Chapter 39
Chapter thirty-nine
Rosa pressed call and almost laughed when the phone was answered in seconds.
“Hey,” Billy said.
“Hi.”
“Good to talk?”
Rosa looked towards the stairs and then got up and gently closed the door. “Yes, she’s just gone up. I think she’s exhausted.”
“Good…I mean, that she’s gone to bed, not—”
Rosa chuckled. “I understood.”
“Phew.” Billy exhaled. “I’d hate for there to be any misunderstandings now, you know?”
“Yes. But equally, I don’t think I like the idea that either of us should be walking on eggshells around everything we say.”
“No, you’re right. So, settled back into it?”
“The mundanity of life? Yes, washing is on. Thankfully, Tanya brought dinner over, so I didn’t have to rush out to the store. You?”
“I got a takeaway. Answered a few emails…thought about you.”
“Me?” Rosa fidgeted down into the seat and got more comfortable. “What were you thinking?”
Billy laughed. “I think that’s more of a show, than tell, situation.”
Rosa smiled. “I like that you think of me that way.”
“Well, if I’m honest, I’ve never stopped thinking of you that way.”
“Not even when Stella was around, or one of your other floozies?”
“Floozies?” Billy laughed again. “Yeah, fair enough, but yes, even when they were around.”
“So why didn’t you tell me all of this before now?”
“Honestly…” Billy said, her tone a statement rather than an actual question. “I thought you’d moved on from me. I figured that was the most likely thing, and if anything, your thoughts around me might be on the negative side, especially as we barely spoke for a long while.”
When Rosa didn’t speak right away, Billy continued, “I tried to move on. I dated my floozies,” she said, her voice carrying a smile, “and Stella was… I never used anyone. I was always up front about where I was at any given time, and with Stella, yes, I felt seriously about her at one time, but then when the pages she and I turned started to tell a different story, I realised it was because I’d never left our story…
not really. Every time I picked Immy up, I’d hope to see you, try to initiate a conversation to gauge where you were at, who you might be dating.
” She sighed. “But you never let on—always so closed off from me. I’d pretty much given up and accepted we wouldn’t ever be anything again, and then we got stuck together at the cabin and I figured that was my chance—the one opportunity to actually talk with you. ”
The silence lingered for a moment before Rosa finally said, “I’m glad you did.”
“Me too.”
A shrill ringing came from the phone—the option to switch from text to video. Rosa accepted, smiling when Billy’s face came into view.
“So, I wanted to see you,” Billy admitted. “You know, so I can remember what kissing you feels like.”
Rosa laughed. “You need a visual reminder for that?”
“No, but I needed an excuse for a visual reminder.” Her grin widened.
“I’m not sure you’ve ever needed an excuse to do anything that involved me.” Rosa stood up and wandered out into the hall, then into the kitchen.
“Are we going on a tour?”
“No, I’m going to make a cup of tea and then take you to bed with me.” Rosa smirked, feeling a little more confident to flirt.
“Oh, well in that case, let me join you properly.” Billy’s camera moved, giving Rosa a blurred glimpse of her torso and then the floor as Billy got up.
Then she was back again, dark curls hanging in her face, which she blew away from the corner of her mouth.
“I was thinking maybe tomorrow we could—”
“I can’t tomorrow. Imogen will be here all day, and I have the shopping to do and—”
“Got it, sorry, yes. Getting ahead of myself.”
“I could meet you on Monday when I drop Imogen off at her music lessons. We’d have a couple of hours.” She pressed the button on the kettle and found a clean mug.
“Perfect. My place?”
Rosa had never been to Billy’s place. The idea intrigued her.
“Yes, I’ll come over as soon as she’s inside with Garth.”
“Will you have eaten or shall I cook something?”
“I’ll have eaten.”
“Okay, so…maybe we can watch a film or just talk?”
“We can do that,” Rosa agreed, picking up the kettle as it boiled.
“Why do I get the feeling there’s something else you’d prefer to do?” Billy’s actions mirrored Rosa’s with the kettle.
Rosa grinned coyly. “I don’t know what you could mean. But if you were suggesting that I might be interested in something more…intimate, then I would probably not be in a position to argue.”
“Oh, and what position would you prefer to be in?”
“I’m pretty sure you can remember those details…
I suspect nothing much has changed.” She finished making her tea and picked up the mug.
“Now, quiet while I get upstairs and into my room. I do not want listening ears to hear you talking about folding her mother over and doing despicable things to her.”
Billy laughed and drew her finger across her lips to zip them.