Page 131

Frankie turned, wiping away the tears that were freefalling down her face and dropping off the end of her chin.

Rocco was standing in the doorway.

‘There’s something I need to tell you, Frankie.’

CHAPTER 60

FRANKIE

Frankie drove away from the hospital.

All these years Frankie had felt desperately sad for Rocco, keeping her own feelings for Jay hidden, when all along it was Rocco who’d been the one to send his best friend away. Even worse, Rocco had known she and Jay had become more than friends.

Frankie got to a mile from home when her van began backfiring and losing power. She managed to get it off the road and into a lay-by before it came to a complete stop. Turning the engine over again, it merely spluttered and died, unable to be revived.

Frankie got out and, with a frustrated kick to the tyre, which did nothing other than hurt her foot, locked it and began to walk the rest of the way home.

Her anger seemed to build with each step she took. Rocco’s ultimatum was ludicrous, but so was the fact that Jay had gone along with it. Both had played with Frankie’s future without even asking her her opinion!

Stomping along the side of the road, occasionally flattening down a mound of built-up slushy snow with her boots, Frankie became aware of a vehicle slowing down beside her. It was Cole’s camper van.

‘Hey, Frankie!’ Cole leant out of the open window. ‘Can I give you a lift?’

‘No, thank you,’ she replied curtly, staring straight ahead, not breaking her stride.

‘Frankie!’ Jay called out from the passenger seat. ‘Can we talk?’

‘No, thank you.’ She remained focused on the road in front of her.

‘I get why you’re mad.’

Frankie quickened her pace as the camper van rolled along beside her.

She was practically power walking for a place in the next Olympics by the time she turned up her drive.

Cole’s van followed.

Frankie threw open the gate, knowing once she got inside the barn, Jay wouldn’t be able to follow her. She let herself in, slamming the solid door closed behind her. The dogs were delighted to see her, and Gilbert pawed at the door, keen to go to the garden. Frankie waited a few more minutes in case Jay was going to knock, but he’d clearly got the message that she didn’t want to speak to him.

She opened the door to let the dogs out… and found Jay standing there.

‘I’m going to wait here as long as it takes to talk to you.’

Frankie could see Cole and Si in the front of the camper van on the other side of the gate.

‘I just want to talk. Then I’ll leave.’

Frankie weighed up her options. ‘Fine,’ she said after a moment. She folded her arms and stood her ground squarely in the doorway.

‘I get why you’re mad. But please don’t be angry at Rocco.’

‘Don’t try and tell me who I can and can’t be mad at. And why are you suddenly the best of friends again?’ Frankie snapped.

‘Because I don’t want to hold on to anger or resentment. Rocco was⁠—’

‘A completely selfish arsehole!’

Jay took a moment then gave a little nod. ‘Yes, and he knows that. But he was hurt. I’d hurt him. Hurt people hurt people. He was also looking out for you.’