As we pulled into the driveway, every muscle in my body seized. This was it. As much as I’d tried to put this moment out of my mind, it was here. Throughout my life, I’d always managed to plaster on a smile no matter what—in awkward times, hard times, sad times, you name it. Making light of a situation was how I’d dealt with every problem.
So when we both got out of the car and slammed our doors shut, I was surprised to find that the corners of my lips were the heaviest they’d ever been. My forehead was tensed and my jaw clenched. I was fighting back emotion, and I couldn’t even fake a smile if I wanted to.
It was taking everything in me to hold it together right now. I wanted to so badly for Frankie’s sake.
When she came around the car to give me a hug, a few tears had escaped her eyes. I reached for her and held her to me like my life depended on it.
“Thank you for everything,” she whispered.
I wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to.Herthankingme? Everything she’d given to me was far more than what I’d offered her.
“Miss you already,” I said against the top of her head.
“Same.” Her hands gripped the back of my shirt, and I never wanted to let go. Wetness formed in the corners of my eyes, and I begged the tears not to fall. I wasn’t someone who cried, but I had never had to say goodbye to the girl I was in love with before. This shit wasn’t for the weak.
The sound of the screen door opening caused me to look up.
“There you are. It’s almost time to go…” Mattie’s words trailed off as she caught sight of the both of us still in an embrace. “Sorry, I’ll give you two a minute.” She hurried back inside, the sound of the door swinging shut behind her.
“I guess this is it,” Frankie said, looking up at me with wet eyes.
“Go knock ‘em dead in New York.”
“And you be safe out there rafting,” she said, digging a finger into my chest. “No helmet mishaps again, got it?”
“Yes, boss,” I said before dipping down and capturing her mouth with mine. My lips moved softly over hers, tracing every detail. When she pulled away, everything in me protested. No matter how long we stood out there, I knew the kiss would never be enough.
Then I let her walk away from me.
“Bye, Oliver.” She gave me a wave, backing away toward the front door to the house.
“Bye, Frankie,” I said, forcing myself to open the door to my car and climb in. My hand clenched around the gear shift as I put the car in reverse, actively making myself leave.
I rolled down the window to catch one more glimpse of what surely must be the most beautiful woman on the planet. She stood on the front porch, her body leaning against the door she had propped open. I backed out of the driveway, hardly taking my eyes off her.
With one last wave, I drove away from her, my eyes glued to the rearview mirror as I watched her grow smaller and smaller.
It wasn’t lost on me that she didn’t go inside until I turned off the street and was completely out of sight.
THIRTY-THREE
Frankie
My chest heavedwith another sob as Bev wrapped me in her arms.
“Oh, dear, don’t cry,” she said, patting my back.
“Thank you for everything,” I said. “For the kind advice. And for giving me a job even though I have no business being a bartender.”
Bev chuckled and pulled away from me. She had stopped by the house to say goodbye to me. We were standing in the driveway along with Giles and Mattie.
“I’m going to miss you. Marie’s was better off with you working there. I don’t care how many incorrect drinks you made.”
“That’s nice of you to say, but I think the customers would disagree,” Mattie said.
“Hey.” I glared at my sister. “Be nice to me. This is an emotional goodbye.”
Mattie’s face was red too. We’d already had a nice little cry session as we’d packed my suitcases into her car. Beingphysically close to my sister during this time had been such a gift. I hadn’t realized how badly I missed her until I was in her orbit.
