Page 11 of Wicked Truths

“The office. I’ll show you the way.”

I lock my truck and lead her inside through the side door that is closest to the main office. The lights are turned off, and the door is locked.

“So, I guess I’m temporarily homeless?” She tries to keep her emotions from showing on her face, but her bottom lip quivers, like she’s on the verge of crying.

“No. I’ll call the apartment manager, Darla. She will be able to sort this out.”

Someone will fix this or else. I don’t think I can just stand here and watch Francesca cry without making someone pay.

I scroll through my contacts and call Darla.

Her nasally voice comes through after the second ring. “What can I do for you, Mr. Montgomery?”

“I’m here with Francesca and the office is closed. She was on the schedule to move in today.”

“The office closes promptly at six. She will have to wait until we open tomorrow morning.”

I could threaten to call Arturo, but there’s no point. He has enough shit to worry about right now.

“Thanks for nothing.” I mumble before ending the call.

Looking at Francesca, I say, “Change of plans. We can’t get your keys because it’s so late and the office is closed. You can either crash at my place or I can bring you to your house. Your choice.”

The thought of her sleeping in my apartment stirs up old feelings, but the thought of her choosing to go back home instead of staying with me leaves me feeling nervous for her answer.

“I’m starving. I can order us a couple of pizzas. Do you have a favorite restaurant you like ordering from?”

So not only does she look like she hasn’t slept in days, but she’s starving, too.

I shake my head. “I can whip us up something to eat. It will probably be quicker than delivery.”

I head to the elevator in the lobby and push the button to go up. I glance back at her to see if she followed me. She didn’t. She’s still frozen in front of the office.

The elevator dings before opening. I step inside and hold the door open. “Are you coming? Or did you change your mind?”

She runs to get inside before the elevator tries to close its doors. “You live here, too?”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Yeah, the entire team lives here. Well, except for your brother, because he still lives at home.”

She cocks her head to the side and asks, “What happened to the house on Tybee Island?”

The memories flood in at the mention of the Tybee Island house. There were so many great memories in the house. There were also some pretty terrible memories.

The first time I met Francesca was the night of Joey’s party at the house.

The first time I told her I loved her was over breakfast in bed.

The house is the first place where I knew I wanted to marry her and make her mine in every sense of the word.

And the house is where she broke up with me after telling me that the two of us couldn’t have a future together.

I shake those memories away. New place. New memories.

Hopefully, good memories with Chessie.

I clear my throat and say, “Your dad bought the building to make things easier for early and late practices. It was easier for the team to move here, and since we were all renting the house, we agreed.”

The elevator dings before opening its doors to the second floor.