Chad nipped outside to grab something from the car.He kept it from Romeo as he took it into the living room.Romeo watched from the doorway.Chad had rearranged the armchair so it was in front of the door so the occupant would not be able to see the person behind them.
He nodded, happy with the arrangement.
“I’m going to take another shower,” he kissed Romeo on the cheek as he passed.
When Chad returned, Romeo’s mouth went dry.
Chad wore a crisp white shirt, and dark grey trousers.
His eyes were bright with no sign of tiredness, and he flashed a smile.
“Ready?”he asked.
Romeo couldn’t speak.He nodded.
Chad handed Romeo his phone.
Romeo took it with a frown.
“I don’t want any interruptions.”He nodded at the living room.“I think we’re ready.”
Chad’s phone buzzed in Romeo’s hand.
It was a camera alert.
Chad watched Romeo as he frowned down at the car heading up their road.
A blue Mazda MX-5
A car Romeo had never seen on their property before.
Chad pressed a hand to Romeo’s chest, pushing him back until they were out of the living room and in the kitchen out of sight.
Romeo continued to look down at the phone, even when Chad retreated, Romeo kept watching.
The car slowed outside.
Its wheels squeaked as it came to a stop.
The driver’s door opened.
And a woman stepped out.
She wore a cream blouse, and a long grey pencil skirt.Her mousy brown hair was tied up, and it swayed as she walked.She had a thick black folder clutched to her side, and in her other hand, she held a box.
Chad hurried out to greet her, and she smiled sweetly, bowing her head slightly at Chad’s approach.She handed the box over to Chad, and they both laughed, as they shook hands, then Chad gestured for her to follow him into the house.
It was only when Chad’s back turned, did her smile fall, and Romeo’s hackles, along with the hair on his arms, rose.The way this woman looked at an unaware Chad set alarm bells off in Romeo’s head.
They passed out of view of the camera, and Romeo heard the clomp of her heels in their home.“I hope you like them,” she was saying, not that Romeo had a clue what they were talking about.Blood rushed in his ears, and it was taking everything in him not to walk out there and strangle her for looking at Chad in that way, like he was aconquest.
“Who doesn’t like chocolate brownies,” Chad responded, and his voice was warm, and jovial.
They went into the living room, continuing their small talk.She asked about the window, and Chad explained he’d not yet had it replaced.
Chad’s phone buzzed again in Romeo’s crushing grip.
It was a message from Josh.
