“I never said that.”
“Yet.”Chad raised an eyebrow.“Kill meyet.I didn’t think chaining you up like an animal was necessary.”
“I could take you right now,” Romeo took a menacing step forward.“Tie you up, throw you in the back of the car and carry out my—”
“Why would you bother?”Chad lifted his chin.“I’m not your Chad, am I?”
Romeo didn’t answer.
“There’s a clean towel in the bathroom for you, and I...”
“What?”
“Ran you a bath.”
Romeo frowned.“Ran me a—”
“You can’t get in the shower with your hand like that.The taps are stiff, so I...”
“Ran me a bath.”Romeo finished.
“Yes.”
They stared awkwardly at each other.
“In that case, I’d better not let the water get cold.”
Chad relaxed.
Romeo slipped his trainers off, then went upstairs.He walked through their bedroom into the en-suite and closed the door.He rested his head against it and just breathed for a few moments.
His hair was matted with mud, and a deep purple bruise wrapped around his throat from where he’d rushed at Chad.The bump from the rock shone at his temple, and his stylish stubble had turned into a tatty beard.
He undressed, leaving his clothes a heap on the floor, then stepped into the bath.
It didn’t take long for the water to turn grimy.
His right arm dangled free of the tub, while he used his left hand to scrub himself clean.
When he finished, he pulled out the plug and stepped into the bedroom.
Chad was below him, banging pans in the kitchen.
Romeo tugged on a loose pair of joggers, and some socks.He sat on the bed,their bed, and thought about staying up there, barricading himself in the room so he wouldn’t have to deal with theotherChad.
He lay down, and before he knew it, his eyes were sliding shut.
****
“Oh...”Chad gaped inthe doorway.
Romeo blinked blearily, sitting up.He eyed the pillow he’d soaked with his hair.“What do you want?”
“I urm.I was checking you were...”Chad shook his head.His gaze lingered on Romeo’s exposed chest.“I wanted to know if you were hungry.I’ve made some pasta.”
“You’ve made pasta?”
“Well, no, I tipped some from a packet into a bowl of boiling water, and then added a tomato and mascarpone sauce once it was done.”
