father was a successful business man. Conner and I were taking our seats when I saw that Nicholas was approaching us.
“Francesca, I was wondering if you would do me the honor of giving me the next dance?” His eyes never broke from mine as he spoke. He seemed to be ignoring Conner's existence entirely.
I looked to Conner; after all, he was my escort for the evening. He gave me a small nod to go ahead. I really did not want to, but I also did not want to be rude. After Cecile, how many more ill-mannered things would I be allowed before I became labeled as impolite? I gave Nicholas a nod, taking his arm, he led me back out on the dance floor.
He placed his hand on my back, but did not pull me as close as Conner had. We danced around the room not speaking a word. It felt very awkward so I looked around as we moved. My vision caught sight of my father. He seemed to have spotted me as well. He pointed me out to Lilly as Nicholas turned us, interrupting my view.
The dance seemed to stretch into eternity. Once it ended, Nicholas thanked me for the dance and then released me.
Conner was by my side before I even had a chance to turn.
“Dance with me,” he said authoritatively and I did. He was my only dance partner for the rest of the night.
Chapter 9
The Talk
The following morning, I opened my bedroom door and a piece of paper with my name on it, drifted slowly to the floor at my feet. I grabbed it and quickly shut my door again, almost like I was afraid anyone would see it. Quickly, I made my way to my bed before opening.
Francesca,
Meet me at our spot. I will be waiting for you.
Conner
My heart began to race. At the ball, Conner and I had danced without an awkward moment between us. We had laughed and joked like nothing had changed. I had not really thought much about how things might be different between us after last night’s kiss. I prayed that was not why he wanted to meet me.
I made my way down to breakfast, but both Conner and Steven chairs were left vacant. Lilly told me they had made their way into town again and she did not expect them until late. I quickly ate my breakfast, receiving quizzical glance from both my father and Lilly as I practically inhaled my food, before excusing myself. I wanted as much time with Conner as possible and I hoped he wanted the same which was why Lilly believed he would not return until later. Or maybe he wanted to break my heart early so he would have enough time to catch up with Steven. Even thinking it, I found that scenario a little hard to swallow. Conner just did not seem like that type of person.
I made my way through the woods in record time letting my feet carry me by memory. My mind buzzed with thoughts and scenarios each worse than the last. Conner was sitting on a boulder, the same one he had used the first time I had brought him here. He had the sun beating against his face. Oh my, how handsome he was. His blond hair seemed to absorb the sunlight, glittering strands of golden light, it shined almost as brightly. I stepped on some twigs, causing a slight crunching noise, which alerted Conner to my presence.
Conner turned towards me.
“Hello,” he said with no hint of a smile. I looked down at the ground, kicking a small rock with the toe of my shoe before responding,
“Hello,” I looked up at him through my lashes.
His brow creased in confusion, “Are you alright, Francesca? Is there something wrong?”
“It depends,” I snidely said.
He let out a small chuckle, “All right, on what?”
I took a deep, cleansing breath before I spoke. “Did you ask me out here to tell me what a mistake it was kissing me?”
I could not look at him. I was so worried that my words were true. Maybe he did regret it. Maybe I was bad at it. Silence passed before he spoke.
“Francesca...”
I still would not look at him. He stood and closed the distance between us. Placing his hands on the side of my
“Francesca, I was wondering if you would do me the honor of giving me the next dance?” His eyes never broke from mine as he spoke. He seemed to be ignoring Conner's existence entirely.
I looked to Conner; after all, he was my escort for the evening. He gave me a small nod to go ahead. I really did not want to, but I also did not want to be rude. After Cecile, how many more ill-mannered things would I be allowed before I became labeled as impolite? I gave Nicholas a nod, taking his arm, he led me back out on the dance floor.
He placed his hand on my back, but did not pull me as close as Conner had. We danced around the room not speaking a word. It felt very awkward so I looked around as we moved. My vision caught sight of my father. He seemed to have spotted me as well. He pointed me out to Lilly as Nicholas turned us, interrupting my view.
The dance seemed to stretch into eternity. Once it ended, Nicholas thanked me for the dance and then released me.
Conner was by my side before I even had a chance to turn.
“Dance with me,” he said authoritatively and I did. He was my only dance partner for the rest of the night.
Chapter 9
The Talk
The following morning, I opened my bedroom door and a piece of paper with my name on it, drifted slowly to the floor at my feet. I grabbed it and quickly shut my door again, almost like I was afraid anyone would see it. Quickly, I made my way to my bed before opening.
Francesca,
Meet me at our spot. I will be waiting for you.
Conner
My heart began to race. At the ball, Conner and I had danced without an awkward moment between us. We had laughed and joked like nothing had changed. I had not really thought much about how things might be different between us after last night’s kiss. I prayed that was not why he wanted to meet me.
I made my way down to breakfast, but both Conner and Steven chairs were left vacant. Lilly told me they had made their way into town again and she did not expect them until late. I quickly ate my breakfast, receiving quizzical glance from both my father and Lilly as I practically inhaled my food, before excusing myself. I wanted as much time with Conner as possible and I hoped he wanted the same which was why Lilly believed he would not return until later. Or maybe he wanted to break my heart early so he would have enough time to catch up with Steven. Even thinking it, I found that scenario a little hard to swallow. Conner just did not seem like that type of person.
I made my way through the woods in record time letting my feet carry me by memory. My mind buzzed with thoughts and scenarios each worse than the last. Conner was sitting on a boulder, the same one he had used the first time I had brought him here. He had the sun beating against his face. Oh my, how handsome he was. His blond hair seemed to absorb the sunlight, glittering strands of golden light, it shined almost as brightly. I stepped on some twigs, causing a slight crunching noise, which alerted Conner to my presence.
Conner turned towards me.
“Hello,” he said with no hint of a smile. I looked down at the ground, kicking a small rock with the toe of my shoe before responding,
“Hello,” I looked up at him through my lashes.
His brow creased in confusion, “Are you alright, Francesca? Is there something wrong?”
“It depends,” I snidely said.
He let out a small chuckle, “All right, on what?”
I took a deep, cleansing breath before I spoke. “Did you ask me out here to tell me what a mistake it was kissing me?”
I could not look at him. I was so worried that my words were true. Maybe he did regret it. Maybe I was bad at it. Silence passed before he spoke.
“Francesca...”
I still would not look at him. He stood and closed the distance between us. Placing his hands on the side of my
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