AllFreeNovel
Share Us
So we booked a flight over here, deciding to visit Em and Jess and my mum and Miley whilst we’re in the city. But I told Chase I wanted to get the worst part of the day over with first, and he understood.
I glance out the window to make sure he’s there, and relief sinks its teeth into me when I see him. Chase leans against the building across the street, directly opposite the windows of the coffee shop, beneath an overhang to shield from the rain. He catches my look and inclines his head.
‘Of course I’m okay with it,’ he said as we packed our suitcases. ‘But if he touches a single hair on your head, he’ll lose his fingers.’
I couldn’t argue with that.
I walk to the table. I won’t ever forget the blue of his eyes. How they emptied of emotion, turning vacant and cold.
There’s no anger in them now as they meet mine. If anything, they light up, filling with wariness.
Archer shoots to his feet, clearing his throat and straightening his posture. ‘Frankie,’ he says, and my name on his lips makes every limb and nerve and muscle freeze. ‘You came.’
He’s the same Archer, but he looks… different. He’s filled out a bit, the gaunt look replaced with a faint, healthy glow. He’s cleanly shaven, and he doesn’t smell like beer anymore.
But my body only remembers his hands on my throat, the ache in my ribs and the blood on my dress.
He takes a step forward. ‘Can I… can I hug you?’
He’s lost his fucking mind; that’s what’s different about him.
‘No,’ I deadpan, and take a seat opposite him.
He blinks, clearly shocked by my bluntness, and he takes his seat, too. He keeps staring at me with an uncomfortable sort of intensity.
I stare right back.
‘You look amazing,’ he says.
‘Thanks.’
He drums his fingers on the table. I didn’t come here for small talk. I want to hear what he has to say. I don’t know why I have to hear it. I have nothing to prove to him. But I have everything to prove to myself.
That I can face him again.
I will not break.
Just then a waiter comes over. Archer orders a smoothie, and I don’t do a good job of hiding my shock. I order a water, and I watch the waiter bustle off.
‘So,’ Archer goes on. ‘You live in France now?’
I moved to Provence into Chase’s apartment three months ago, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I spend every day with my best friend. We cook together and clean together and grow together. No longer do I wake up to a routine; I wake up not knowing what the day will bring, but I’m excited. Possibilities stretch out in front of me each time the sun rises. Sometimes I wake up to the smell of breakfast, or to Chase’s kisses, or to Thor and Skittles playing with my hair; other times I have to meet him halfway and do last night’s dishes and restock the cupboards and be there for him on his tough days.
But I enjoy it. I enjoy taking care of him. When you’re not taken for granted, you want to give back as much of the love you receive.
It doesn’t hurt that his apartment backs onto a beach. I love sunset walks with him, sand between our toes and wind in our hair, stars breaking through the dark, velvet blanket of sky. I love when I’m going about my day and he wraps his arms around me from behind. I love when we’re in the same room, doing our own thing, and we look at each other and smile.
Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes I want to break down. Sometimes we fight. But he still tells me he loves me, even in his anger. He never raises his voice to me. Our problems are resolved, communicated. We don’t ignore them and let them fester. We don’t want to fight, but sometimes we just disagree, and that’s okay.
Sometimes, when we really don’t want to talk at all, we highlight passages in books and hand them to each other to let the other know we still care.
I rented out the house my dad left in his will. I couldn’t bring myself to sell it. Chase still has the Stagg, but to sell the house, the place where my dad and I shared so many joyful memories… I couldn’t.
I made good on my silent promise and opened up a shop, though. I even called it Frank-Bees Foundation. It sells homemade products free of harmful toxins. Most merchandise is imported from other independent sellers, and even Jess promotes her famous upcycled shoes and clothes from it. I hold classes to educate others on the importance of conservation. Sometime we have workshops where kids can come for free to create bughouses or identify butterflies, and I’ve recently introduced a litter-picking programme, partnering with another wildlife foundation.
I run it alone at the minute, but the shop is doing so well that Chase and I are looking at possibly hiring a few employees. But I like getting in the thick of things. I’d be bored at home. Chase works most days, and I don’t want to potter around the house until he gets back.
I want to do my own thing.
