Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

Rose

The smell of pine and mint tickles my nose, luring me further into the waking world. Confusion clouds my slow-moving thoughts before the memory of falling asleep next to Phillip comes racing back to me. Sitting up, I realise I'm alone and his side of the bed is cold to the touch. Traces of his alluring scent are all that's left of him. Before I can process how I feel about that, my fingertips brush over a folded piece of paper. An unfamiliar bubbly sensation rises in my chest. He left a note . I must have jostled the covers in my sleep, almost hiding it. Unsure of what to expect, I take a slow breath before carefully unfolding the paper to reveal Phillip's messy scrawl.

Rose,

You looked too peaceful to wake up but Aria is here now and I need to pick Toby up from school. Thank you for letting me stay with you. The soup is in your fridge and there are bread rolls on the counter if you want them. I hope you wake up feeling more like your usual self. Take as long as you need to rest then let me know once you're ready to get back to work. We're ahead of schedule, so please don't rush.

Phillip

Something inside my chest stitches itself back together as I reread his note for the third time. I can almost hear his soothing baritone. Not only did he offer to stay with me when I worried it was too clingy to ask, he thanked me for it. Malcolm never once stayed with me when I had a flare-up. Not that I needed anyone to look after me, I always had pre-prepared meals in the freezer and other supplies on hand for such an occasion, but it would have been nice if he at least offered.

However rocky our relationship started out, I was grateful to have Phillip in my life. Only someone who truly cared brought you soup and stayed with you while you were sick. It's been a long time since anyone took care of me like that, not since I was little. Aria checks in on me when she knows I'm having a rough day and even let me have the bedroom with the en-suite when we moved in because she knows I struggle to move very far sometimes. She's a wonderful friend and I'm lucky to have her. But somehow, even with all that, falling asleep next to Phillip is the safest I've felt in years.

I misjudged Phillip when we first ran into each other and again at our first official meeting. I was wrong to think his offer of a fresh start had been anything but genuine. Now I know him better I can see that's just the kind of man he is, slow to anger and quick to forgive. After today I'm confident he's in this for real. He said he's falling for me. The idea of us turning into something long-term makes my heart flutter.

My stomach growls, putting an end to my daydreaming. Moving is still difficult thanks to fatigue making my limbs feel twenty times heavier than usual, but I slowly make my way out of bed. Days like this are frustrating because the only thing I can do is rest and wait for my body to recover. Flare-ups are to be expected when I haven't been pacing myself properly but sometimes, like today, I wake up feeling like crap with seemingly no rhyme or reason. It took me a while but I've come to terms with it all and learned to offer myself a lot more grace. That doesn't make it any less inconvenient but, like I told Phillip, finally getting a diagnosis and some advice after years of searching for answers made an enormous difference.

Before mustering the energy to actually leave my room to go and heat up the soup Phillip left, I decide to text him.

Me:

Got your note. Thank you for staying with me.

Three dots immediately appear on my screen like he's been waiting to hear from me and I fight back a smile.

Phillip:

Sorry I couldn't stay longer but I'm on nephew duty today.

How are you feeling?

Me:

No worries, I wasn't exactly great company.

I don't know about that. In fact, I'm pretty sure I could watch you sleep for hours.

Creeper.

I'm feeling a little better, thanks. Going to heat up your soup now, thanks again for bringing it over. Don't think I'll be up to coming back to work tomorrow though.

Like I said, no rush. Take as long as you need. I know you're eager to get more painting done but we're ahead of schedule. It can wait until you're ready.

Relief sweeps through me that he's not pressuring me to rush back. Even my parents don't understand why I can't just ‘push through' on days like this, especially if we already had plans. They refuse to accept that fatigue isn't the same as just being tired. It's one of the reasons I only see my parents a couple of times a year now even though they don't live far away.

Me:

OK. Hopefully I'll be back the day after tomorrow but I'll let you know.

Phillip:

No problem. Now go eat your soup.

Yes, boss.

Boss? I like the sound of that.

I roll my eyes.

Me:

Don't get used to it.

Over the next two days Phillip and I watch a couple more episodes of what has now become ‘our' crime show and he makes me laugh by texting his wild theories about who the murderer could be. His goofy messages have become my favourite part of the day. He never pushes me to come back to work, only keeps me updated on how he's doing with his own project. That turns into him also sharing little stories about what his nephew has been getting up to at school. Toby sounds like a sweet kid who is probably also a little too smart for his own good. I imagine Phillip was the same at that age. I enjoy hearing more about his family, it's not really a dynamic I've seen in person before and it's fun experiencing it vicariously through Phillip even if the reminder I'll be in the thick of it for real this weekend makes my palms sweat.

On Friday morning, I wake up with some energy for the first time in days. No longer feeling like someone has tied lead weights to my limbs is a relief. First up on the agenda is a shower. My legs are still a little shaky as I make my way to the bathroom but I have a stool in the walk-in shower for this very reason.

The hot water feels amazing and for a moment I just sit there, enjoying the feeling of the last few days being washed away. My hair is greasy and needs to be shampooed twice before I can apply conditioner, meaning my arms are tired by the time I rinse the last of the product out. Still, it was worth it to feel properly clean again.

Bundled up in my dressing-gown, I sit on the edge of my bed, needing a minute after the effort it took to shower. Once I've recovered, I pull on my comfiest pair of black leggings, an oversized lavender sweatshirt, and grey wool socks. I brush out my wet strands of hair before tying it back in a plait. After all of that it takes another moment of stillness before I'm ready to go in search of breakfast.

Aria looks up from her spot at the kitchen table with a smile as I shuffle into the room.

"Feeling better?" The answer is obvious considering I'm wearing actual clothes instead of pyjamas.

"Much, thank you."

"You going back to work today or giving it until after the weekend?"

"I'm still a bit shaky so I think it's best to wait until Monday before getting back to it. I was going to call Phillip after I've eaten to let him know."

"Sounds good," Aria replies, then shifts forward in her seat, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "So, now we finally have a chance to gossip without him in earshot, are you ready to fill me in on how it's been going with you two? I'm guessing pretty well since he was here playing nursemaid the other day."

"Do not start," I warn. My baggy sweatshirt and damp hair probably undermine the threat, but still.

"Come on, Rose, I have zero time to date. Let me live vicariously through you."

"You'd have plenty of time to date if you weren't such a workaholic."

"I'm not a workaholic, I'm driven . There's a difference." She primly tucks a strand of her red hair behind her ear then turns back to me, gaze pleading. "Just a little update. A morsel, a crumb, a?—"

"Bloody hell, woman, fine!" I laugh, shaking my head. "You already know I like him, what more is there to say?"

"Well, is it serious or are you just seeing how things go? Where are you at?"

"It's serious. More serious than I expected, actually. I'm meeting his family on Sunday."

"Already? Rose, that's huge!" Aria smiles widely, excitement practically seeping from her pores.

"I know it's fast but it feels right. I don't think I've ever dated anyone so… dependable. I know that doesn't sound all that sexy but knowing he has his shit together, that he'll be there for me, it's actually pretty damn attractive."

"I'm so happy for you, Rose." She squeezes my hand, smiling softly, then takes a fortifying breath. "Listen, I didn't want to worry you before but the rain is not letting up." She grimaces. "The river's overflowed and the field at the bottom of the hill has flooded. It probably won't get bad enough to reach the houses, but the weather forecast says we're due at least a few more days of rain, and I'm worried the road might get closed. We don't want to be stuck here if it does, so I think we should find somewhere else to stay until the storm passes, just in case."

"Shit, it's that bad?" I ask, heading over to the window to take a look. I'd heard the rainfall over the past few days but hadn't paid it much attention since I didn't have to go out in it.

"Yeah, it's not good. Like I said it's just the field affected at the moment, but still. I think it's better to be safe than sorry."

"You're right. Have you asked around yet?" She shakes her head.

"I wanted to talk to you first. Bel won't mind having us with him, but since he doesn't have a spare room it would be a tight fit. One of us would have to share his room and the other be on the couch. Neither of those options are great though."

I grimace. "Yeah, Bel wiggles around like crazy in his sleep and his sofa is the worst. I know he'd try and offer both of us the bed but I wouldn't feel right turfing him out of his own room, especially not when it might be for a few days."

"Exactly. Do you think you could ask Phillip? I know it's early, but you said yourself that the two of you are already way beyond casual dating."

"Yeah, we are, but asking to stay with him is different and you know it."

"I get that, but it's not like you'd be asking to move in permanently, just until the storm blows over. Surely you'd rather stay with him than squeeze in with me at Bel's?"

"I guess… and he does have a spare bedroom so he could still have his own space."

"Have you seen the way that man looks at you?" She scoffs. "I doubt he'll want his own space." I pin Aria with a flat look but it does nothing to discourage her.

"Fine, I'll ask."

Not wanting an audience, I head back to my bedroom to call Phillip.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" His warm voice washes over me and I feel my shoulders relax despite the fact I'm still nervous.

"Much better, thank you. I, um, actually have a favour to ask but you can absolutely say no."

"I'll do it."

"You don't even know what I'm asking for!"

"Doesn't matter. If it's for you, I'll do it," he replies confidently.

"It's a big favour," I warn. His low chuckle makes heat swoop low in my stomach.

"Go on then, raincloud. Ask me."

"Raincloud?" What in the mind-reading hell is this? How does he know I'm calling because of the storm?

"Yeah, your pyjamas had little frowning rainclouds on them. You looked cute." Oh, that makes more sense. Wait…

"I'm not cute. I'm sexy and desirable," I joke.

"You are absolutely both of those things." His voice drops lower and I bite my lip. "But you're also really fucking cute. Now tell me what you need, raincloud."

"I wasn't really paying attention the last few days but Aria said the rain's been so bad that the field at the bottom of our road has flooded. We're much further up the hill so the flat will be fine, but we're worried the road might get closed. It probably won't be an issue but she thinks it's best if we find somewhere else to stay until the storm's over. Bel would have us both but there's not really enough room at his place…" I trail off, nerves getting the best of me.

"Do you want to stay with me?"

"If that's… Would that be OK? Just until the storm blows over."

"Of course. Do you want me to come and get you tonight?"

"I think it'll be alright to wait until morning. That way I can pack a few things first."

"OK. Let me know if you change your mind and I'll be there."

"Thank you."

"Of course. Now go pack, I'll see you soon."