Closer to Love 💚

Chapter 14

Francesca paced in her living room as she waited for Margaret to answer the phone.

'Fran! Haven't talked in like a week. What's up?'

Francesca sighed, "well I was caught making out half dressed in Richard's trailer. Who knows how far I would have gone if we hadn't been caught. Nick broke up with me. Oh, and Richard wants me to go on vacation with his family. Today." She heard only silence as she stopped pacing, looking at the bag she had packed that she wasn't sure she wanted to use. "Maggie? Help me!"

'Okay. Slow down. Chronological order please. You made out with Richard in his trailer?'

Francesca sat on her couch as she groaned. "Okay. I was at the wrap party for the film and talking to Richard. I made a mess on my shirt and he offered me one of his; which were obviously in his trailer. Well, one thing led to another and I was not wearing a shirt, pinned under him on his bed making out when Nick walked in on us. He didn't even say anything to me. He simply left. When I got home, he had left a box of my stuff from his apartment in front of my door." She sighed again, "the next morning Richard showed up to remind me that he loved me and wanted to be with me. He invited me to go on vacation with his family."

Margaret sighed. 'Okay. You haven't talked to Nick at all? You never went to his place?'

"Well no. I thought him leaving my stuff was enough."

'You love Richard Fran. You need to apologize to Nick for hurting him and you need to get on that plane and follow the man that you love.'

"I don't know if I love him or not."

Margaret groaned angrily. 'What is the matter with you Francesca? You have always been the one that has been suer about who you are and what you want. I don't understand why you are being so wishy washy now. Richard loves you. Nick loves you. Yes, Nick is a great guy. But you're in love with Richard. You have been since you met him. Are you scared?'

Francesca sighed, "yes."

'Why?'

"Ugh. I don't know Maggie! What if it doesn't work out? We had sex once, months ago. What if..."

Margaret interjected, 'just stop talking. Stop rationalizing. He loves you. You know you love him too. That's it. Leap you idiot. I have to go.'

Francesca laughed as Margaret hung up. She sighed, knowing that Margaret was right about having to talk to Nick. She grabbed a box of stuff she had of his and went to his apartment.

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Francesca waited nervously for Nick to answer the door. She smiled when he finally did. He looked at the box and sighed as he stepped to the side to let her in.

"So that's it then? Exchanging our things and walking away, just like that?"

She set the box on his coffee table before turning back to him to see him standing with his arms crossed. "What do you mean? You left me my stuff first."

He shrugged, "yeah. I thought you would have fought me. Came here to talk so we could work it out. But I assume since you haven't, you are with him now?"

She groaned, "no. I'm not. He wants to be, but..." She shook her head, "it doesn't matter." She approached him, resting her hands on his chest, "I'm really sorry Nick."

He nodded as he sighed, "I know you are. But it isn't enough. You promised me nothing was going on Fran."

"Ugh. I know. Nothing was! That was the first time. I'm so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you."

He rested his head on hers, his hands on her waist, "but you did. What are we doing? Do you want to be with him or do you want to be with me?"

She groaned again, "Nick.."

He nodded, "you don't know. I love you Fran."

She moaned as he pressed his lips urgently to hers, guiding her back to the couch. She heard him grunt as he pinned her underneath him.

He pulled away, out of breath, "I want you to be with me." He sighed, sitting up next to her. "You need to make a choice Fran." He stood up, watching her. "But if you choose me, you can't be friends with him. All or nothing Fran."

She nodded as she stood up, "he wants me to make a decision today." She looked at her watch, "soon."

He sighed, crossing his arms, "then you should go and decide. Come back here later. If you do, then it's just you and me, yeah?"

Francesca nodded, "okay." She paused at his door, "I care about you Nick. And I really am sorry that I hurt you."

He nodded, "I know. If I don't hear from you later I'll assume you chose him."

She sighed, taking one more look at him as she nodded, "okay."

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"Sir. We need to leave."

Richard shook his head as he stood in front of the plane, "no. She's coming. I know she is." He looked at his watch; Francesca was already almost ten minutes late. "Please, just five more minutes." Richard looked at the man and he just smiled and nodded. He sighed, staring out, hoping he would see her raven hair appear.

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Nick sat staring at the door as it approached dinner time. Francesca had been gone for a few hours now. Surely if she chose him she would have came back by now. He felt his heart jump as he heard a knock on his door.