Chapter 35Rose
Chapter 35
Rose
I ’ve got to catch him before he leaves. I’ve got to let him know.
I sit up in bed and grab my phone to text him. Where’s his message thread? I don’t even see him in my contacts. Ah…maybe he’s still packing—that’ll be faster. I run out of the bedroom, down the stairs and out the front door. Barefoot, but I don’t care.
When I get to the apartment, I try the door, but it’s locked. I pound away, calling his name. No answer, no barking, nothing.
Oh. The roastery. He’s there doing the extra roasts before he takes off. I can still catch him. I run down the sidewalk, slipping and stumbling in the rain, but I don’t care. I push open the side door and rush in, skidding to a halt in the middle of the room.
There he is. I start to talk, to tell him…and Mateo turns around. Rosita, he says, you missed him—he’s already left. And I just called the police—somebody broke in last night and vandalized the place.
He steps aside to show the battered roaster, looking like a crowbar had been used to beat it to pieces.
I’m shivering, and I can’t get any words out. I sink to my knees, hang my head.
Not again.
Lauren’s ringtone jarred me awake. I lay on my back, arms and legs tangled up in the sheet. I was panting, my throat dry and scratchy. Salty tears ran from my eyes down my cheeks to land on my lips.
No sleep T-shirt, panties or socks—only the cool, brutal rub of the sheets. I ached between my thighs and tasted bitter dark chocolate on my tongue.
Had any of it been real?
My phone stopped ringing, and a moment later, a ding sounded. I pulled my arms loose and scrubbed my face dry with a corner of the sheet. I expected Pirate to start complaining about his breakfast…or lack thereof…but he and Princess were nowhere to be seen.
I swung my legs around to sit up, swaying a bit. It was getting light outside. How long had I slept in? Thankfully, I didn’t have to go in until one o’clock to relieve Mateo.
When my phone dinged again, I grabbed it from the nightstand. Rather than pick up the messages, I called my bestie directly.
“Lauren…” I swallowed and tried again. “I had the most dog- awful dream. It seemed so real.”
There was silence for a beat. “Well, hello to you too, girlfriend.”
“Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry! I got your message last night and haven’t had a chance to call,” I rattled on. “Finn texted that he was back safe and sound at school too. Thanks again for driving him. How’s Baby? Was she happy to see her mom?”
“Yes, she slept cuddled on my chest all last night. I missed her so much!”
“I’m happy you got home in time to pick her up—and that dogbolt didn’t try to keep her.” I started to shiver for real this time and dragged the sheet back around my shoulders. “So…that was you? You left me three messages?”
“Yes, those were all me—I kept thinking of one more thing. But first, tell me all about your dream. Or was it a nightmare?”
“Definitely a nightmare. I was lucky I wasn’t sleepwalking too.”
“Why was that?”
“Somehow I ended up sleeping naked last night. My neighbors and the café customers would’ve gotten a real show.”
“Ah…panties-optional attire. I need deets! Tell me all about your nightmare…and about your night with Rafe.”
It was a relief to talk about my dream out loud. Made it less real, less scary, less a repeat of the past. Lauren even got me laughing about how, in real life, Pirate would’ve been racing behind me, barking his fool head off, begging for his breakfast.
When it came to Rafe, I shared the flavor, not the details, of our time last night.
“It was different,” I whispered. “He was different.”
“How so?” she asked softly.
“Rafe was quiet last night, not talking at all. I know that doesn’t seem unusual, but when we’re together…like that…he’s not shy about talking. Asks me what I want, tells me what he wants, growls hot and dirty the entire time.”
I shifted on the bed, tugging the sheet tighter. “Last night, he was…I don’t know…intense. Everything he did was serious, deliberate. How he stared into my eyes, how he stroked me all over, how he kissed me. I barely had room to breathe when he held me so close between times.”
“Between times? There was more than one time?” Lauren was diverted for a moment.
“Yes. With Rafe, there’s always more than one,” I shared, then plowed on. “For all the thrills we’ve had giving in to our physical attraction, this felt more like lovemaking. It also felt like the last time, like goodbye. Am I reading too much into last night?”
“Rose, you won’t know until you’ve talked to him.” My bestie set me straight. “And this is the day to do it. In fact, it’s the last day. Get Rafe alone. Tell him what’s in your heart. Ask him what’s in his heart. You’re brave, I know that for a fact. You’ve got this.”
“Lauren, you’re right. I’ve got this.” I climbed out of the bed and headed to the bathroom. “And he did say over dinner that he had things to tell me today. We need to find a time before he leaves for Boise early tomorrow.”
“You go, girl! Call me later with the upshot.”
“Anything else before I go?”
“Yes, send that message pronto.”
“Yeah…no turning back now.”
“You’re doing a good thing.”
“Okay, okay. Kisses for Baby.”
“Ear rubs for your pup.”
An exchange of bye-bye-bye, and we were out.
Before I had a chance to change my mind, I opened Insta to message Angelina:
Trying to locate the brother of Angelina Amato on behalf of her son. They lived in the Oakland/SF area 35-40 yrs ago. Your father & brothers (?) look like her son. Not a solicitation for money or request to meet. Looking for family history or pics to pass on to my friend. Thx for replying! Rose Connolly
I included my phone and links to our website and social media pages. Fingers and paws crossed that Lauren’s word magic would work its magic.
Next up, I found “Red Hot Roaster” in my contacts. Still there, nightmares to the contrary.
Monday * 7:13 AM
Me
Meet you at the roastery at 12. Time to talk. Please.
RHR
OK. Understood.
RHR
Did you eat breakfast yet?
Me
Don’t worry. Soonish.
RHR
I always worry.
Me
See you. Soonish.
I was too nervous to eat, but I didn’t share that with Rafe.