Page 35 of Say You Will

It’s a sort of ingrained shorthand in this family. One of those things hardly anyone ever notices. Bronwyn is younger than Henry, and in every overt and obvious way, he’s been her protector. He’s the older brother who takes care of her and tells her what to do.

That may be what it looks like on the outside, but on the inside, there’s nuance most people will never understand. Right now, she’s trying to protect him from me. Bronwyn wants Henry to mask his autism, as though I’m a stranger or someone who would use it against him. She’s afraid I’ll misinterpret his actions and hurt his feelings.

When Henry attempts to release my hand in response to his sister’s signal, I refuse to allow it. He’s not letting me go because someone else, someonenot me, says he should.

Henry lifts his eyes to mine in surprise.

Holding his gaze, I try to impress on him how serious I am. Not for the first time, I wish I had a deeper voice or that I could make myself sound stern the way Janessa does. I settle for giving our clasped hands a shake. “We're friends, Henry. Please don’t worry about trying to fit some socially acceptable mold with me.”

I lift my shoulders and offer him a self-deprecating smile. “I’m still just Franki.”

He shakes his head, his gaze flicking away. A lump lodges in my throat.

When he looks back, Henry’s attention shifts to my eyes, then my mouth. Then back to my eyes. In response, my breaths grow shallow and too fast.

Never, outside of fear, have I experienced this kind of chemical reaction in my bloodstream. A hot mix of adrenaline and electricity courses through my body, controlling everything from the beat of my heart to the air in my lungs to the hyper-awareness of his calloused skin against mine. My veins sing with it, but I don’t want to run away or hide. I want to know what his kiss tastes like.

His words, when they come, are quiet, fervent, and sound outright offended. “There has never been any such thing as ‘JustFranki.’”

ten

Franki

One Day Later

The Archer | Taylor Swift

At six thirty inthe morning, excited for my new job, I’m ready to start my day. Careful not to wake Oliver as he cuddles in his bed near the window, I open the guest bedroom door in Henry’s penthouse to make my way to the kitchen. When I see what’s on the other side, I jump and immediately shut the door again.

A quiet knock sounds and a British accent calls, “Ms. Lennox? Are you quite all right?”

I open the door slowly. The ginger-haired man in the three-piece suit is stillright there. Smiling, he holds an iPad in one hand and a porcelain cup on a saucer in the other.

“Henry is on a conference call in his home office at the moment, but he said if you woke before he returned, to make certain you’re comfortable. My name is Spencer, and I’m at your disposal.”

He passes me the cup of tea.

“Thank you.” I take a sip. One teaspoon of honey. Exactly the way I like it.

“I’ve arranged for your canine companion to be walked by a member of the security team this morning.”

“I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I’ll do that myself. There’s no need to pull someone else away.”

He glances at his watch. “There’s simply no time. Frankly, we should have started half an hour ago, but Henry insisted no one disturb you.”

Henry suggested we start work this morning at his penthouse and to feel free to bring Oliver to work with me. Healsoasked me if I’d mind staying in the guest room here until I move into my own place.

According to Henry, daily transportation into the city would be a “waste of resources” and that, as a long-time friend of the family, it makes sense to stay with him.

As always, his arguments were logical and reasonable. What wasn’t reasonable was his offer to buy me a place of my own because“You said we’re friends. Friends help each other.”

After that, staying in his guest room seemed almost as though I were the one helping him by not taking advantage of his generosity.

“How long has Henry been up?”

“He generally rises at four thirty, exercises for an hour, and is ready to begin his workday by six.”

Oh my stars.

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