“They left an hour ago. When I suggested I call her a taxi, she told me to call you.”
Graham shifts as I jump off the sofa.
“I’m keeping an eye on her, but you know what Friday night in town is like,” he adds. “Can you come?”
I move quicker than Connor performing a love declaration. I shove my feet into my trainers and grab my keys. I don’t want anyone near Rosie.
“I’m on my way. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” I’ll gun my engine no matter the consequences. “Which bar are you in?”
I dive out of my front door and to my car. She didn’t go home with anyone.
She asked for me.
CHAPTER 44
Niki
Iwalk into the bar. Groups of hungry men and women, and shoddy lighting, make it difficult to see a couple of metres ahead.
“Hey, you look familiar.” A woman who resembles Clara reaches for me, but I pull away.
There are too many germy people with reduced self-control in a confined space. But I need to get to Rosie.
My entry through the next group is blocked by a couple making out. The guy’s young, or maybe I’m too old for this place.
“Excuse me,” I say, nudging them with my sleeve covering my hand.
This place represents everything I can’t control.
Someone stares at me and lifts their phone before I duck past the next group. In my haste, I forgot my cap. I needed to reach Rosie.
I hear her before I see her.
“My husband is on his way. If you don’t get away from me, he’ll be livid,” she says with the sass of a drunk woman. She waves her wrist, and my ring glints under the spotlights.
Some douchebag leans into her. He’s fucking touching my angel. She’s leaning so far back, she’ll fall from the stool she’s wobbling on.
I stride to her, and her consternation turns into a beaming smile. “It’s my husband. Say the words, baby. Say them.”
“Rosie, honey, you’re drunk.”
She pushes me and topples. I grab her, and she grips my jumper. “Not those words. Say the words, you know.Thewords.”
I roll my eyes, but I want the smile she gave when she first saw me. I turn to the guy in the ugly checkered shirt and a haircut I have to look twice at because it resembles a helmet. “Get your fucking hands off my beautiful wife.”
Rosie squeals and throws her arms around me. She turns to Helmet Head. “You should listen, because he’s a hard bastard.” She giggles. “He was really hard earlier. Ask me how I know.”
“Don’t.” I wince.
“I know because I tasted how hard he was,” she shouts.
“That’s enough for you,” I reply.
“Niki, yeah?” the man behind the bar says. I nod. “I can’t work out if you’re in trouble or in for the night of your life.”
Rosie holds onto me. Her head drops like she needs sleep. I don’t want to take her home. She needs to be cared for. “I’ll put her to bed so she can sleep it off.”
“Your bed?” she shouts even though I’m next to her mouth. “We’ll go to your bed and finish what we started earlier on your bathroom floor, boss.”
