Page 3 of Bed of Roses

Ping.

His phone went off. I couldn’t even see his face to know if his patented “Rose smile” had appeared, but I imagined it in my head and it pissed me off.

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Dinner with Belle was always a major de-stresser and pleasure for me. She was hilarious and I felt privileged to have had her as my best friend for the past 10 years. We’d met in high school and I loved her instantly for her sensitivity, sense of humor, and unique take on life. I’d been venting about Rose for the last half hour and Belle listened to every word.

“Doesn’t sound like there’s anything going on, Harry, but always trust your gut. Blake loves you, that is very clear. But maybe this Rose isn’t clear on things,” she offered.

“She seems so nice, not that I’ve had much to do with her. She doesn’t contact me, only waves or has three-minute chats when we run into each other in the street. I’m probably being paranoid,” I concede.

“You’re pregnant. You’re allowed to feel however you want,” Belle smiled. “But all this does make me glad I’m a lesbian. Men can be so fucking stupid. They’d walk into a room with a naked woman on the bed and as long as the woman said she was just getting comfortable and it meant nothing, they’d convince themselves it was all innocent. Women are smarter. We see motives and manipulation. It’s all face value with men.”

“She better not be ‘getting comfortable.’ At least we’ve got Colin there, although he’s not the most reliable witness,” I laughed.

We moved on to other topics. Belle was moving on from a two-year relationship and finding the dating scene difficult to navigate. Overall, it was a nice night. Pasta, cake, mocktails, and good friends. I felt so lucky!

It was 9:30 before I got home, which was a pretty late Friday night for me these days. I twisted my key in the lock and walkedin to the sound of laughter and music. I frowned. I didn’t know Blake had plans tonight. Walking into my living room, my heart skipped a beat. Rose was sitting on my couch in tiny shorts and a tight tee, despite the fact that it was winter and I’d frozen my ass off at dinner in jeans and a woolly sweater.

“Oh, hi Harriet!” she said cheerfully. “How was your dinner?”

Why was this woman in my house?

“It was great. I didn’t know you two had plans?” I hadn’t meant to inject tone into my voice but there must have been something because Blake glared at me and shook his head.

“Oh, we didn’t. I came over to thank Blake for helping Dad yesterday and one drink turned into a few! Story of my life,” she laughed. “I think Blake has been missing you as his drinking partner.”

That last line made me seethe.

“Well, I’m a boring, tired old pregnant lady, so I’m going to bed,” I said. But I didn’t move. Not until this woman got out of my damn house.

Rose sensed the tension in the air and rose from her chair.

“Yeah, I should get going too. Dad was asleep when I left but I really should check. Thanks for a nice night Bear.” She stretched her arms above her head, smiled and left.

Bear? What the fuck was that about?

“Bear?” I asked.

Blake looked irritated. “Don’t do this Haz. The name came about because I was complaining about the cold and told her I just wanted to sit in the house and eat pizza until spring. She said that was hibernation.”

I didn’t like these little connections. They were inappropriate between two people who had only known each other for such a short time.

“What’s your name for her then?” I asked. Blake’s face hardened.Abort, abort mission!

“It’s Rose,” he snapped. “Go to bed. You’re obviously tired and pissed off.” He turned on the television and found some kind of sport to watch, though I think at this point he’d have watched fields being plowed rather than talk to me. He stared at the screen, freezing me out.

Feeling like shit, I dragged myself into the shower, then straight to bed. I was tired. I was hormonal. I was being paranoid. Even if Rose was being inappropriate, I trusted Blake completely. I was giving him a hard time when all he was doing was trying to help a neighbor. Yes, I definitely had to watch Rose, but I didn’t have to niggle at Blake. He must have come in after I fell asleep because he wasn’t next to me the last I remembered, but I woke with him snoring away beside me.

Chapter 4. Blake – Patience is a virtue

It was a week since I’d argued with Haz about Rose. What was so wrong with having a drink with a neighbor? We often caught up with Leo and Jacqui for a drink. Pregnancy was doing strange things to Haz’s mind, and I was trying to be patient, but her implications about me and Rose were hurtful and completely wrong. Sure, Rose was attractive, but I was married to Haz, and I loved her.

I sighed, leaning on my shovel. “Come on dickhead, the trench won’t dig itself,” a sweaty Mick grunted out.

“Sorry, this shit with Haz and Rose is doing my head in.”

“So, stop helping her so much. Happy wife, happy life,” Mick shrugged. “Don’t let some woman you barely know cause issues. It’s not like she’s family or even a good friend.”

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