57

They were not so lucky.

Rose was laying on his bed wearing one of his t-shirts and pushing the remains of food around her plate absently, trying not to listen to the commotion. He had been out in the hall from the second he had heard her car screech up. The shouting had calmed down but the ringing of something smashing had turned Rose’s blood cold. Afraid to venture out and wondering if Abby was hiding out too.

Her phone was dead, and she didn’t want to get off the bed to find Rob’s charger for fear any noise would bring the hurtling suspicious women running down this hall. She knew she was being stupid. He wouldn’t let her in here but after seeing that woman in a half full manic blow out once before, she felt uneasy. The pain of that slap was easy recalled to her cheek.

It was still early, they had barely come in here after making eggs in the kitchen together. He had kept her upstairs for another hour after Abby had interrupted, making sure neither of them was leaving that room until fully satisfied. Her body was still tingling in places that made her blush. Her skin still flushed all over.

In the kitchen, it had been romantic and easy. Dressed in his shirt while he stood topless, tanned and sexy, moving seamlessly from cooker to cupboards together as though they did it every day. They had walked out carrying plates and mugs to his bed, laying them down so he could kiss her briefly, admiring her in his clothes, his hands reaching under the shirt longingly. It seemed no matter how hard he tried he could never fully satisfy the craving he had for Rose. And he wasn’t against trying repeatedly.

He hard cursed at the familiar hum of the bright red car, despite trying to return her calls to stave her off and meeting voicemail. He pulled on a t-shirt and told her to stay put and now here she was, stuck here, unable to call her parents or check the time. Unable to go anywhere except the bathroom or his office from the internal doors. Afraid to do either.

The noise had abated completely, and she wondered if they were even still out there in the main hall. This was complete agony, sitting in suspense waiting and listening to nothing but silence. Staff to do the mass clear up would be arriving soon and he had told her Alice normally came in to spring clean his rooms when he had got up and out for the day.

How was that going to look, finding her sitting here in nothing more than his shirt?

She didn’t need to ponder over it for long.

Abby slid in with a rucksack in hand, her face a picture of happiness.

‘I figured you would need clothes and an escape route!’ Her grin barely concealed as she took in her friend’s rosy cheeks, glowing complexion and brothers shirt from the night before. A knowing eyebrow raise.

‘Are they still out there?’ Rose started towards the bag Abby had thrown onto the bed, grateful of the contents, pulling out toiletries and casual clothes. Abby tossed the trainers from her other hand and shook her head.

‘He took her to the formal lounge. Stupid bitch and all the bloody noise, I was almost asleep again before she showed up. The doors shut so you can pretty much escape.’ She clocked Rose’s hesitation ‘What’s wrong?’

‘He’s meant to be coming with me to meet Mum and Dad for breakfast.’ Rose felt stupid and selfish. ‘It’s just, with her here. I don’t want to just leave!’

‘So, meeting with the rents eh? Things have changed I see. If Rob says he’s coming, then trust me he will be there. Just leave him a note with the when and where and soon as he gets rid of the crazy witch he will be right along.’ Abby was slurring her words slightly, obviously still drunk. Rose looked doubtful, knowing that dealing with Morag could take far longer this morning judging by his intentions made clear last night.

‘I need to go home. My parents will be showing up there to get me and I have no idea what time it even is’

‘It’s eight twenty-five¡ chipped in Abby glancing at her watch. Rubbing her eyes and gawking at the early hour. She was still a little drunk from the night before and had not even begun to feel the effects of her hangover yet. Rose, however, had the familiar sore head and fuzzy mouth of suffering, she sighed, knowing that waiting would be pointless. If she left now and walked home, she would have an hour to get bathed and pull herself together before they showed up.

Muffin would be desperate for his morning walk to relieve his business too. She also did not want her parents knowing she had slept here with him. Once it was clear Rob and Rose were a couple, the thought of them knowing she had not come home was a little too embarrassing. They were still her parents after all. She did not want them looking at her with the knowledge she had spent the night writhing and moaning under his naked body. Despite her age!

‘Ok, Abby. I need paper and pen, my phones dead.’ She was pulling on her friend’s clothes and trainers as Abby slid her a notebook and expensive fountain pen and stood to yawn as Rose left Rob a brief note. It felt weird to be the one sneaking out for a change. Another shift in reality.

‘I shall be going back to bed after you’re gone!’ She scratched her head, picking up her friends discarded dress and shoes from the floor stuffing them into the rucksack. ‘I hope you remembered your underwear this time!’

‘Firmly back where they belong!’ She smiled flashing a lace edge above the sweat pant waistline.

‘So, you and him? it’s all back on, right? This isn’t just a drunken fuck?’ Abby cocked her head to the side and regarded her seriously.

‘Right and No, please don’t call it that.’ Rose grimaced at her friends and her choice of vocabulary. Squirming under her intense scrutiny.

‘And psycho?’

‘Abby don’t use that word either. He’s going to tell her. He’s going to try anyway. I guess her showing up means maybe sooner, rather than later.’

Abby looked impressed and gave her friend a hug before leading her down the hall and quietly across the main floor to the front door. Rose aware she was tiptoeing on the marble. Alice appeared from another door, apron on and duster in hand.

‘Morning girls. You two are up early!’ She was twinkling and fresh despite being one of the merry partyers long after the majority left. Abby mumbled some incoherent nonsense and Alice smiled as though she understood, although she clearly hadn’t.

‘Did you have a wonderful time Rose? Saw you dancing with a few of those handsome men, lucky thing.’ She winked cheekily, obviously assuming Rose had slept in Abby’s room with her and waved her off when she slid out the door moments later with a red-faced smile as way of an answer.

Abby walked her down the drive a little way, still wearing last night’s clothes and fluffy slippers. She looked a lot worse for the wear out in the early morning sunlight.

‘I’ll text you in a bit and let you know if he’s got away from her okay’.’ She squinted at the sun and shielded her eyes.

‘It’s okay Abby. Just go back to bed. If he doesn’t text me or show up I’ll know why and I’m okay with it, honest. It’s different this time. I trust him.’ She smiled convincingly. Crossing her fingers inside that this time was going to be different, that he wouldn’t let her down anymore.

‘Okay, but don’t take any shit, this time, Rose. Brother or not, I will still cut off his balls if he fucks your head over again.’ Her angry frown and fist raising were a little too adorable to be threatening.

‘Nice Abby. Very classy!’ Rose leant in, kissing her on the cheek affectionately and headed off down towards the long sweeping drive.