Page 65 of Sipping Seduction
“Yes, I'll help you. Frannie's visiting her dad right now, but will be back in a couple of hours. If you want a chance to talk to her, why don't you get cleaned up and head over? I can take Pete the Dog to the dog park and give you two a chance to talk in private.”
“Thank you.” I hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief. There was still a chance to salvage my relationship with Frannie. I wouldn't blame her for being upset. Hell, I wouldn't blame her if she landed a quick uppercut to my chin. As long as she gave me a chance to tell her how I felt and ask how I could fix things between us.
Showering proved difficult thanks to the road rash on my arms and my inability to balance very well on my good leg. Somehow, I managed to clean myself up and pull on a fresh pair of pants and a long-sleeve shirt. If I was going to grovel, I was going to look damn good doing it.
Miller came to my rescue and drove me back to my truck. By the time I pulled up in Ruby’s driveway, I hoped I wasn’t too late. The light in the front window burned bright. It had only been a few hours since I last saw Frannie, but it seemed like eons had passed.
Before I killed the ignition, Ruby came out of the front door and met me on the drive. “Leave the engine running. If she sees your truck in the drive when she gets back, she might not come in.”
“It’s that bad?”
My sister cleared her throat. “You broke up with her in the middle of Main Street. Yes, it’s that bad.”
Pete the Dog rushed over to meet me at the door as I walked into the house. At least he still loved me. Life sure seemed a lot simpler when looking through a dog's eyes. He wouldn't care if I walked with a limp or if I didn't walk at all. I suppose he'd be able to teach me some long overdue lessons I needed to learn about life and love if I'd let him.
“Frannie just texted me to let me know she's on her way back. Is there anything I can do for you before I head out?”
“Just keep your fingers crossed.” I offered her a nervous smile.
“Assuming all goes well, shoot me a text, and let me know when I can come back. And if you need more time, I can always stay the night at Mom and Dad's or crash at Vaughn’s. He's probably still at the distillery anyway.”
“Thanks, sis. I appreciate your insight and help.”
“Wow.” She gave me a once-over, her bright green eyes not missing a thing. “On a scale of one to ten, how much pain did it cause you to say that?”
“Eleven,” I said with a smile. “I'm hoping it gets easier with time.”
“She really does deserve better,” Ruby said.
My chin fell to my chest, and I looked down at my feet.
“Which means you’d better suck it up and not be such a dick anymore.” My sister pulled me in for a quick hug, then whirled around and called for Pete the Dog. The two of them left, and I stood in Ruby’s living room, hoping I'd find the right words when Frannie walked in the door.
While I waited, I pulled the box I’d brought with me out of my pocket and set it on the coffee table, then moved toward the mirror hanging by the front door. I'd wanted to dress to impress, but had trouble with my tie since I'd scraped up my knuckles on my fall.
I unrolled the one I wore to that stupid eighth-grade choir concert. Frannie had always said it was her favorite. With one hand, I worked it under my collar, and had barely looped it over itself when the rumble of the garage door let me know Frannie had arrived.
Moments ticked by while I waited for her to enter the room. My heart thumped so loudly it was all I could hear in the dead silence surrounding me. Finally, the door from the garage to the kitchen opened.
“I’m back,” Frannie called out. “Thanks so much for letting me borrow your car. Is there any chance you can give me a ride over to Evan’s? I've had a chance to think about things, and I need to go talk some sense into your brother.”
“That won't be necessary,” I said.
“Evan?” She came into the living room looking as if she’d seen a ghost. “What are you doing here?”
I wanted to rush over and pull her into my arms, but I didn’t want to scare her off. “I’m so sorry, moon pie. I’ve been so stupid.”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at me from across the room. “You sure as hell have.”
Even in the cropped yoga pants and Beaver Bluff Elementary shirt she’d been wearing since early this morning, the sight of her sucked all the air right out of my lungs.
“How’s your leg?” she asked. The concern in her eyes alleviated some of my apprehension.
“It’s been better. I’m sorry for the way I treated you this morning. You didn’t deserve that. I was angry and frustrated and I took it out on you.”
Her expression softened. “Are you in much pain?”
“You know where it hurts the most?” I asked.
