Closer to Love 💚

Chapter 12

"Fran?"

Nick walked through his bedroom, into his bathroom to find her in his bathroom in the bathtub with her AirPods in and her eyes closed and her cast wrapped in a bag, resting on the side. He laughed as he leaned down to run his fingers through her hair. She smiled, opening her eyes as she took out the buds, "hi."

He smiled, "I was wondering where you disappeared to after dinner."

She shrugged as she giggled, "I like your tub."

He nodded as he began to undress, "anything else you like?"

She smirked as she sat up, watching him, "get in here and I'll show you."

He slipped into the tub facing her as he pulled her into his lap. He lowered her onto him slowly, hearing her moan. He placed a hand at the nape of her neck, "I love you Fran."

She stopped, watching, "Nick, I. ."

He shook his head, "I don't need you to say it back. But I couldn't not say it any longer."

"I'm not sure I'm there yet Nick."

"I know." He nodded, "it's okay."                                                          

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Francesca stood alone in Richard's trailer the following day. "Ugh. Maggie, he said he loves me."

'Richard? Or Nick?'

She groaned as she heard Margaret laugh, "come on. Don't be dense. You know I meant Nick."

'I don't know. It could really have gone either way. I saw the way Richard was looking at you.'

"Maggie. Don't be stupid. He's dating Alison. For really now. I was talking about Nick."

'Whatever. You like Nick, what's the problem?'

Francesca began to pace, "of course I like him. A lot. But I don't know that I'm in love with him."

'Because you're in love with Richard?'

"Maggie! For fuck's sake. Focus. This has nothing to do with Richard!"

Margaret laughed. 'No. You need to focus. You let him call you Franny. You never let anyone call you that. And don't say you just like the way he says it. It's more than that and we both know it. Why else would you be upset about him sleeping with Alison?'

Francesca groaned, "I'm not upset, okay? I was just surprised is all."

Margaret sighed, 'look. I can't help you if you can't help yourself Fran. I have to go. Maybe you should spend some time doing some introspection.'

"Maggie?" Francesca groaned as she hung up. She heard the door behind her open to see Richard enter with a smile.

"Franny. This is a surprise. What are you doing in here?" He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek, standing in front of her.

She held up her phone, "I wanted a quiet place to talk to Maggie." She saw him nod but not move from his spot. "Richard. Please stop calling me Franny."

He scoffed, "you tell me not to. You tell me you like it. Make up your mind love."

She groaned, looking down, "don't call me love."

"Fran." He placed his hand on her cheek, making her look up at him. He leaned down to her ear, "I think you don't want me to because you like it but don't want to." He heard her groan as he kissed her earlobe. He felt her lean her head away as he kissed her neck down to her shoulder and back up to just behind her ear as she moaned softly. He hovered his lips over her ear once more, "I love you Franny."

"Fuck." She groaned as she pushed him away and turned away from him. "Don't say that!"

He grabbed her hand to bring her back to facing him. He leaned his forehead against hers, "I mean it."

She shook her head, "save that for your girlfriend." She pulled away, taking a few steps back, "how could you not tell me you were sleeping together? You said it wasn't real. Sleeping together implies it is real Richard."

He scoffed, "it isn't real. Sex is just sex. We figured as long as we were carrying on this fake relationship we might as well take advantage of the benefits."

Francesca crossed her arms, "that's disgusting Richard."

He laughed, "oh come on. We both met on a one night stand Franny! And you're seeing Nick, who you also met on a one night stand by the way. So what does it matter who I have sex with?" He stepped towards her, pulling her body so it was pressed against his as he heard her breath hitch. She placed her arms around his neck as he hovered his lips over hers, "unless you feel the same way I do."

She shook her head, not moving, "I'm with Nick."

He chuckled, "do you love him?"

"He loves me."

He shook his head, "that isn't what I asked love. I asked if you love him."

She shrugged, "he's nice Richard. And sweet. And he's good to me."

He laughed, "I still didn't hear you say you love him. Do you love me Franny?"

She groaned, looking at his lips before looking back up to his eyes, "I don't know."

He felt her bring her hand to his cheek as he nodded, "well we won't work together anymore in two weeks. You need to decide what you want Franny. Who you want. Because I love you Franny." He kissed her hand before pulling away from her. "Until then, you don't really get a say in how I spend my free time. And vice versa."

She nodded, "okay."

"My self control is waning thin Franny. You should go."

She watched him turn away from her, "okay." She groaned as she left, shutting the door behind her as she rested her head back against the door. He was right, she had no right to be upset with him sleeping with Alison when she was dating Nick.