Page 103 of More Than a Billionaire

He stared at the screen. Message delivered. But there was no reply. A sense of foreboding came over him. Why did he suddenly feel like he was about to lose her forever?

When Franky got home, he plopped down on the couch and leaned his head back. If he closed his eyes, the exhaustion of this emotional day would take over, and he wasn’t ready to stop trying to reach Skylar. Throughout the evening, he texted her but still received no reply. His phone showed “read” under his messages, and it annoyed him that she’d left him hanging.

Franky: I’m worried about you. Are you OK?

Franky: Please talk to me. Don’t shut me out.

Franky: You know I’m always here for you.

When days of texts didn’t work, he resorted to email, which she knew was his least favorite form of communication.

From: Franky

To: Skylar

Date: July 20

Subject: The strongest woman I know!

Dear Sky,

You know how much I love writing long emails (can you hear my sarcasm?), but I feel like this situation calls for more than a brief text, and you aren’t responding to any of those so …

I’ve been thinking a lot about our friendship tonight. If it wasn’t for you, I might still be wallowing in self-pity over Fiona leaving me. And you know it wasn’t like she was even the greatest girlfriend. I never thought of her as the love of my life or anything like that. It was just being dumped the way I was. (Humiliating much?)

Is that how you feel about our friendship? Like I ditched you for someone else?

Last summer was the best of my life. Truly. I loved how close we were, and I know things started to change after your birthday party. (Dun, dun, dun!) Looking back, I think that was the moment when everything shifted, and it’s all my fault for making things awkward between us, for ruining the special friendship we had.

But Skylar, you are truly my best friend. I’ve told you things I’ve never told anyone, and I’ve always felt like I can be completely honest with you. I thought you felt the same way, but maybe you don’t anymore.

And now that you’re gone, there is a Skylar-shaped hole in my heart and life that I will never be able to fill with anyone else. (Not even Ivy.)

I miss you. Please write me back.

Love always,

Franky

P.S. I will also accept a text or phone call. ;)

Nine days had passed since Franky learned of Skylar leaving town. Nine days of unanswered phone calls, texts, and emails. Nine days of worrying and overthinking, wondering why she wasn’t speaking to him. Had she shut everyone out of her life or only him?

Being left in the dark was driving him crazy, and he was deeply concerned. He worried about her when he woke up in the morning. He worried as he went through his day, moving through meetings and cases and court appearances. He worried about her when his head hit the pillow every night, and it was starting to affect his sleep. Until one day, he could take it no more.

Franky dialed a number on his phone, and a groggy voice answered.

“Dude, why are you calling at one o’clock in the morning?”

“Gus, I need to know where she is. Please.”

“Franky, I told you. She needs this time alone.”

“I can’t sleep. I’m so worried about her. It’s making me crazy. I’m begging you.”

There was a rustling noise, and Merritt’s voice came on the phone. “She’s okay, Franky. Trust me. Just give her some time.”

“I don’t like this. At all. Please at least tell me where she’s staying so I can send her flowers or something.”

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