Chloe nudged Frankie’s shoulder. “You feel better, right?”
Frankie glared at her, rubbing her hands together as they made their way off of the trail. “No. Now, in addition to being emotionally numb, I feel physically numb. Ice cream was a much better idea than hiking. For future reference, always go with ice cream.”
“I did supply ice cream, if you’ll remember. It was time for the next phase,” Chloe said, her tone equally serious and teasing.
It was probably her own fault for letting her friend drag her out of the house, but Frankie hadn’t been in the mood to argue.
Chloe slung an arm around her shoulder as they headed to Frankie’s car. “Can’t win ‘em’ all.”
Laughing felt almost foreign to Frankie. “You said it.”
“Are you Frankie Vaughn?” Frankie turned and saw a woman with blond hair cut at the perfect angle to highlight the best features of her striking face.
“I am.”
“Hi,” she said, her manicured hand outstretched. “I’m Natalie. I’m a reporter and I wondered if I could ask you a few questions.”
Unease settled low in her belly but she kept her face neutral. “About?”
Natalie pulled a notepad out of a bag slung across her chest. “About Ryan Walker’s decision to turn down a chance to coach professional baseball in favor of staying in West Lake. From what the locals say, he’s great with the high school team but his main reason for wanting to stay is you.”
Frankie looked at Chloe then back at the reporter. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Frankie said, attempting to step around the woman, but stopped when Natalie spoke again.
“You’ve been dating Ryan for months, according to my sources. Though that’s not newsworthy in itself, are you telling me you didn’t know about this offer? It’s a dream deal for someone in his position. My mistake, I thought you two were close. He does have a reputation for getting…close to women, doesn’t he?”
Not that Frankie knew of, but that wouldn’t stop the woman from baiting her. Taking a deep breath, Frankie turned, unsure of what insult to respond to first. “I don’t know who your sources are, Natalie. But regardless, you know nothing about me, and from the sound of it, nothing about Ryan either.”
She and Chloe started for Frankie’s car. Her heart was thumping fast and heavy.
“What a bitch.” Chloe stepped lightly as they crossed the street.
They were at the car when Natalie called out again. “It’ll be interesting to see how Ryan’s ex-wife feels about the foundation that carries both of your names. I’m certain she’ll want a piece of that pie.”
Frankie recognized the note of desperation in Natalie’s tone, the need to cling to any fact she could uncover. What the hell was she talking about? Even if Frankie knew, she wouldn’t give any information to a reporter like that. But she planned to find out for herself. She and Chloe slid into the car and she didn’t wait for it to warm up before she pulled away from the curb.
“What is she talking about?” Chloe asked.
Frankie’s brain felt fuzzy. “I don’t know. I have no idea.”
“Frankie, I love you,” Chloe said.
Frankie smiled, her brows pulling together in confusion. “And I you but what’s with the untimely declaration?”
“The fact that I’m going to now tell you to get your head out of your ass,” Chloe said.
She rubbed her arms through her heavy jacket and Frankie turned up the heat. Cold air flowed through the vents.
She glanced at Chloe. “Excuse me?”
“You accused him of running,” Chloe said.
“He did run. As soon as it got tough.”
“Pot. Kettle.”
Frankie gasped at Chloe’s words. “Bite your tongue,” she said before she could stop herself. She clapped a hand over her mouth, both to stop anymore unwanted clichés from spouting and because what Chloe said was true. She hated that.
“It’s plain as day,” Chloe said, her lips turning upward.
“Stop it.”
“Follow your heart, Frankie.”
Her pulse raced like it had when they’d reached the peak of their hike. “I mean it, Chloe.”
“I can see that you do. But the heart wants what the—”.
“Okay! Stop it! I hear you,” Frankie said.
They looked at each other and burst out laughing at the same moment.
They rode in silence, which Frankie was grateful for; her feelings were tumbling over each other, swirling so she couldn’t isolate them. When they arrived at her house, she let the car idle. Chloe undid her seatbelt and opened the passenger door.
“Your heart, Frankie. It led you here. Don’t be so damn stubborn.”
Then she slammed the door and Frankie watched as Chloe let herself into her aunt’s house; her house now. Her home. Pulling out of the driveway, she backed herself directly into Ryan’s. His truck wasn’t in the driveway, but she’d waited this long. She could wait a little longer. And this time, she would make her own damn choice.