Closer to Love 💚

Chapter 10

Francesca brought her hand up to knock on Richard's trailer door in the morning a few days after they went hiking. Before she could make contact with the door, the door flung open and she toppled from the stairs to the ground with a yelp.

"Fuck! Franny!" Richard jumped from the steps, seeing Francesca on the ground holding her left arm, "I'm so sorry love."

She shook her head as she sat up, "it was an accident." She winced when he tried to touch her arm, feeling the pain searing in her wrist. "I think I broke it."

Richard groaned, helping her stand up, "I'm sorry. Such a dick."

She laughed, placing her hand on his cheek, "it's okay. It was an accident." She heard someone coming up to them as she lowered her hand.

Another assistant came up to them, "we should get you checked out."

"I want to come with you. It was my fault."

Francesca shook her head, "no. It's fine Richard. You have to go to set. I'll be fine." She heard him sigh before nodding his head.

"Fine. Call me later so I know you're okay."

****************************************************************************

"Babe! What happened?"

Francesca opened the door to let Nick into her apartment after she returned home with a cast. She sighed, "I fell. It was an accident. I'm okay. Just a small fracture in my wrist." She held up the cast, "just have to wear this for 6 weeks." She went to the kitchen to hold up a bottle of pills, "and I have pain medication, so I'm good to go."

Nick laughed, pulling her to him, "well I'm glad you're okay. Let me make you dinner."

She nodded as she heard a knock on her apartment door. She went to answer the door but Nick got there first, making her laugh. "Stop fussing. I can answer my own door."

Nick laughed again as he opened the door and she saw Richard standing there with a bag. Nick looked from Richard to Francesca.

She moved to Nick's side, "Richard, what are you doing here?"

He shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable at the fact that Nick was already there, "I came to check on you and I brought you dinner." He held up the bag of food, "I didn't know you had company, I'm so sorry."

Nick shook his head, holding out his hand, "I'm Nick. Please. Come in."

Richard accepted his hand as he entered the apartment, "Richard."

Nick laughed, "yeah. You're Richard Madden right?" He looked at Francesca, "how do you know Richard Madden?"

She sighed, taking the bag from Richard and set it on the kitchen counter, "we work together." She hesitated, "he's the friend I went hiking with."

"Oh." Nick nodded, it sinking in, "oh! Fuck." He motioned to Richard, "he's the one you slept with and are now just friends?"

Francesca nodded, "he is. I'm sorry I didn't tell you who it was."

Richard shifted uncomfortably as they kept looking at him.

He chuckled, "no. It's fine." He motioned to Richard, "hey, it's Robb Stark. I'd sleep with him too."

She laughed as she looked to see Richard chuckle and blush. "Thanks for dinner Richard."

Richard nodded, taking the hint, "sure. I'll see you tomorrow. I'm sorry Franny."

Once he was gone Nick leaned on one arm on the counter, facing her, "you slept with Richard Madden? Are you going to tell me that story?"

She sighed, "I was on holiday with Maggie in the UK. On our last night in Scotland, I hooked up with a random guy. I didn't realize who he was until we got back to his room. When I started my new job here, I found out he was the lead actor." She shrugged, "we decided to try and be friends. Are you mad?"

Nick sighed, "why would I be mad. That was long before we even met, let alone started dating. Nothing has happened since we started dating?"

Francesca shook her head, "no! Nothing has happened since Scotland. And that was months ago Nick."

He shrugged, "ok then. I said I trust you Fran. Franny. He calls you Franny?"

She laughed, "yeah. He does. So you're okay?" She tried to open the bag with one hand but it was stapled shut.

Nick nudged her gently out of the way to open the bag, making her laugh. He pulled out a bag of breadsticks and two containers of pasta. "Looks like he was planning on eating with you."

She shrugged, accepting the container, "he didn't know you would be here."

He nodded, as she sat down at the counter, setting a fork for her. "Want some wine?"

She hesitated, "probably shouldn't with my medication." She looked up at him as he handed her a water and sat next to her, "spend the night?"

Nick smiled, "of course I will." He leaned over and kissed her on the head, "so your friend Maggie is coming down here this weekend for your birthday?"

"Yeah! I can't wait for you to meet her. And... Richard is planning on coming too. If that's okay." She watched him eat for a moment before nodding.

"It's your birthday. You should have whatever friends you want." He sighed, turning to face her, "I'm not a jealous guy. It isn't who I am. But I need you to look at me and tell me there is nothing going on. I saw him, he didn't look like a guy that only sees you as a friend."

Francesca groaned as she turned to face him. She rested her head on his, "I promise that nothing is going on."

He smiled, "okay then." He placed his hand on her cheek, pulling her lips to his. He smiled as he heard a small moan before pulling away, "eat your dinner."

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Francesca checked her phone after dinner while Nick cleaned up the kitchen.

Richard
I'm sorry. I should have called first.
And I'm sorry for pushing you
I feel like an ass

Franny
You're not an ass. It was an accident.
And don't worry about it. The pasta was great.
Thank you

Richard
It's from my favorite Italian place
Maybe I can take you sometime?
. . .
As friends

Franny
Maybe
Night Richie

Richard
LOL
Night Franny