Tinkering and fixing cars was always a way for me to get away, to free my mind from what I worried about, and just get lost for a bit. So, it made sense that after high school, I started working for a local mechanic shop run by a friend of Cason’s dad. It was small, hometown boy decided to make a business type of thing, but in the past year, he’d sold it to a big name company. That’s where Ms. Thorpe and her HR talk came in. Money made people stupid. When Drew sold the shop, I was worried. He always let me work on my own schedule, he knew the things that made me tick, and he didn’t threaten my job, unlike this new, macho company. Sometimes I thought they would just threaten me or write me up because they could. I dreaded marching in there and begging for my job, but what choice did I have? Pops would demand I find something, though I knew he would help me if things got too desperate. Groaning, I backed the car away from the main building, driving around to the side so I could find my manager’s office.
Ms. Thorpe was tall with dark hair and blue eyes. She was in her mid-thirties and quite attractive. I’d tried my best to charm my way into her bed when she first began, but no such luck. Shocking ,to say the least. Luckily she was oblivious to my advances, or I probably would have lost my job then. My only hope now was to charm my way back to my job. I parked the car, getting out and straightening my clothing to look representable. I made my way in, seeing her eyes grow wide when she glanced up and noticed me. She didn’t look very happy. I knew this wasn’t going to be good.
“Cade,” she said, her voice sharp and to the point.
I held my hand up, stopping her before she kicked me out. “Please, let me speak for a moment.”
She sighed loudly, then motioned for me to continue.
“I screwed up. I get that, but I’m one of the best you’ve got. Please, let me have another chance,” I begged, giving a dazzling smile.
She raised an eyebrow, leaning forward onto her hands. “Cade, we had this conversation last time you didn’t show up for work. Remember?” she said with a smile. “It doesn’t matter how good you are at your job, you aren’t dependable. I’m sorry, but this is it. I’ve given you too many chances,” she said, eyes weary and her hands lowering. She almost looked upset about it.
“Please…” I started, but she stood abruptly, stopping me.
“You need to leave. HR has the paperwork for you to sign. Don’t make me call security, Mr. Kelling. Yes, you are a fine mechanic, but you have a problem. I can smell the alcohol from here,” she hissed, stepping around the desk. “Get ahold of your drinking, and maybe we can bring you back.”
“I don’t have a drinking problem, Ms. Thorpe,” I chuckled.
She stared at me, her eyes drilling a hole in me. Her glare was dubious, “I see. Well, when you figure it out and get it together, give me a call.” She turned, going back to her seat and not giving me another glance.
I guessed this conversation was over. I backed out the door, lifting my hand in a small wave and calling “Have a good day,” as I left.
###
I poured my fifth glass of scotch, slamming the bottle on the table beside me. The meeting hadn’t gone as I thought it would. Ms. Thorpe somehow got them to not actually “fire” me, but lay me off for medical reasons. I wasn’t gone, but I wasn’t getting paid or anything either. I didn’t fully understand it, but it didn’t really matter at this point. Pops had stopped calling about an hour or so ago. Guess he got tired of my automated voicemail. I ignored Cason, too, because I felt guilty. So damn guilty that I lost the job he’d got me. He’d stood up for me over and over, and this is how I repaid him. I finished the glass, standing to rummage through my wallet. I knew I had her card here somewhere…it would have her cell number on there, right?
When things went wrong, it was Francesca’s face I saw. Her voice I wanted to hear. Her touch I ached for. It was wrong, so very wrong to keep pulling her into my shitty life, but I couldn’t stop myself. I was that selfish. Her card was tucked into the spot behind my license, so I wouldn’t lose it. I pulled it out, searching my phone for the number I’d called the other day. It appeared that her cell wasn’t on here. Dammit. I took a risk, calling the office number, though it was well past seven p.m. The line rang for quite some time, then a messaging service picked up.
Her voice, soothing and alluring, filled my ear. “You’ve reached Francesca Taymon. Please leave your name, number, and case information and I’ll get back to you. If you need my assistance immediately, you may call my personal line at 845-892-2658. Thank you.”
Bingo. I called again, writing the number down this time, and praying she didn’t have a caller ID to show her just how crazy I am. I hesitated after punching the number in…maybe calling her wasn’t such a bright idea. I flipped it around, texting her instead. Texting didn’t put as much pressure on me…she either answered or she didn’t. Calling…well, that could be disastrous.
Me: Hey. It’s Cade.
Waiting was rough. My whole body longed for her to reply, but my head screamed at me that she shouldn’t. I didn’t’ deserve her and she could do so much better. I think it was a full two minutes before my phone gave me a notification. It served me right after all those times I stood her up.
Francesca: Hey. Everything ok?
My heart sped up. She answered.
Me: No. I lost my job today. I admitted.
Francesca: I’m sorry. What happened?
Me: Just lame stuff. What are you doing? Just throw it out there Cade. Good job, buddy.
Francesca: I’m working on your case. Why?
Texting showed no emotion. It drove me crazy. Do you need help? I asked.
Francesca: I’m a lawyer, Cade. Haha I think I can handle it.
Me: I think we should hang out soon.
Francesca: I don’t know if that’s a good idea… One text and she shattered me.
Me: I do. Please? I would beg if I had to.
Francesca: What did you have in mind?
Me: Friday night, I’ll make us some plans. 7 p.m. I prayed she said yes.
Francesca: One condition. You can’t be drunk.
Me: Deal. I would agree to chopping my leg off if it meant spending time with her.
Francesca: Friday at 7. This isn’t a date, Cade.
I could handle that. She may not think it’s a date, but I would find a way to remind her of the time we did go on a date. Granted, I was dating Jade at the time and it was all sorts of wrong, it was still our first date.
7 years prior-April
I’d been with Jade for roughly six months. Longest six months of my life. She was controlling and a total bitch. She knew I didn’t care for her, that she was just a way to waste time, but I think she wanted to somehow make me love her. She tried everything in her power, I granted her that, but nothing worked. It couldn’t happen. Her name wasn’t Francesca Taymon.
I sat on the swing at the park, the sun setting, leaving a brilliant golden hue that I would enjoy any other day, but I was in hiding. I swung back and forth, the air chilling me to the bone. It wasn’t quite spring weather yet. It snowed last week. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear her car pull up, or the door shut when she got out. I stared at the sand below my legs when I almost rammed right into her. She stood in front of me, her hair wavy and wild, her eyes dark and foreboding as she watched me.
“Francesca.” I dragged my feet, stopping.
“Cade,” she said, looking anywhere but my face. “I don’t know why I’m here,” she said, reaching in her pocket and pulling out keys.
“No,” I said quickly, jumping up and grasping her arm. “Please, we need to talk.”
“I’m so stupid,” she said, tears brimming her eyes.
“I’m the stupid one, Francesca. I’m so sorry,” I whispered, pulling her to me tightly. I smoothed her hair, reveling in her scent. I’d missed her so much.
“Sorry for what?” she asked between sniffles.
“For being with that bitch I’m dating. I don’t even like her,” I admitted, moving her f
ace so I could look into her beautiful eyes.
“Then why are you with her?” she questioned, her brown pools full of emotion and intrigue.
“She’s good for the parties,” I said, shrugging.
“I see. I thought…I thought we had something, Cade.” She turned from me, crossing her arms and staring at the playground.
“We have something, Francesca. Not had. We have it.”
She stiffened, then shook her head. “No, we don’t. You have a girlfriend.”
“I’m breaking up with her,” I said. And I meant it, in that moment.
She faced me, eyes widened, “Really?”
I nodded, pulling her closer. I bent my head, gazing at her for a moment before taking her lips in mine. Electrical bolts seemed to have taken over my body. I felt her arms trail up mine, around my neck and into my hair. She moaned softly into my mouth, causing me to kiss her that much deeper, harder. When we finally broke, I leaned my forehead to hers, catching my breath.
“Go on a date with me,” I demanded. I wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Now?” she chuckled.
I nodded quickly, “why not?” I held her hands in mine, silently pleading with her to say yes.
She bit her lip, which was incredibly sexy, then nodded slowly. I kissed her again, not as intense this time, then pulled her off to my car.
“Let me drive. I can smell the drinks you had earlier,” she said playfully, swatting at my chest.
I relented, letting her take the keys from me. I instructed her where to go, and though I had been drinking, I was in the moment more than I had been since the last time we went somewhere. I just prayed Jade didn’t find out before I could break up with her.
Present Day
Curiosity made me want to know if she remembered. If that night was as important to her as it was me. We hadn’t done anything particularly special that night, but it was the best night of my life, because I spent the time with her. Her smell, the way she moved, the gentle way her hair moved with the breeze. I could still feel it all. It was so real, such a strong memory. I was determined to make this time around even more memorable.
Chapter Thirteen-Francesca
Since moving back, one weeknight a month was dedicated to a girl’s night out. Daphne insisted I wasn’t the type to let loose enough, and demanded I go and have fun with her. I’d made a few new friends over the years, so we actually had a decent sized group to go out with. At first, everyone questioned why I stayed sober, but I always thought Daph said something, because the questions just stopped one night. Some of them knew about Josie’s accident, some did not. I didn’t want to talk about it with any of them.
Shuffling through my clothing, I groaned in frustration. I couldn’t decide what to wear. Daphne said “look super hot,” and left it at that. Her message was cryptic and left me feeling uneasy. I quickly texted Bree, asking if she knew what was up. Everything made me feel huge, ugly. A long day at the office equaled a very grumpy Francesca. Frustrated and discouraged, I texted Daph, telling her I wasn’t going this week. Her reply was almost instant, telling me to “shut up and get ready.”
After slipping out of my suit, I searched my closet for my favorite slinky black skirt. It was snug, but it looked good. It actually made me look like I weighed less, something I never understood. I paired it with strappy sandals and a shirt that showed off my assets perfectly. The mirror showed my hair was still straight from this morning, though limp, and my make-up needed minimal touch ups. Flipping my head over so my hair fell all around me, I frantically ran my hands through it to add body. Slamming upright, I gripped the counter to steady myself. My face was almost unrecognizable. Doing without sleep was wearing me down. The nightmares had shifted since Cade came back in the picture. It wasn’t just Josie I dreamed of, but him too. His lips, the way his hands lightly caressed my hair, how I felt whole around him, and how he lived but she died.
I fought back the tears as I relined my eyes with the dark pencil. My phone chimed, distracting me enough to almost poke myself. Dropping the eyeliner, I muttered curses as I tried to locate it. I turned every which way, certain I’d had it just minutes ago. I fell on the bed, digging under the pillow. Hammy meowed at me, giving me a look of death, and sauntered off. He had attitude for such a pretty little kitty. I gripped my treasure, sliding the screen on to see a text from Bree, a friend I met through Daphne.
Bree: Daph is totally up to something.
Me: Oh, no. What do you know?
Bree: This is on suspicions only. She told me to make sure you look hot.
Me: Shit. Daphne was definitely up to no good.
Bree: Did you really just cuss? Lol
Me: Yep.
I wasn’t one to let people hear me when I was angry. I knew lawyers were ruthless, but I wanted to also be considered a lady. So I kept my temper to myself. I tossed the phone back down, sitting on the edge of my bed, and burying my face in my hands. Daphne was my best friend, I loved her to death, but sometimes she meant well but only harmed the situation. My gut told me she was trying to make me forget about Cade, an impossible task. I vowed to stay for dinner only, then I was leaving. Especially if she invited some male companions along.
I shuffled to the kitchen, filled Hamlet’s food bowl and gave him more water. Checking to make sure everything was turned off, I stuffed my phone and wallet into a small clutch and headed out the door. My car, the not-so-shiny-new Honda that desperately needed a wash, was parked snugly in my small car port. I planned to build a garage, but couldn’t seem to find the time to get my dad over to help me. I slid in, buckling my seatbelt and adjusting my mirrors. I looked tired, sad. It’s wasn’t the best feeling to know that’s how I appeared to everyone, but what more could I do?
###
The smell of sweat hit me as soon as I passed by the bouncer. Daphne, Bree, Kylie, Ava, and Brooke were seated in a corner booth, sipping their drinks and chatting away like only women can do. I rushed over, slipping through the sea of bodies. Hands touched me, fingers brushed my legs, and my chest constricted as anxiety gripped at me. Being near this many drunk people wasn’t my favorite thing, and Daphne knew that, so I was curious why she chose a place I would hate for our girl’s night. I arrived at the table in one piece, sliding in the seat next to Ava, the tall redhead I met in a town meeting.
“Hey, Ava,” I greeted, then turned sharply to face Daphne. “What were you thinking? I hate bars.”
Her big eyes widened as she agreed with me. “I know.”
I stared at her. “And? Why here?”
“You need to get out more,” she slurred, “and I’m going to help you. You need to forget work, forget Cade, and just have fun.”
“Who is Cade?” Bree chimed in, looking genuinely confused.
“No one,” we said in unison.
Kylie laughed loudly, snorting a little, “Sure, he’s no one.” She used air quotes, her blue eyes wide and glassy as she giggled.
Brooke, the serious, married one of the group leaned forward. “You love him. I can see it written all over your face. Tell us who he is,” she demanded. Daphne met Brooke in college. I wasn’t her biggest fan, mainly because she was snobby to me half the time. She ran hot and cold. I never really knew if she liked me or not. I never understood why, but it didn’t matter. Seeing her once a month was something I could handle.
“I loved him at one point, yes, but now he’s just my client,” I said, looking over the menu.
Bree looked up, her golden brown eyes widening in excitement, “did you say client?” A smile crept over her lovey face. She was petite and curvy. Men loved her. She was also the only mom of the group. Her daughter, Ally, was the cutest kid ever. I loved it when she brought her over. Ally’s dad had split when Bree got pregnant, so she raised her on her own. She was a strong woman. I’d have to remember to tell her to bring Ally to meet Hamlet.
I nodded, a smile spreading widely across my face.
“Finally!” Kylie yelled, throwing her ar
ms up. She was tall, lanky, and the tomboy of the group. I’d never seen her in a dress or skirt, and doubted I ever would. Her blue peepers were framed with dark lashes to match her equally dark hair.
Ava smiled, downing the rest of her drink. She slammed the glass on the table, causing me to jump. Her flaming red hair was piled on top of her head, a few tendrils framing her freckled face. Her big blue eyes shone in the dim light and a mischievous smile plastered her face. “Yesssss,” she hissed, though I didn’t know if it was for the drink or because I had a client. Bree laughed, leaning around her to give me a high five. She was the only other one that didn’t get inebriated, so we usually ended up laughing at everyone else. I slapped her hand back, turning in time to see the waiter walk up. He was tall, muscular, and very attractive. Kylie instantly started flirting with him.
Twisting her brown locks around her finger, she batted her lashes and coyly asked, “Hey, handsome, care to get me another drink?” Her voice was as smooth as velvet. “Vodka on the rocks, please,” she said, licking her lips.
Rolling my eyes, I ordered a cheeseburger and water. The other ladies told him what they wanted, then we all watched him walk away. His fitted black pants made his backside look just right.
“Mmhmm,” Daphne sighed in front of me, a dreamy look on her face.
I laughed, shaking my head at them. Girl’s night out was never dull with these women. I thanked Matthew, our waiter, for my water and sipped it as I studied the bar. People were hanging all over one another, so much so that it was embarrassing for me to even watch. I diverted my eyes, focusing my attention on Bree.
“How’s Ally?” I asked, moving my head back and forth around Ava’s winding body. I felt like a duck.
“She’s good, she made honor roll again, my little super smart girl,” she said proudly.
I hoped to know that pride someday. I sat my water down, getting lost in my thoughts when a foot kicked me under the table. I snapped my eyes up, seeing Daph giggling and looking behind me. “What?” I questioned, about to turn.
Mangled Hearts: Francesca and Cade (Scarred Hearts) Page 7
