framed photos on the walls. I expected a sterile motel vibe.

I nod. "Homey."

"Thanks." He closes the front door. "Make yourself comfortable."

I sit down on his couch and my cell phone rings.

Lucia.

"Hey, it's my sister. I'm going to take this."

He nods. "Absolutely." He steps into the kitchen.

"Hey Luce. What's up?"

"Hey, Frannie. Is this a bad time?" I note a bit of worry in her voice.

"It's fine. Everything okay with the family?"

Lucia lets out a deep breath. "Yeah, the family's fine. I was just wondering if you'd been to the grocery store lately."

I groan. "Now what?" I look toward the kitchen and Theo's back is turned away from me, but he's still within earshot of the conversation.

"Is there anyone around you right now?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Lucia takes a deep breath. "I didn't want you to see it in the tabloids, but Jesse and Whitney announced their engagement."

I groan.

"I know, right? So far, I've only seen the news in the Sports Examiner and Celebrity Enquirer. I did a thorough check online and a few sites have picked up the story, but there aren't any big mentions of you."

"What does that mean exactly?" I look toward the kitchen and Theo is adding ice to two drinking glasses.

"In the Sports Examiner, there's a teeny tiny article under the big article with something about Frannie is in the penalty box or something stupid like that."

"Really?"

"I know you can't say a lot, but there was absolutely no mention of where you are, no mention that they're looking for you. The little blurb just said you moved on. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know before you saw it in the grocery store."

"Thank you. I appreciate that."

"Oh sweetie, you are so much better without him. I know it still hurts, but it was better to find out before the wedding. That doesn't make it easier, but I'm glad you're living your own life now."

"Thank you. Me too."

"It's Saturday, you're not at work, are you?"

"No, I'm with a friend."

There's a giggle. "A male friend?"

"I am."

"We'll talk later, but I hope you're there to get laid." My sister breaks out into laughter.

"You're impossible." I can't stop my grin. "It's been a while, you know."

"Let. It Happen. You've moved on, remember?"

Theo is on his way to the couch with a tray of soft drinks and two glasses filled with ice cubes.

"It's great advice. We'll talk soon, okay?"

There's a giggle. "You know it."

I end the call.

"Is everything okay?" Theo hands me a glass of ice.

"Yes. My sister. Just filling me in on things back home."

He smiles and I melt like candle wax. Maybe Lucia's right. Maybe it's time to stop licking my wounds about Jesse and throw caution to the wind.

Her words keep playing over in my head.

Let. It. Happen.