Mangled Hearts: Francesca and Cade (Scarred Hearts) Read online

  “I’ll let your ass go to jail if you hit me, Cade,” he said as he loosened his grip. Stepping back, he crossed his arms and looked down at me. “Now, go get some clothes for tomorrow and let’s go. Your mother is probably wondering where I am.”

  Gritting my teeth, I headed to the bedroom to find something suitable for the meeting. I kicked the large pile of laundry in the corner, looking for the navy slacks my mom bought me a couple of months ago. I slumped to my knees, rummaging through everything.

  “Don’t you have any ounce of responsibility? You can’t even fold your laundry? Just come on, you can borrow something of mine.”

  “It’ll be too big.”

  “I doubt the attorney will mind. She’s going to be more worried about your attitude.”

  Narrowing my eyes, I struggled to stand. “I’m sorry you hate me, but seriously, get over yourself. Not everyone thinks I’m this huge screw up. But just remember, you raised me, so it’s not all my fault.” I gripped the dresser, pulling myself horizontal. I moved to the bed, sitting for a moment. Most of the room was hazy, but I didn’t want him to know that. I tugged the phone charger from the wall and stuffed it in my pocket. I stood, threw my hands up, and said, “Lead the way.” He grunted in reply. He was to the door in seconds, not even looking back to see if I was following. I plucked the phone from the floor and followed him to his car.

  This was going to be a blast, I could tell.

  The ride to my parents’ home was awkward and uneventful. Pops didn’t talk to me at all, only stared straight ahead at the road. His face hard, looking like he was a statue. I twiddled my thumbs, mostly because I knew that’s the most he expected of me. The lights blurred by, inching us closer to our destination. I watched them pass, making myself dizzy. Drinking made me have a don’t-give-a-damn attitude, but at the moment, I wished I hadn’t had so much.

  “Pops, might wanna pull over,” I stated before throwing my door open. The vomit came fast and hard. My stomach clenched over and over. He barely got the car stopped in time. He cursed beside me, hitting the steering wheel with his fist. When it finally stopped, I pulled my upper body back in, slamming the door. He glared at me, and I just shrugged. “Sorry. We can go now.” He huffed and drove on.

  The road housing the home I grew up in clouded my vision. The street lamps shone an eerie glow on the road, making it look like the shadows were jumping out at me. The long arms of the trees appeared to be grabbing at the car, ready to capture me away from the awaited hell I was driving into. The large, wooden log cabin came into view. The property was large with gigantic trees scattered throughout the fifteen acres of land. My parents didn’t half do anything. I glanced at the one holding my long forgotten tree house, remembering the times I snuck girls up there when I was a teen. Over a few feet was the oak tree I would run to every time I fought with my dad about something when I was little. It was there that I snuck my first drink of alcohol. Stole it right out from under his stuck up nose.

  The car slid into the drive, and the garage opened instantly. I saw my mom standing just inside, her hand over her heart. A dramatic one, she was. She was petite and skinny, barely reaching my chest. I shot up in height when I was twelve and had towered over her ever since. She’d always held a soft spot for me. I don’t know if it was because I looked like her or because my father had always seemed to hate me. He claimed it was her fault I was such a screw up, because she babied me too much.

  Like he knew anything, I thought to myself.

  She hurried to the door, opening it before I could get my hand to the handle. “Oh, Cade! I’ve missed you, honey.”

  I stumbled out, grasping her in an awkward hug. She squeezed tightly, then leaned back to look into my eyes. Embarrassed by her knowing expression, I darted my eyes to the wall behind her. She placed her hand on my back, pushing me forward. My hand held the car for support. I could hear my father grumbling and mumbling on the other side, but I ignored it.

  “Let’s get you something to eat,” she softly said, patting my shoulder.

  I smiled at her and nodded. Maybe Pops was right and she did baby me. But he was wrong about it being her fault that I was a screw up. That was all on his shoulders.

  Chapter Three-Francesca

  I paced my floor, wearing a hole in the creamy tan carpet. Daphne, my best friend since the age of seven, was on her way over to help me make sense of everything happening. Cade Kelling was my client. My first major client.

  Cade Kelling.

  My heartbeat sped up, causing my breath to come out in short, raspy sounds. Waves of nausea flowed through me. I clutched my stomach and inhaled, deeply, breathing in and out. I stopped my pacing long enough to check my phone for any response from Daph. I’d texted her immediately after I learned I was on his case. Texting his name alone was enough for her to know that I needed her ASAP. She hadn’t sent anything back, so I hoped she was on the road.

  I walked to the kitchen, my mind in a million different places. What would I wear? What would I say? What would he say? What if I made a mess of things? A fool of myself? I absent mindedly grabbed a glass, filling it with ice and water. I downed it, then another. I sipped the second a little slower, letting the coolness calm my nerves. The cup almost fell out of my hand when I heard the rapid knock at my door.

  I rushed to the door, swinging it open with a fury. “Daphne,” I exclaimed, pulling her in for a hug.

  “Oh, my gosh, Francesca. Cade? Really?” she asked, her brows turned down in confusion. Daphne was beautiful. Her long, dark hair fell in waves down her back. She was almost as tall as I, only much skinnier. Her big green eyes shone against the darkness of her skin and hair.

  I nodded, fighting back the tears threatening to escape. “I know. I don’t know what to do,” I stuttered. Shutting the door, I slumped in the chair situated in the entrance. Resting my head in my hands, I looked at her for answers. Whenever there was a problem, Daphne was the first person I called. She was always there for me. We’d fought a few times, but we managed to find our way back to each other.

  Seating herself on my couch, she pressed her lips into a firm line, her I’m-confused-and-lost expression. “Francesca…have you talked to him since…?”

  I shook my head. Biting my lip, I felt a single tear slide down my cheek. Sniffling, I lifted my finger to brush it away.

  “Are you ok? You can always turn this down if it’s too much for you. Screw that stupid law firm. They haven’t treated you right since day one,” she rambled.

  I knew she had a point, but a big part of me knew I had to do this. I needed closure. I needed to prove myself to Mr. Phillips and the rest of the partners at my job. As for Cade…well, I wanted to see him. I needed to see him. As much as it hurt, and as hard as it would be…tomorrow I would be seeing Cade for the first time in seven years. “I’ll be ok, Daphne. Will you stay here tonight? I need help getting ready tomorrow.”

  “Of course! Sleepover, whoo hoo,” she yelled, trying to make me smile.

  It worked. We spent the rest of the evening deciding on my outfit and calming my nerves.

  ###

  6 a.m. met me with an uneasy night of rest, as usual. Only last night, the dreams were of his face, his eyes, his arms around my body. Just the sound of his name caused butterflies to come storming back into my stomach like an army on a rampage. I dressed in my best black suit. The pencil skirt showed off my curves while the jacket was snug enough to display my ample breasts. The fuchsia shirt I wore underneath complemented my light skin tone. After straightening my hair, and leaving it loose, I finally decided I looked good enough to face the day.

  I slipped out of the bathroom to hear Daphne wolf-whistle at me. Rolling my eyes, I gave her a wicked grin. “Will I drive him crazy?”

  “Absolute bonkers, dah-ling,” she said in her best British accent.

  Giggling, I gathered my briefcase and swung my bag over my shoulder. “Breakfast?”

  “Pancakes?”

  “Of course. It’s a big
day. Big days require pancakes.”

  She smiled big, holding her arm out for me to take. I linked us together and we struggled out the door, laughing the whole way.

  Daphne drove us to the local pancake place, Lola’s House. As she drove, my mind couldn’t help but drift back to the first time I met Cade….

  9 years prior-September

  At sixteen years old, I was insecure and quiet. I didn’t make friends very well. Girls were mean to me, though at the time I didn’t know why. Every day at school I read between classes, at lunch, and after while I waited for my second bus. The school bus didn’t go to my neighborhood, so it dropped me off at a second bus stop.

  It was a hot September day that changed my life forever. Nothing about me would be the same. Ever. I walked to the bench, oblivious to my surroundings. My nose was stuck in my current romance novel. I followed along as the girl fell in love with her best friend (the bad boy), wishing life was really that way.

  I didn’t even notice when he walked by me on the sidewalk. Or when he stopped a few yards from me, and came back in my direction to take a seat beside me.

  “Hey. Do you want a cracker?” a velvet voice asked me.

  I didn’t look up, I wasn’t sure if he was even talking to me. Why would an attractive senior be talking to me?

  “Hey, I’m talking to you,” he said, a chuckle in his voice.

  I slowly lifted my head, peering at him from under my long lashes. His dark brown hair swept across his forehead, and his deep blue eyes made me gasp. He wore the ultimate laid back style, a white t-shirt and jeans. All he needed was a black leather jacket, and he would be the bad boy from my book. The smile on his face was breathtaking, and I found myself unable to speak.

  “Hi, I’m Cade,” he said, a huge grin on his handsome face.

  “Hi, I’m Francesca.”

  “Why are you always sitting here alone, Francesca?” he asked, placing his hand on my knee.

  Shivers went up my spine while butterflies flew rampant in my stomach. A hot senior guy had his hand on my knee. My eyes looked at it, wondering what was happening. Was the world ending? Was this a prank?

  “I like to read,” I stated lamely.

  Laughing, he replied, “I can see that. You didn’t hear me ask if you wanted a cracker.” He held out a pack of peanut butter and cheese crackers. I always thought they were disgusting, but I considered taking one in that moment.

  “No, thanks,” I said, shaking my head. I gave him a warm smile.

  “Ok,” he said. Before he could say more, my bus pulled up. Right on time, of all days.

  “That’s my bus,” I told him.

  “Ok,” he said, finally lifting his hand from my leg. “Do you mind if I come back sometime?” he asked, a twinkle in his eyes. Standing, he held a hand out to assist me.

  “Not at all,” I said, giving him a genuine smile. He seemed nice. New friends weren’t a bad thing.

  He walked me to the bus. “Ok, good. Maybe I’ll see you around school sometime. You should say hi.” He sauntered off, looking back long enough to wave.

  I barely made it up the stairs. I stared after him until I couldn’t see him anymore. I couldn’t stop the smile from filling my whole face.

  Present Day

  “Francesca, are you listening to me?” Daphne practically yelled at me. The shrill of her voice brought me out of my daydream.

  “Oh, sorry. I was thinking…” I admitted. I felt bad for tuning her out so easily, though it wasn’t purposely.

  “Oh, I wonder what you were thinking about. Or should I say who?” she scolded, though her eyes showed sympathy

  Guiltily, I looked down. “I can’t help it,” I whispered.

  She nodded and turned the edge of one corner of her mouth. “I know, sweetie. I know. We’re here and after breakfast, everything will be better.” She gave me a huge smile and I caught her enthusiasm. I wasn’t the same girl I was back then. Today would be fine.

  I thought.

  I hoped.

  I managed to choke down a single pancake. Daphne kept giving me a knowing look of accusation, so I had to ignore her for most of the meal. My stomach was in knots, palms sweating, and my head began to ache, the closer the hand inched toward the nine o’clock hour.

  Chapter Four-Cade

  Derek Kelling was the most famous architect in the area, designing everything from the new hospital to the restroom area at the park. He loved being famous, having people gush over his designs and compliment him just to say they’d talked to him. He went to social gatherings with a cocky grin on his face and a strut to his walk. He exuded over-confidence in every aspect of his life. Unfortunately, he failed to ever grasp parenthood.

  I loathed him for it.

  After the fight last night, and not having a drink to help me along, I was dreading this morning. I rolled out of my childhood bed, groaning as my feet touched the cold hardwood floor. Not much had changed since my teenage years. The walls still held rock posters and a few pictures of scantily clad women. The bed was still covered with a navy blue comforter my mom had insisted I used in spite of my protest that it was too much for a man my age. I preferred a simple blanket, but what Mom wanted, Mom got.

  I trudged my way to the bathroom down the hall, rubbing the sleep from my eyes on the way. Hearing dishes clanking downstairs, I knew my parents were up and at it already. I probably wasn't lucky enough for my father to already be gone. Slamming the bathroom door, I relieved myself after I turned on the water to steam the shower. Stepping in, I allowed it to roll off me, giving me the pick-me-up I needed to get going. Adjusting the towel to hang on my hips, I sulked back to the bedroom, careful to not make any noise.

  I dressed, the pants too big, just as I told Pops they would be. I frantically searched for a belt, but came up empty handed. I hurried across the hall to Cason's old bedroom, praying he had an old one left behind. Finding nothing, I walked down the steps to ask my father for something else, yet again. The smell of bacon, toast, and oranges filled my nostrils, making my stomach growl in appreciation. I stepped through the doorway, finding my father sitting with his back to me and the newspaper lifted in front of his face. My mother smiled when she saw me. Her smile lit up the whole room and made the skin around her eyes crinkle. I moved forward, lifting a plate down from the cabinet and filling it heartily with the breakfast my mother had prepared. Pouring myself a glass of orange juice, I strode to the table and took a seat beside my only ally. "Hey, Mom. Good morning," I said, giving her a side hug from my chair.

  "Morning, Cade. Sleep well?"

  I nodded, breaking off a piece of the bacon and crunching on it. It was crispy, just like I liked it.

  "Hello, son," Pops said, disdain dripping from his voice.

  "Pops."

  "You're just going to ignore me?" he questioned, folding the newspaper and laying it beside him.

  I shrugged. At this point, I had nothing I wanted to say to him, and I certainly didn't want to talk about everything that happened last night. "No, I need a belt," I stated as I smeared butter on my toast.

  He humphed and rose. "Your mother is taking you to your appointment. Don't be late, and Jane," he said, looking to my mother, "don't let him bully you into letting him miss this."

  "I don't bully her, Pops," I said, my voice rising.

  He ignored me, staring pointedly at my mom.

  "Don't worry about us, Derek. We'll be fine," she said, her voice firm.

  Jane Kelling didn't take anyone's crap, including her husband's. He glared at her for another minute or two, then stormed out of the house without telling either of us goodbye.

  ###

  At twenty after eight, we were in Mom's Jetta and rolling down the street. I convinced her to allow me to run in my apartment and change clothes. This crap outfit Pops had given me was not going to cut it. I didn't want to moon anyone at the meeting. We pulled into the apartment complex, and I rushed up the steps, clinging to the pants so they wouldn’t show my mom my much gr
own up ass. She changed my diapers, yes, but that was long ago.

  Shuffling through the clothes in my floor, I threw the top layer onto the bed, desperate to find the pants. Wrinkled or not, I had to wear them today. Pops probably told the hot shots all about how undependable I was. The need to prove him wrong ran deep within me. Yelling in victory, I put on the pants I finally found. I splashed a little water on them so hopefully they would straighten out some on the ride over. I slid on a white shirt, finishing the buttons as I bound down the steps back to Mom’s car. Once inside, I rolled the sleeves to my elbows, and spouted off the address Pops had left for me, “154 North Elm Street.”

  The streets passed as we made our way across town. Stopping abruptly at a red-light, I shot my arm out to brace myself against the dash. Mom spouted out something that sounded like a curse. Turning to glance out the window, I smirked. She wouldn’t be too happy if I did it in front of her after one of her rare moments of anger. The pancake house on the street was full of people bounding in and out to stuff their stomachs. I noticed one woman in particular…something about her was so familiar. Her long, full legs peaked out of a long tight skirts. Her hair was a dirty blonde and she carried herself with a confidence most women didn’t have. She could have been her twin, but I knew it couldn’t be the woman I’d lost my heart to long ago. There was no way. She had left town not long after the accident that I couldn’t seem to drink away. Watching her disappear into the restaurant made my mind drift to another time.

  9 years prior-September

  I’d watched her every day since school began. She moved with grace and confidence, yet I could see hurt behind her eyes when she surveyed her surroundings. I didn’t know who would want to hurt a beautiful creature like her, but it angered me. A lot. I watched her from a distance for as long as I could, until the longing in my heart to hear her voice speaking to me was too much.

  I knew it was stupid and reckless to bring myself into her life. I was the worst kind of guy for her, into all the wrong things, but something about her made me want to be…more. The first time I saw her beautiful face was during lunch. She was stuck in a little hole in the wall, her nose deep into a book. Her dark blonde hair fell around her face, and she absent mindedly pushed it behind her ear, not once looking up from her book. People walked around her, came close to stepping on her, completely ignored her…and all I could do was stare. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Two weeks after that, I’d followed her bus to the next bus stop. I prayed to be the one driving her home someday soon.