Page 22 of Built to Last
“I know you can. But something obviously happened just now. Maybe I want to take care of you, Rose. Will you let me do that?”
“OK.” She sighs.
Once our drinks are made, I carry them over to the living area where Rose has taken off her shoes and now sits curled up in the corner of my sofa. Enjoying having her in my space much more than I should is just another thing I can add to the list of reasons why I need to pull myself together and figure out what’s going on between us. But first I have to make sure she’s alright.
“Are you OK?”
“Not really,” she answers, eagerly accepting the mug I offer her.
“What happened over there?”
“Muscle spasm. I don’t usually have a problem reaching the top cupboards but my body just had enough today. It happens.” Rose shrugs like it’s no big deal. I suppose in her eyes it’s not compared to the constant pain and other stuff she mentioned before.
“Is there anything I can do to help? Do you want a heat pack or something?”
“No, but thanks. You don’t need to worry.” She offers me a reassuring smile. Frustration over her trying to makemefeel better right now simmers in my veins. It’s not her job to make what she’s dealing with more palatable for other people but someone has obviously made her think it is. “I just need to rest for a little bit then I’ll be fine.” Taking her word for it, I decide to move the conversation on to a more pleasant topic.
“How’s your work going? Any new ideas?” When she grimaces I curse myself, realising too late that her art is probably not a safe subject considering she’s been taking a break from it.Damnit.
“Nothing worth moving forward with yet. I’m a little rusty.”
“Hey, if the set designs you came up with are anything to go by, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” She offers me a small smile but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. I clear my throat uncomfortably, shifting in my seat. “Now is probably a good time for me to admit that I checked out your website. I wanted to see more of your work, find out what your usual style is. Your portraits are amazing, Rose.”
“You looked at my website?” she asks warily, tugging on her sleeves.
“Should I not have?”
“It’s fine, I guess.” One shoulder rises and falls and she refuses to meet my eyes. “I’m just surprised you were interested.”
I weigh my next words carefully. Now more than ever, it’s clear there is more to Rose taking a break from her artwork than the need to slow down for a bit. But if I don’t knowwhyit’s a sensitive subject, I know I’ll end up putting my foot in my mouth again.
“Can I ask why you’re taking a break from painting?”
She sighs, turning to face me, then loops her arms round her knees protectively.
“Yeah, sure. Since we’re friends now,” she teases, nudging my thigh with her socked foot in an effort to lighten the mood. At least whatever happened between us in the kitchen seems to have got us back on track. Maybe I should make my intentions clear soon—I want to be far more thanjust friendswith Rose. But now isn’t the right time.
“I had a bad break-up a few months ago,” she begins. “More of a bad relationship really. The break-up itself was pretty anticlimactic after everything.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, Malcolm, that’s my ex, he wasn’t supportive of my art. He was an arsehole when it came to my health too honestly, but it didn’t start out like that, you know?”
“It usually doesn’t.” Unable to resist comforting her, I reach forward and cover one of her delicate hands with mine. Her gaze darts down in surprise but she doesn’t object. Instead, she gives me a soft smile tinged with sadness so I squeeze her hand gently, encouraging her to continue.
“When we first met, he thought it was cool I was an artist. That it made me exciting. But I didn’t live up to the fantasy. When his friends started moving in with their partners and buying houses, he wanted what they had. He got it in his head that if I got a ‘real’ job we would be able to have that kind of life too, even though he had enough money all on his own to do everything his friends were. Instead, he acted like I was holding him back because I didn’t work a normal nine to five.” She rolls her eyes. “He made fun of my artwork and treated it like a silly hobby even though it was my main source of income, and hehatedthe princess stuff I do for Aria. Said grown women dressing up was embarrassing. Anyway, by the time I saw him for who he really was and ended things he had already sucked allthe joy out of painting. Now I’m having a hard time finding the love for it again.”
I’m usually pretty easy-going, but after everything Rose just told me it’s safe to say I hate this guy for the way he treated her. Nobody deserves that.
“You’ll find the joy in it again.”I’ll make sure of it.
“I know.” She smiles softly. “This is helping, the set project I mean.” A sweet blush stains her cheeks but she continues. “At first I was so nervous about trying something completely new, but so far it’s been oddly freeing. Of course, I want to do a good job for Aria, but there’s not the same kind of pressure weighing on me as there is when it comes to my usual work.”
“That’s great, Rose. Really.” I run a hand through my hair, still riled up over everything her ex put her through. “Look, I know you already know this but I need to say it anyway. That man didnotdeserve you. And if you ever need a reminder of how amazing you are I’ll gladly provide one. I am blown away by your talent, Rose. I’m blown away byyou.”
Her eyes turn glossy and she visibly pushes down the emotions welling up inside her.
“Thank you.” She flips her palm to squeeze my hand back, the move settling something within me.Soon. I’ll make sure Rose knows I will gladly help her forget all about that arsehole ex of hers if she gives me a chance.
Chapter Fourteen
Rose
