The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 164

Petty’s eyes went wide as she stared at Jay. Clearly, they expected her to go chase Franco down herself.

She gave a little nod. “Fine. I’ll just get a new one.”

Getting a replacement would take about a week, and she knew she’d need her press badge for the upcoming interview. Still, since she worked for the news department, the station could write her a letter to get her through Monday without a hitch. But that wasn’t the point. She couldn’t just let it go. She glanced up at Jay, her voice tight with annoyance. “You know, I really should’ve handed your number out to every girl in this hospital. Let them pester you until you lost your mind.”

Just then, Franco stepped out of the patient room, a doctor and nurse trailing behind. He paused at the doorway, catching the moment Petty was glaring up at Jay, her delicate face twisted with irritation.

Behind his glasses, Franco’s dark eyes narrowed.

Sensing a cold stare at his back, Jay flinched and shuffled aside. He lowered his voice. “Franco’s out. You can ask him about your press badge now.”

“He can keep it. Consider it a parting gift,” Petty shot back. Without even glancing at Franco, she strode down the hallway toward the elevators.

She tossed her words over her shoulder as she walked away, making sure Franco could hear every syllable.

The elevator chimed and the doors slid open. Petty stepped in, reaching to press the button. Her fingers brushed something unexpectedly cool. She froze. Franco’s tall form had entered right behind her. His hand was already on the open-door button.

Immediately, she pulled her hand away and tried to squeeze past him. She really didn’t want to be stuck with him in that tight space. But Franco stood immovable, solid as a wall. She pressed against him, but he wouldn’t budge. All she could do was stand there and watch as the elevator doors quietly closed them in.

Franco’s eyes flickered to a tiny cut on her chin.

Petty bit down on her lip, her thoughts spiraling. Maybe she and Franco really were cursed. First the ordeal at the nursing home, and now a broken elevator. Both times, she was stuck with him. One disaster is rare. Two is just plain unlucky, especially back to back.

“What’s with that look on your face?” Franco’s low voice drifted down to her.

Petty clenched her fists, refusing to answer.

Franco glanced at her again. Once he was sure the elevator was steady, he let go of the wall but kept his hand on the back of her head. He guided her toward the control panel, punched every button from the twenty-third floor down, then pulled out his phone and called Jay. “Elevator’s stuck. We’re on the twenty-third floor.”

He ended the call and looked down at her struggling in his arms, his tone calm but blunt. “Elevator could drop any second. A fall from this high, and you’d be nothing but a stain.”