Russell’s Prologue
I could feel it. Rose’s head was somewhere else, and she wasn’t the type of woman who would tell me what was wrong unless I asked. Even then, it was hard getting her to express her feelings.
I’d never claim to be the most talkative man, but Rose gave me a run for my money. If she were anyone else, I wouldn’t give a damn if they never talked, but I’d wanted to know everything she was thinking since the first time I laid eyes on her two years ago.
After our final climax, we fell asleep in each other’s arms. I was awakened by her attempting to remove herself from my embrace. I waited until she swung her legs around to the edge of the bed before saying something.
“Where are you going?” I asked in a whisper.
My voice startled her, and she jumped.
“Huh? I, uhm, I was going to head back to the house.”
“Why?”
Although she refused to give us a title, Rose was mine, and I was hers. She knew it, I knew it, and so did everyone else who mattered. We spent most nights together, and she’d never left in the middle of the night.
We lived on the same property, which we called The Compound. She lived in the main house with the rest of our family, sharing the basement apartment with two of her sisters, Daisy and Blossom. I lived in a two-bedroom suite behind the main house.
“I have an early appointment, and I don’t want to disturb you when I get up to leave.”
“What kind of appointment do you have on a Sunday morning?”
“Huh? Oh, I—”
“Rose, cut the shit. Tell me what’s real.”
She sighed and eased back into bed, choosing to lie flat on her back instead of returning to my arms. When she didn’t say anything, I took the liberty because I had a few things to get off my chest.
“It feels like you’re pulling away from me.”
“Nothing has changed between us, so I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Maybe that’s the problem. It’s time for things to change.”
“Change how? I think we’re fine.”
“Really, Rose. We’ve been fucking around exclusively for two years, but if someone asks, I’m supposed to tell them we’re just friends.”
“Everyone knows we’re together, so why is it so important that we have a title?”
“Everyone but you. How long do you expect me to play this stupid ass game?”
“It’s not a game, Russell. I told you in the beginning that I never wanted to get married. You were cool with it then, and I can’t help it if you changed your mind.”
“I was never cool with that shit, but I thought you might change your mind.”
“Whose fault is that? Look, we’ve talked about this before. That whole marriage, kids, house, white picket fence ain’t for me. I’ll never change my mind.”
“I want to get married, Rose, and I want to marry you, but if that’s not what you want, I can’t force you.”
“I’ve been telling you this whole time that it’s not what I want.”
“Then maybe it’s time for me to face the music and stop wasting my time and yours. I hope your appointment goes well in the morning.”
I rolled over and gave her my back. About a minute later, the bed shifted, and I heard her moving around before my breathing was the only thing I could hear.
I couldn’t believe she’d actually left. Rose was gone.