Just Rose

Chapter 7

‘Don’t I ever! That would be so much better than being a third wheel with Rob and whomever he drags along. I’m currently man-less and it pretty much sucks.’ Abby slid into one of the kitchen chairs and began laying out the pastries on the platter Rose had put out. Rose finished up with the mugs of coffee and brought them over, sliding into the chair opposite and mirroring Abby’s casual slump.

‘You’re kidding, right? How can a girl, looking like you, not have a date?’ Rose raised eyebrows with genuine surprise; Abby was stunning.

‘Aww are you calling me pwetty?’ Abby jested with kissing noises and lots of dramatic eye fluttering. ‘Seriously though, people in this

L.T. Marshall

town tend to give me a wide berth. When my mum died, I became a bit of a loner and people are just used to leaving me alone. I think boys think I’m weird.’ She gulped down some hot liquid and messed with the handle of her mug.

‘That’s understandable, maybe people didn’t know how to approach you. People aren’t good with grief. They never know what to say, especially younger folks.’ Rose lifted her mug and turned it in her palms, enjoying the heat it gave off and remembering the awkwardness of her flat mates when she had news of Olivia’s car accident.

‘You sound like a granny saying things like that.’ Abby jested. ‘What, are you like fifty?’ She poked with a twinkle in her eye and a cheeky wink.

‘Twenty-eight actually. Cheeky!’ Rose dipped her fingers in her hot coffee and flicked them at Abby childishly, smiling as she did so.

‘Old then. Not as old as Rob, but almost. You two are totally ready for slippers by the fire and matching bathrobes.’ Abby flicked some sugar from her doughnut back at Rose and received a pout in response.

‘Shut up weirdo. I guess it’s a date, we can be sad and single together. Maybe it’ll be you and I buying matching bathrobes soon enough.’ Rose giggled at that and Abby only cheered.

‘I actually like the sound of that, it’s about time I had a real decent girlfriend. Most of the chicks my age suck. They either moon over my brother or just want to know how much money he’s worth.’ She pouted and blew a strand of hair off her forehead in the most childish manner.

‘I promise to do neither of those things; if you’re lucky I may even be persuaded to go to second base at the party.’ Abby laughed at Rose’s Joke.

‘Then I am most definitely taking you.’ Abby jested with a wink and a smile and both girls laughed.

Somehow, the conversation seemed to flow even more fluidly after that, lost with a cup in hand and cakes on a plate. The subjects they covered were vast and random. Two minds alike in so many ways, both with a quick sense of humour.

They went through two pots of tea and more than half of the confectionery, giggling like school girls and finding the most insane things to talk about as the time drew on and they chatted and laughed, finding more in common than they ever thought possible.

Abby had a quick wit about her, a cheeky tongue and almost verging on the crude when it came to her jokes. She was refreshing and honest and said exactly what she meant. There was no second guessing. She was upfront and didn’t mince her words which Rose absolutely loved; she was the kind of friend that Rose missed having, the kind she had left behind in Edinburgh to embark on a career so many years ago as a freelance illustrator.

When Abby’s phone lit up and beeped, she made her apologies about leaving. Explaining her brother was here to collect her so she didn’t attempt to walk home; it was getting late. He had obviously returned home, from wherever, and discovered she was still here. Rose felt her heart quicken at the thought of him coming here, sitting outside in his purring black car only feet away and pushed down the blush she felt rising.

How the hell could that ass have such an effect on her?

She walked Abby to the door and stood in the open frame, feeling the cool night air on her skin and getting hugged goodbye. She was relieved when she saw he had waited for Abby part way down her road, far enough to keep his distance, but close enough she could make out his profile in the car when Abby illuminated the interior by opening it. Looking at his sister and saying something that made her smile, she saw him smile too, an easy happy natural smile as his eyes ran over his sister’s face. He pinched her cheek and received a bat in the arm from Abby before they were drawing away and heading into the darkness.

For an asshole, he really was incredibly handsome! It did crazy things to Roses stomach, in a way that was not entirely bad. But then enraged her for the ability to do it.

Jerk!