Finding The 10

31 - Scared

Eli's POV

"Frankie, can you please just text me to let me know your ok? I'm worried about you. Please?"

I hang up the phone after leaving yet another voicemail on Frankie's phone. That makes 8 voicemails and 12 text messages. If only she would let me know she is ok.

She has been gone the entire day and night is begining to move in. I know she is a grown woman and that I shouldn't be worried but I can't shake the feeling of dread. Like she is never coming back.

The bar is closed tonight so I have no where to be but right here in my apartment, waiting for Frankie to return.

I turn on Netflix and just let the first thing I see play. I don't even care what it is as long as the noise will drown out my thoughts.

.....

I wake up to drool on my arm as I realise I fell asleep on the couch. I dont even know the reason I woke up until I see my phone flash. A new text message.

I snatch my phone from the coffee table and open a text from Frankie.

Gone home for a few days.

Relief of knowing she is ok washes over me. At least I know she is in one piece. But that still doesn't shake the feeling of dread.

What if she never comes back?

.....

"Eli, can you pass me that bottle of vodka?" Marco asks but I am oblivious to his question.

I am off in my own world thinking about how amazing it felt to have Frankie in my arms and what I would do to get her back into them right now. Her skin was softer than I ever could have imagined and the smell of her coconut shampoo still lingers in the apartment.

If Frankie was here right now I would take no time in holding her body to mine just so I could feel every curve of her against me. Her small stature is the perfect fit for me to encase and wrap my arms around.

All the things I want to do to her. It feels like an overwhelming need that claws at me from the inside. Telling me that Frankie is what I need. But I'm not what she needs or even wants. She probably won't come back.

"Earth to Eli. Where are you man?" Marco says as he smacks the back of my head with a dish rag.

"Sorry. Just thinking." I lie and pass him the bottle he is pointing at.

"Well don't think too hard or you'll get a headache." He says with a wink and a laugh.

I let out a soft chuckle and get back to stacking the glasses into the dishwasher.

As Marco finishes up with the customer in front of him he makes his way over to me, leaning on the bar with his arms crossed against his chest.

"So, what's going on?" He says with a smile like he already knows.

"Nothing. Just got a lot on my mind."

"Right. Because all the book work and numbers of this place is so hard. Oh wait, I do the financial side of things so it can't be that." He says mockingly while scratching his head. "Maybe it's tinder that's got you down. Trying hard to find a girl must really take it out of you. Nope, that's not it because you deleted the app from your phone and deactivated your account."

"How do you know what apps I do and don't have on my phone?"

"Don't worry about that. Just worry about telling me what's going on because I know that something is."

I put on a fake smile and lock eyes with my best friend.

"Nothing's wrong. I'm all good. I promise."