Page 39 of Daddy's Little Fighter
As she reached for her cup, Frankie opened her mouth as her hand connected with her mug, knocking it over. Tea spilled all over the table. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the table.
“Oh no,” she whispered and stood abruptly.
Frankie ran out of the coffee shop and straight to Daddy’s car, but as she stood out there searching the driver’s side, she realized Daddy wasn’t there.
Shit.
Where was Daddy?
Looking right and left, she tried to find him, but to no avail. Frankie turned and ran back into the coffee shop.
“Frankie!” some of the girls yelled, but she didn’t pay any attention to them.
She ran straight toward the bathroom, opening and shutting the door quickly, locking it.
“Frankie, you’re okay,” Monroe whispered. “Can you come out for us?”
Frankie kept quiet, though, as she leaned up against the wall, taking a deep breath. How could she have done that?
CHAPTER 16
NOAH
“That will be twenty dollars and fifty-two cents,” the cashier said.
Noah’s phone started to buzz as he pulled out his wallet. Who could be calling him right now? Noah handed the cashier his credit card as he looked at his phone.
Rainey.
Worry flowed through him as he answered the call.
“Rainey? Is everything all right?” Noah asked.
“No!” Rainey’s panicked voice came through the phone. “Frankie has locked herself in the bathroom, and we can’t get her out.”
Noah’s eyebrows pulled together as he looked at the cashier and grabbed his credit card.
“Receipt in the bag?” she asked.
“Please,” he responded. “What do you mean she is locked in the bathroom?”
“She knocked over her tea and ran out to look for you before she ran into the bathroom and locked it. No one can get in and we are worried about her,” Rainey whispered toward the end. “Where are you?”
“I’m on my way.” He hung up and took the bag from the cashier.
Once Noah got onto the sidewalk, he ran the rest of the way to the coffee shop. It didn’t take him long, and before he knew it, he was throwing his stuff on a random table and making his way to the back of the coffee shop where the bathroom was.
“Is she still in there?” Noah asked.
“Yes,” Rainey replied, tears in her eyes.
“Why don’t you guys go sit at the table and let me talk to her?” he suggested.
He knew Frankie wouldn’t want a group of people around while he tried to get her to come out, even if they were her friends. All the girls left, leaving Noah standing outside the women’s bathroom.
“Little One?” He gently knocked on the door. “Can you open for Daddy?”
Silence.
