The Best Goodbye (Rosemary Beach, #13)(49)

I’d never seen her before, but he seemed to know her. She was important to him. The way his body leaned into hers as he spoke meant something. There was an air of intimacy about them that made my stomach turn.

Captain looked passionate as he spoke, and he leaned in closer toward her. I couldn’t stay and watch this any longer. I didn’t know what it was, but I could tell just from this little glimpse that it was more than I could accept.

Hurrying to my car, I pulled out my keys and unlocked it. Getting home and holding Franny close would ease this ache. Knowing that she was always there helped me face everything. She came first. She was all that mattered in this world. I didn’t need him. She did. But I didn’t.

I could survive this. I was stronger than this.

It wasn’t until I pulled out onto the road that the tears stung my eyes, and I had to blink them back. Crying over this wasn’t something I would accept. Tomorrow, I was sure he’d have some excuse. I didn’t think I cared to hear it. Nothing could explain what I had seen.

I held my tears the entire trip home, and when I finally got there, I was so exhausted from the sheer force of will that I all but ran into the house.

Holding Franny all night was what I needed.

? ? ?

He texted three times and called five times within the hour. I ignored them all. Curled up with Franny in bed, I put my phone on silent and watched as it lit up each time. I wasn’t answering. If he was so worried about me getting home safely, he should have been there for me when I got off work. Not with the strange blonde. That spoke volumes. He hadn’t even noticed me leave. Every time I reminded myself of this, it gave me more strength to stand firm.

? ? ?

“Mommy, why is Dad outside, asleep in his truck?” Franny asked.

I opened my eyes and looked up to find her leaning over me. Trying to comprehend exactly what she had just said, however, took me a moment.

“He’s outside sleeping. In his truck,” she said, with a confused and anxious expression. “Do I go wake him up?”

Who was outside? “Huh?” I asked, as I sat up and rubbed my eyes, trying to focus on my daughter.

“Dad. In his truck.” She was starting to sound frustrated.

“Captain?” I repeated, feeling even more confused than she looked.

Franny let out a sigh. “I’m going to wake him up.” Then she turned and ran out of the room.

Captain was outside in his truck. Crap! I jumped up, grabbed a discarded pair of shorts, and tugged them on, along with the tank top I had slept in, before running after Franny. Why Captain would be asleep outside in his truck made no sense to me. I didn’t want Franny to be the one to wake him and confront him.

“Franny, wait!” I called out as I chased after her.

She had her hand on the door, about to go outside, when she stopped and looked back at me. “He’s asleep in his truck.” She sounded worried.

I nodded that I understood what she was telling me. “Let me see why he’s out there. You stay in here and make yourself some breakfast. I’m sure he’ll come in when he’s awake. Make him a waffle, too,” I suggested, hoping this would keep her in the house.

She looked torn as she glanced back at the window. “OK, but make sure he comes inside. I want to see him. He’s here to see me, I think.”

“I will. I promise,” I assured her.

I didn’t give her time to argue before I headed outside toward Captain’s truck. I knew Franny would be watching from the window, so yelling at him wasn’t an option.

The fact that he was here infuriated me. He was manipulating me. He knew I wouldn’t react badly in front of Franny. Besides, what was the point in sleeping out here all night? I hadn’t answered his calls; that should have been enough for him to get the point.

Watching him asleep, with his head tilted back against the seat, didn’t help my temper. He even looked good sleeping. That wasn’t fair. Damn him.

I knocked hard on the window and silently enjoyed watching him jerk awake at the sudden sound. I didn’t give him time to wake up before I knocked again and glared at him. Franny was watching, but I was far enough away that she couldn’t see my face.

Captain sat up and went to open his door. I stepped back, crossing my arms over my chest defensively.

“What are you doing?” I demanded, before he could say anything.

“You didn’t answer your phone.”

“So it makes sense for you to sleep in your truck in my driveway? Franny’s inside right now, worried about you and making you waffles. Which means you’re going in there and eating the damn waffles with her. Assure her you’re fine, and come up with some reason for why you felt compelled to sleep in my driveway.”

Captain glanced back at the house, and I saw a glimpse of regret on his face for worrying Franny. At least there was that. Now he had some clue to how dumb this was.

“Why didn’t you answer?” he asked, looking back at me. His hair was mussed from sleeping, and I wanted to reach up and fix it. But I wouldn’t. I wasn’t touching this man again.

“I was in bed. If you’d wanted to talk to me, you should have done that before I left work. I wasn’t available to chat once I got home. That time is reserved for Franny.” I glared at him, waiting for him to give me a credible reason. Some stupid excuse. There was nothing he could say that would make me not feel hurt by what I’d seen.