Falling for the Leclerc's

25. Freckles

        Arthur's pov

I was sleeping when my phone started ringing and woke me up. I reach for it on my bedside table and look at who's calling me.

It's her.

It has been a total of three days, three days without seeing her or hearing from her. It has been a literal hell.

At first I decided not to speak to her again, because I was mad at her. She really hurt me.

It wasn't only because she spent the night with my brother, it was because she lied to me. I trusted her and she let me down. I thought she cared about me more than that.

Grace's was calling me non-stop the first few days but I never picked it up. I might be a bad person for saying this but I wanted her to feel the pain she made me feel. Now I'm not mad anymore.

How could I stay mad at her?

A part of me can't help but feel like it was my fault. After all, I was the one who left her at that bar that night. Maybe if I had tried to stay, maybe I wouldn't have to avoid her.

I tried being mad at Charles as well, but I couldn't. How could I since I was the one who had feelings for his ex girlfriend?

But then again, I never meant to fall for her. I just did.

My phone buzzing interrupts my thoughts. I have to accept the call, I need to hear her voice.

"Hello?" I say as I put my phone to my ear.

At first there's silence on the other end. It looks like Grace wasn't expecting me to answer.

"Arthur!" She then says and shivers run down my whole body.

God, how much I missed her.

"Grace." I inhale deeply and then I sigh.

Then she starts talking but because of the loud music in the background, I'm not able to understand.

"Wait, Grace where are you?" I say as I sit up on my bed.

"I'm at a b-bar." she says and chuckles. The music in the background is not as loud anymore so it seems like she's gone to a more quiet place.

"Are you drunk?" I ask her when I realise that she's stuttering.

"Maybe." She says "I wouldn't have the balls to call you anymore if I wasn't."

I'm already up and getting dressed.

"Where are you?" I ask with a firm voice.

"I already told you, I'm at a bar."

I grab my car keys and I'm out of the door.

"Are you alone?" I ask her while I'm speeding down the hotel corridor.

"Camilla is somewhere around here. I think she's hiding from me just like you. Wait...are you hiding from me?" She starts laughing with herself.

This is not good.

"Don't move, I'm coming!" I shout and get into my car.

I go on my phone and check her location. Once I get it I put my phone on speaker and start driving.

I'm feeling very nervous right now. I need to get to her as fast as possible. I can't let anything happen to her.

"Grace...please, talk to me." I beg her.

I need her to talk me through this ride, so I can calm down. Panicking won't bring anything good.

I wait for Grace to respond and say something, anything but she stays silent instead.

My blood turns cold and I start speeding up. I'm driving over the speed limit now and my hands dig through my steering wheel.

What if something bad happened to her?

"Baby, please talk to me!" I say with a shaky voice.

I'm about to lose it when she says
"Did you know that you have some small freckles under your eyes?"

My hands stop gripping on the steering wheel and I take a deep breath.

"Really?" I say trying to keep her talking to me.

"Mhmm. I can't help but stare at them when you're sleeping." She says with a calm voice.

How did she manage to calm me down so quickly?

I love how she notices small details about someone, especially when that someone is me.

I've never felt like this about anyone. I don't know what it is, how she does it, but she's got me wrapped around my finger.

I'd do anything for her...hell, I would even stay away from her if she asked me to. She makes me want to be a better version of myself.

I think...I think I might be in love with her.

Soon, I'm at the bar and I spot Grace sitting on the stairs alone. Her hair is messy and her dress is stained with a drink...she's never looked more beautiful.

When she sees me, she blinks a few times, not believing that I'm standing in front of her.

"Arthur?" She questions.

"Hey baby." I say and lean down, taking her arms and pulling her up. I take one of her arms and put it over my shoulder and my other on her waist.

"You're here...you came."

"You called."

I drive Grace to my hotel room. When we get there I help her change into something more comfortable.

"Lie down, you need to rest." I tell her.

"Will you stay with me?" She says with a low voice, almost as if she regrets asking me.

I hesitate at first, but she looks at me with those gorgeous brown eyes and I can't resist. Not when it comes to her.

"Of course."

We both lay down on the bed, Grace's head on my chest, my hands wrapped around her. I inhale deeply and I fill my lungs with her smell.

"I'm sorry." She whispers and buries her head into my neck. She looks as if she's about to cry.

"It's okay baby." I reassure her and gently stroke her hair.

"So you don't hate me?" She asks, looking up at me.

Hate you? I fucking love you.

"Never." I tell her instead.

I'm scared to tell her how I feel about her because a part of me feels like she'll leave me.

She'll leave and run back into his arms. I'm scared that she'll choose him, over me.

I gently kiss the top of her head and she closes her eyes, trying to sleep.

After a few minutes of silence she says "You still owe me that date!"

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