Page 10 of Wicked Truths

“I shipped my stuff Friday afternoon. It should arrive sometime this week.”

“Well, shall we?” I open the passenger door for her.

She nods and climbs in. I resist the urge to grab her ass and lift her up like I used to.

Times have changed, and I’m not sure she would welcome a touch from me. Not that I’d blame her. I’ve practically ignored her the past two years.

I haven’t tried calling or messaging, even though that’s all I thought about for the first month after she left.

After three months, I stopped asking Joey about her. It was too hard to keep my hopes up, thinking she would come back to me.

I poured all of my time and energy into work.

After she’s settled with her purse and backpack on the floorboard in front of her, I close her door and head around to the driver’s side.

Taking a deep breath, I push my feelings for her down into the recesses of my heart. They’ve been buried for years, but seeing her again is causing them to be stirred up.

This isn’t part of the plan.

At least not anymore.

Two years ago, I was ready to propose to her. I bought the ring and even asked Arturo for his permission.

I had everything planned, but out of the blue, she broke up with me and moved away.

I had no one but Spencer to talk to. Sure, I had Joey, but I can’t really talk to a dude about his sister.

Not to mention I was shy and nervous. I’ve changed from the man I was two years ago, though.

As I pull out of the airport, Francesca flips through the radio stations like she used to.

I shake my head and chuckle. “You haven’t changed much, huh? Do you still change television channels like this?”

She laughs. “Yeah, well, there’s just never anything good on. It’s always either news or reality shows. My life is already dramatic enough. Why would I want to watch someone else’s?”

Her laugh is music to my ears. It’s a foreign sound that my heart has been missing for far too long.

“That is true. So how have you been these past couple of years?”

“School was pretty standard. Hard, but worth it. Getting a degree in communications so I could find a PR job didn’t really pan out. I wonder if that’s the real reason Dad offered me the job?”

I shake my head. “No, that’s not why. He wanted the best, and you were always good at smoothing things over.”

Plus, it’s easier to keep all business in the family because family will protect one another when shit hits the fan.

She stares at me for a few seconds before shaking her head and looking out the window.

Shit. Did I say something wrong?

Pull into my assigned parking spot.

“Home sweet home.”

Francesca looks out the windshield and gasps. “Wow, this is more beautiful in person than in pictures. Pictures do not do it justice, and the pictures impressed me.”

I could say the same about her.

She grabs her bags and slides out of the truck. “So, who’s got my keys?”

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