‘Tell me another rule,’ Aurora said before Rose could counter. She turned around and saw the edge of the older woman’s mouth twitch as she digested their interplay.
Rose opened her mouth just as her mobile began to ring again, chirping ‘Heartbreaker’ so loudly that Coco began to bark along. ‘That’s my dad. I need to get it. I can’t really ignore him again.’ She shuffled through her bag until she found the phone. She didn’t want to answer, but he’d keep calling until she did.
‘Dad,’ she said into the mouthpiece, twisting her body away from Ben and Aurora towards the window, letting out a surprised gasp as she noticed the view. She’d been so caught up in their conversation and her fears about being in the car that she’d barely looked at their surroundings.
The sky had changed while they’d been travelling. The deep cloudless blue had given way to lively oranges, filled with streaks of brilliant red as the sun had begun to dip lower in the sky. It was now a vibrant semi-circle sinking into the top of one of the mountains. The whole thing made a stunning picture, one she wished she had time to enjoy.
‘Rose!’ Her father’s wail dragged her back to the conversation. ‘Where are you?’
‘I’m in Italy.’ Rose braced herself.
‘Why?’ he snapped.
‘It’s a long story.’ She knew her dad didn’t care. She leaned back in her seat and rolled her shoulders, feeling the tension that had begun to ease during the journey return.
‘You received the invite to my wedding, though?’ he checked.
Rose sighed, frowning at her handbag where she’d put the two envelopes, noticing her leg had started bouncing again. ‘I did.’
‘Then why haven’t you responded?’ he barked. ‘You’re usually more efficient with your paperwork.’
Rose bit her lip and shifted further around. She didn’t want to share her business with Ben or Aurora, but it was difficult not to in such a confined space. ‘Do you realise that you’ve booked your wedding on the same day as Mum’s?’ She pulled a face. ‘Within an hour of the ceremony and a four-hour drive away.’
Had her father realised? Rose hoped not. But she was used to being put in the middle of their relationship, having to deal with the emotional pull from both of them. But she had no idea what to do in this situation. How to navigate it without hurting either of them.
‘A mistake,’ her father said sourly. ‘But you’re coming to mine of course?’
‘Dad, I don’t know,’ she said. She hadn’t even met his new bride – he’d barely been divorced three months, and she doubted this marriage would last any longer than his last five. ‘How well do you know your fiancée?’ she asked.
‘Enough to know she’s the love of my life,’ he gushed. ‘Rose, I know you won’t let me down. I’m going to need you there on the day. You always give such good advice.’
Advice he never followed. ‘I need to talk to mum first,’ she said. ‘Is there any way you can shift the time, or date so I can go to both?’
‘Absolutely not, I’m not changing anything for that woman—’ The car made a suddenly loud crunching sound before it startedto wobble, and Rose’s stomach lurched. ‘Dad?’ she squeaked as the phone lost signal, and she put the mobile down and grabbed the door handle trying not to panic.
‘Dammit,’ Ben said, steering them carefully off the unmade road onto a patch of spiky brown grass. He climbed out so he could check the car, and Rose saw his mouth pinch. ‘Looks like we’ve got a flat,’ he said dully.
‘Aldo, you didn’t warn us about this!’ Aurora complained, hugging Coco to her chest as she peered out of the window.
Rose got out of the car and looked around. The sun was almost hidden by mountains now. How long would it be until it was fully dark and how late were they going to be now?
‘Can you change it?’ She paced to where Ben was standing. The tyre was pancake flat, and they obviously weren’t going anywhere until it was changed.
‘Yes.’ Ben wiped his hands on his jeans and went to search in the boot. Rose followed, trying not to notice the way his T-shirt rode up, exposing some of the tanned muscle of his back as he bent so he could get a better look. He really was perfect – she’d never responded so viscerally to anyone like this.
Rose had experienced sexual chemistry in the past, but it had never been this strong. She hated the chaotic churning in her stomach, the lack of control in her mind. She could have blamed her feelings on the stress of the drive, but knew it was Ben.
Perhaps having these feelings for him would help her to understand her parents and their multiple marriages better? Clarity on their behaviour might teach her how to deal with them in the future — and it could help when she spoke to Luna later.
Ben turned to hand her the damp linen trousers so she could hang them over her arm. She watched him put his bag on the ground, unable to tear her eyes away as he moved to search again. The light from the evening shadows coloured the planes of his face, making him seem almost otherworldly. She clearedher throat and stepped away, fighting an urge to fan herself like one of the women on the aeroplane.
‘The spare will be in here,’ Ben said as he stripped the carpet away from the bottom of the boot, exposing a wheel and tools.
Rose heard the sound of a door opening, and when she turned, she saw Aurora had got out and was carrying Coco. ‘Aldo says we’re not far from a hotel,’ she said. ‘Perhaps there will be someone there who can help.’
‘We won’t need them,’ Ben said calmly, drawing out the wheel and a bag of tools, his muscles flexing in the dim light.
‘Do you need any help?’ Rose asked as Aurora drew closer. Coco barked and leaped out of the older woman’s arms. As she did, her claws somehow caught on the edge of Rose’s trousers, yanking them out of her hands.
