That One Night (That One Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

down.”             
I let out a shuddering breath, hearing his encouragement and his unwavering faith in me. I sit up a bit straighter, willing the strength he mentioned to the surface.
    “If you start singing Jewel’s “Good Day,” I might have to hurt you — physically.”
    Dean chuckles and the sound gives me a little bit of calm. No matter what happens here, I have him and the others to go back to. They’ll help me pick up the pieces, like they’ve done in the past.
    “I love you.” I wipe my tears away with the back of my hand before running it over my jeans to dry it off.
    “I love you too. I’m proud of you. And I’m always here for you. Now go, take care of that bump in the road and get your ass back here so we can sit and watch sappy movies while drinking tea. Alex is no good for that. And call me before bed, ok?”
    “Ok.”
    I lay back on the bed for a few moments until my emotions aren’t on a rampage anymore. I get up, straighten out my clothes and remove the make-up so I don’t look like a panda and then I open my door.
    As I’m about to enter the hallway, someone grabs my arm. I don’t need to look to know who it is.
    “Not now,” is all I mutter before yanking away my hand.
    “Fuck, Frankie, we need to talk,” he sounds angry and desperate at the same time, trying to get a hold of my wrist again. There’s an urgency to his words that makes me pause for a second.
    “I can’t. Not now,” my voice trembles and I rush downstairs, leaving him standing in the hallway.
    I can’t do this now. I’m holding on by a very thin, frayed thread. And I don’t want to come undone.
    For the rest of the night, we all sit around in the living room. Mom plays with Archer, while Dad and Dave talk football. I just sit there staring into space, fearing the conversation that I know will happen sooner or later. I don’t want to show Ben how much he hurt me, but I’m not sure that I’m strong enough not to crumble. The few times that I make the mistake of looking around the room, I notice Ben either watching Archer, or looking at me, and I can tell he’s itching to ask a million questions.
    But he isn’t the only one; I have questions of my own to ask. When I tried to ask at some point during dinner where the hell he has been for the past eighteen months, my mother just gave me a disapproving look and chastised me, “What does it matter? He is back and healthy and safe.”
    He didn’t feel it necessary to answer himself. Instead he just looked down at his plate, like it is the last question he wants to hear. Well, that was good and satisfying.
    I have another question for him. A few to be exact. And he won’t like any of them. But I’m not sure I’m courageous enough to ask. Why did he leave? Why didn’t he at least say goodbye? Why didn’t that night mean anything to him?
    ***
    People always complain about how their life changes when they have a baby. Not being able to go out to parties and stay out late. I personally don’t mind it at all, especially right now, I’m thankful that it’s Archer’s bedtime.
    “Archer, time for bed.”
    “I can bring him to bed,” Mom suggests, “Then you can stay downstairs and socialize.”
    “No, thanks Mom. He doesn’t always sleep through yet. I’m quite tired too, so I’ll just go to bed myself.”
    “Man, I thought the three of us could go out for some beers and have some fun like back in the old days,” Dave jokingly pouts, his eyes giving away his amusement while he looks between Ben and me.
    “Sorry, Dave. I really need some sleep. Archer is like a little ball of energy most of the time...crawling everywhere. I feel like I’m working out twelve hours a day. But you and Ben have fun.”
    I look at Ben, curious what his reply will be. Before I left for college, he and Dave used to go out every weekend. Often Dave would drag me along or I would invite myself. Ben usually was less than thrilled. Most of the time, I would end up