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Instead, she patted cool water on her face and tried to pinch some blush back into her cheeks, bringing back some much needed colour to them and smoothing back the wild look as best as she could.
Upon emerging from the bathroom Rose groaned inwardly. Her parents had managed to convince Rob and Morag to sit at the table next to theirs or had simply followed him to sit down and were all chatting warmly. Like some scene from a cheesy soap; she had the urge to go back to the bathroom and stay there. Abby looked tense and agitated, tapping her foot against the leg of the table and casting Rob some crazy looks. Silent scorn that either he was expertly ignoring or simply wasn’t seeing.
Shit, shit, shit.
Rose, taking one last calming breath and plastering a fake smile on her face, ventured out and sat next to Abby as casually as she could muster. Aware that this meant her seat was directly in line with Rob’s, making them close enough to touch if she moved too far back or to the side. She felt instantly awkward and wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole.
This could only happen to her.
She felt eyes on her as she settled herself and fixed her dress but didn’t dare glance up to look. She could feel the heat coming from his side and smell the familiar scent as she tried to keep focus on her mother and keep up with conversation.
Her mother was engaged with extreme interest in a topic with Morag, something to do with her museum and some ancient Scottish relic. Her mother being an ex-history teacher was lapping it up and looked like she wouldn’t be letting the woman leave anytime soon. Rose was impressed that she had managed to engage that woman in any form of conversation if she was being honest. She was not the overly chatty type and had given Rose the distinct impression in the past that she didn’t like woman at all.
If only her mother knew what a traitor that made her.
Her father was engaging Rob in a conversation about the estate and tomorrow’s fete, while Abby was throwing worried glances at Rose and trying to silently signal her.
How could he just sit there? So normal and unaffected. Relaxed and sociable, acting like nothing had ever happened between them?
Abby, silent and broody was again sending some sort of subliminal messages to her but she just could not think straight. Turning her silver ring on her finger and trying to look interested. Trying to act unaffected. Trying to behave in a normal manner as though she was merely listening to the conversation and not on the verge of an all-out emotional meltdown
The girl at the counter shouted on Munro and Turner, signaling both their orders were ready and Rose jumped up.
‘I’ll get it Dad, you sit right there.’ She gushed a little too enthusiastically and sped to the counter in the hopes of making it before Rob even got up.
Rob unfortunately was almost as fast as her, got up and followed her a little too closely. Aware of him right behind her, she wanted to run but that would have been ridiculous.
The two trays of cups and plates with steaming liquid and delicious pastries were slid in front of them as they stood side by side, reaching the counter together. Close enough to hear each other breath but a hairline crack between them so they did not touch. Rose kept her eyes front and center even when he leant in close, reaching for his tray, brushing his tanned arm against her naked skin. She bit her lip, unable to move until he had stepped back and grabbed her tray. Her hands were shaking so badly she knew she could not lift it. She just wanted him to go back to the table, but she could still feel him behind her, close enough to feel his breath near her hair.
What was he doing? Watching her?
‘I’ve got it, Rose.’ His voice was right behind her and tickled her hair.
He reached around her, taking the tray with one hand. Once again, their skin meeting softly and lifting it out over her head expertly and steadily. She hated that it left a lingering sensation of warmth on her arm, something else to torture her mercilessly.
One tray balanced precariously in each hand, he threw her an unreadable look and smile and gestured they go back to the table with a head nod. She followed like a dumb, mute, puppy dog. Walking behind him the short few steps and taking in his broad back, smooth t-shirt and jean clad rear. She wanted to cry.
Sliding the trays onto the two tables he was standing in her way, so she could not sit, but had to wait. Like some naughty school girl outside the head office unsure how to act or what to do, she fidgeted with her ring once again. He moved aside, stopping to pull out her chair he had pushed in when putting their tray down. She avoided his eye contact sliding into the chair and avoiding another touch for fear she may cry as he gently pushed her back in.
This whole scene felt so surreal. Like she was in some weird dream and melted clocks and flying pigs should float by any minute.
Abby was unreadable. A dark look in her normally glittery green eyes.
Seems she has Rob’s great skill there.
Morag and her mother still monopolising conversation and had moved to Robert the Bruce’s era.
For the love of god, mother! Realise this Satan’s beast is the enemy and set her free!
Her father made some joke about Rose as she tuned back in, realising he was talking to Rob about her. Abby had joined in, completely ignoring Morag who had finally shut up and was listening with a bored expression. Her mother reminiscing about some vague memory of Rose when her aunt had owned the cottage. Some affectionate childhood story in which Rose starred in all her youthful cuteness.
Rose just cringed.
For god’s sake. Could this be any worse?
She felt his chair shift forward, so he could better look at her father, obviously interested in what he had to say, this meant he leant in and rested his arm across the back of her chair casually. His forearm grazing her exposed back and shoulder. She froze at the sudden electric touch, finding words hard to form as she tried to answer something her mother had said, well, she was looking towards her expectantly as though she had asked something of Rose. She simply had no clue and had been out of whack with the entire conversation, only aware of his close proximity and what it was doing to her. It was sheer agony.
Grabbing her mug, she instead took a mouthful of coffee trying to drown it out, nodding and shrugging simultaneously in hopes it answered her mother. She used eating her pecan pastry as an excuse to stay zoned out and try and ignore his constant skin on skin heat. She wasn’t even hungry, but it was better than nothing.
‘Seems she always liked rambling in the gardens then.’ Was all she heard in that familiar deep tone and turned around rapidly, catching the devilish look in his eye, she was suddenly aware that they were regaling the night of her disappearance after the ball. Morag was glaring at her nails, her mouth pursed tight and tapping her foot against her other leg in an irritated fashion. Her temper simmering beneath those glittering narrowed eyes.
At least there was some good coming from this meeting. Morag’s irritation.
His arm came up and around her front unexpectedly, across her chest and gave her a squeeze as he continued. An easy nothing sort of gesture but it was devastating to her and her breath caught in her throat, causing her face to immediately flame.
‘Scared the crap out of us and really, all she was doing was taking a nap in the rose bushes, like some Disney princess.’ He laughed, his voice and closeness again tickling her hair and neck, making her crazy.
Her father erupted in laughter, claiming ‘like mother, like daughter’ as Rob returned his arm to its previous position. Maybe also aware of the heat growing between them at the slightest touch.
What in the actual hell was he doing? In which world did he live?
Laying his hands on her so effortlessly. Sitting cosying up to the parents of the girl whose heart you have broken. Your mistress. Non-mistress. Whatever the hell she was, sitting there fuming. No sense that this was the most uncomfortable awkward situation ever.
She felt her temper rising. Both at being the topic of conversation and by the absurdity of it all. She pushed her chair back, giving off a loud scrape and knocking his arm off ungraciously.
‘Mum, I’ll be back in few minutes I need to get something from around the corner... A book! I forgot I said I would pick it up from Mary’s book shop today.’ She tapped her watch, trying to be convincing. Her mum looked surprised and raised an eyebrow but nodded with a smile as Rose excused herself, avoiding Rob’s eye and slid out from behind the table. Abby started to come but she gestured not to. She sat back down, lifting her phone and giving Rose a look that she understood.
‘Pass my bag mum, I need the receipt in case the other girl is on the desk instead.’ Rose smiled calmly, hiding her eternal wall of pain and needing her bag to get her phone.
Her mum passed her the bag and she turned, walking out quickly before anyone else could delay her; she needed space. She didn’t care what it looked like to him, she just needed to get away from that completely absurd scene, away from the proximity of him and his arm against her back.
Hauling out her phone she texted Abby that she needed a few minutes to clear her head and not to worry. The air felt good and so as not to be truly lying to her parents, she ducked into the bookshop and began looking for a title she would normally buy.
She was shaking all over. Feeling the rising knot in her stomach as she tried for the millionth time in the last few weeks to calm the inner storm.
Deep breaths Rose. Deep slow and steady. Feel the air around you and nice calm steady breaths.
Pulling a random art book from the shelf she headed to the counter and paid for it without really opening it.
‘I’ve suggested we go take a walk.’ The text beeped.
‘Soon as your back we leave, okay?’
She loved Abby. She replied with an Okay.
‘Told them I felt a bit queasy in here. Even Rob believed me, although he has gone into protective brother mode and offered to drive me home. Ughhh!’
‘Okay Ab’s, I’m coming now x’
She knew she could count on her favourite girl to rescue her and upon returning she did not even have to venture inside far. Abby was hauling them out, yelling goodbyes to the unwanted’s and pushing Rose back out into the street in a rather boorish fashion. Mumbling curse words under her breath and masking them with a huge smile. Her cheekiness as always, bringing Rose back to a happier place.
Her parents did not seem any wiser to the craziness that had just gone on before them and scooping her book from her hand her mother admired her choice. Rose smiled, faking interest in the artist and some vague reason she wanted it. Noticing it was a contemporary artist and almost frowned that she would even buy it, her mother didn’t seem to notice.
