April wished she had sighted him earlier so she could dodge, but it was too late.
"April! It's a good thing I ran into you. Your dad has been worried sick. Where have you been? Are you heading somewhere?" he quizzed brightly.
First off, how on earth did he recognize her, despite her disguise? That was creepy, she thought. "Uhm... I'm heading home of course." she replied hesitatingly.
"Alright then, come with me. Let me give you a ride." he urged her on.
Something in her head told her he wasn't going to take her home. God knows where. Previously, Ned often warned her to be wary of him. Because his name was Frank doesn't mean he was a frank guy, Ned often joked. But she knew without being told that it wasn't a joke. Frank had always had eyes for her, but never the opportunity, and she had heard him joke to her dad on several occasions about marrying her, but her dad always waved it off as a joke. She would be a fool to just follow him to his car.
"Hey, Frank." she called, as he walked ahead of her. "Please, before we head home, can you buy me a great breakfast meal over there?" she requested, pointing to a coffee shop by the corner.
"Sure." he grinned and nodded with pleasure.
She ordered a cup of Americano coffee, thickened with enough cream and breakfast burrito - a tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, cheese, and bacon. She also ordered a sausage to compliment it. She was determined to have them all, and spend a good deal of his money as well, since he had the guts and cash to betray her dad with. As for Frank, he simply ordered espresso for himself and watched her eat.
"Are you sure you are okay with that? Or have you had breakfast already?" she looked up at him with a stuffed face. She could tell what he was thinking from the way he stared at her. Dirty imaginations. Lord! How she disliked him.
He smiled in a way that revealed just his front teeth. "It's okay. I'm fine. I will just wait for you instead."
She shrugged. "I know you would be surprised to see me eating this way, but you can't blame me. You wouldn't believe it if I told you I had nothing to eat at all, yesterday."
He flashed her a warm smile. "It's okay. Eat all you want. I am just glad you are not mad at me as I thought, because of the house. You even agreed to have breakfast with me, which shows you have nothing on me. That is enough breakfast for me."
April choked on her food as she struggled to stifle her laughter and he quickly reached out to get her water. Who wasn't mad at him? And who in the world wanted to have breakfast with a total nutcase and idiot like him? She laughed in her head. He should wait till she is done, and he would realize she is just using him. Because aside from home, where else would she tell him she was heading to that early morning? To find work dressed that way? Or to see a friend?
"Are you alright?" he returned with a bottle of water. She received it with gratitude.
"So where did you head to yesterday, then? Your dad was surprised when he didn't see you nor hear from you, and Ned said you left his place earlier in the morning."
She forced a smile as she took a swallow. "Why do you try so hard to pretend you didn't see the news, huh? I know you saw it, and must have even shown my dad. So cease the pretence."
Frank fell silent and sipped his coffee.
"My dad is pretty mad at me, isn't he?"
He dropped his cup carefully on the table. "He is your father. I don't think it is the kind of news that would please a father."
April nodded. "Sure. So, it's a good thing I'm heading home now, so we can talk things out. That picture is not what he thinks it is. I am just disappointed in the fact that he doesn't seem to trust me these days." she sighed sadly.
"It's not what you think. He is only stressed out. It's not easy on him either. And it doesn't mean he doesn't love you."
She didn't like where their conversation was heading. It was so boring and gloomy. She decided to switch it. "Oh my goodness, you are missing out, Frank. Their food is so good. I wish I would be able to come here often. I wouldn't even mind bringing my sisters along. Which reminds me. What do you think? How about I make an order for them too? I'm pretty sure they would love it!" she spoke excitedly. That would give her enough food for the whole day and probably tomorrow, till she found her way to her aunt's place in Nashville.
Poor Frank. He didn't have a choice, but nodded his head like a fool to her request. April made sure she added a bottle of iced tea for each of them as well. She watched him pull out his credit card from his wallet with a long face, but when he caught her staring at him, he quickly forced a smile. April returned it cheerfully, as the fresh plan in her head grew wings. When next Frank sighted her on the road, he would definitely turn the other way, and think thrice before calling her.