Josh shut Mercutio in the back, then turned towards the front door.“You need us.You call us.”
Ally nodded along.She stepped towards the house, shaking her head.“This...I’m staying, okay?If you don’t want me to stay in the spare room, I can sleep on the sofa.Let me sleep on the sofa.”
Romeo flared his nostrils.“Get in the car...”he murmured, cracking his neck.
“It’s not about where you sleep, Ally.It’s about me needing some time on my own.”
“Chad...”Ally said, sounding exasperated.
Chad stepped into sight of the camera, the barest sliver of his profile appearing on screen.His reassuring smile hit Romeo with ten tons of longing.
“I’m fine,” Chad said.“You don’t have to babysit me anymore.”
“We’re not babysitting you,” Josh said, moving to stand side by side with Ally.
“Look, it’s not that I don’t appreciate it, I really do, but the thing is...”Chad lowered his head, “The thing is, I can’t take another day of your awful cooking.”
Josh laughed, knocking his shoulder into Ally who wiped her eyes.
“You ungrateful little shit.”Ally muttered.
“That’s me,” Chad smiled, but it faded.“I know, guys,I know, but I’m okay.I’m feeling good.Ready.”He looked back to the house.“I’m going to go inside, run myself a bath, then relax in front of the TV.”
“I’m going to call you later,” Ally said.“And you better pick up, Chad.I mean it.If you don’t, I will be moving into your place for the foreseeable future.”
“I’ll pick up,” Chad snorted.
“She means it,” Josh added, glancing down at Ally.
“I know she does, now go,” Chad shooed them.“I’ll speak to you later, Ally, and I’ll call you tomorrow, Josh.”
Josh and Ally shared a look, then both nodded.
They took their time climbing into the car, much to Romeo’s annoyance.Ally had already thrown a curve ball at his plan by demanding Chad answer her call that night.
Romeo didn’t know how to tackle that particular problem, but first things first, he needed Ally and Josh to leave so he could set his plan into motion.
Josh honked the horn three times before taking off down the track road.
Then it was just him and Chad.
The monster and the magpie...
****
Romeo waited for aslong as he could stand it before leaving the outhouse.He stepped carefully across the concrete, wincing with each step.It was late afternoon, but there was still enough light peeking over the horizon for him to see.
He got to the front door, retrieving his key from his pocket.He expected Chad to have locked it after going back inside, but the door opened on his first try.Romeo frowned, shoving his key back into his jacket.
He eased the door open, then paused to listen.The downstairs was dark, but he could see light from around their bedroom door at the top of the stairs.
The tap from their ensuite thundered as Chad filled the bath.
Romeo exhaled, stepping inside.
The tap was loud enough to drown out his footsteps.Even the creaking floorboards couldn’t be heard above the roar of water from the bathroom.Romeo snuck right up to the bedroom, slipping inside with his gaze locked on the bathroom door.
He’d worried about catching Chad—didn’t want to hurt him, or for there to be much of a struggle—and a vulnerable unexpecting Chad getting ready for a bath gave him the perfect opportunity to snatch him, and grab him from behind.
