Page 67 of Whispered Promises

Nothing.

Just as I’m about to knock again, the door opens and a red-eyed Rosy stands there blinking up at me.

“I wanted to come and see how you are, and Bry wanted me to give you the muffins he baked earlier. Lemon drizzle.” I hold the box up, and her focus drops to it. I take a step forward into the open doorway. I know she’s not okay, and she should be able to talk about it to someone.

I hope she lets me be that someone for her.

“Let’s go make a cup of tea and have a muffin, and you can talk to me about what’s going on in your mind.”

Dropping a kiss on her forehead, I take a moment to inhale her raspberry-infused scent, then wrap an arm around her shoulders and guide us over to her kitchen area. I place the box of muffins into her hands, flick on the kettle, and go about locating mugs and tea bags.

“I’ll make the tea if you can get us some plates for the muffins? What tea are you in the mood for today? Herbal or breakfast?”

“Oh, yeah, sure. I can do that,” she replies softly, the emotion sounding heavy in her voice. “Something cinnamon, please.”

Ah, we’re going for comfort today. Locating two orange-and-cinnamon spiced tea bags, I place them each into a mug and pour in the boiled water once it’s ready; then I place them on the kitchen island and take a seat on one of the stools.

Rosy places a small plate with a muffin in front of me, then takes one for herself and sits across from me. The scent of the lemon unfurls through the air, mixing in with the spiced orange and Rosy’s raspberry scent. It’s hard not to make it too obvious with a deep inhale.

Rosy picks up the muffin and keeps her gaze fixed on it as she breaks it apart into small pieces, only to set them down on her plate rather than eat them.

The silence lingers between us, and I consider how to approach talking to her about how she’s feeling. I don’t know fully what transpired between them, only the version Max gave us. But it’s clear something is hurting her, and I want her to feel in a place where she can confide in me.

“I…you didn’t have to come over to check in on me.” Her voice is thick and gravelly, as if all her emotions are trapped in her throat, threatening to spill out. She grabs the spiced tea, taking a small sip before placing it back down.

“But I wanted to.” Reaching out, I still the hand mutilating the poor muffin. “Talk to me, Rosy? Did he say something to hurt you?”

She exhales loudly, teeth nipping at her lip.

“It’s nothing, really. He just wanted to make it clear that he didn’t want anything romantic with me and just wanted to remain friends. That he’s not interested in me like that, and it’s okay. I’m interested in Nate, and he seems to reciprocate that. I’m okay. This is probably me being overly tired. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Nate.”

The words tumble from her lips. As those last ones spill free, I see the quiver in them as she sucks her abused bottom lip in and clenches down on it with her teeth.

I love Max; I do. But I wish he would pull his head out of his arse and not stay stuck in his past hurt. Rosy is perfect for him, for us, and she’s nothing like his ex. The couple of occasions I had met her, she was…cold. The devastation she’d caused Max…she was uncaring about any of it. She was only interested in moving on and forgetting their life together.

“It’s okay to not feel okay. He might not have intentionally hurt you, but people’s words and actions can still hurt unintentionally too. It’s okay to feel what you’re feeling. If you talk to Nate, I’m sure he’ll tell you he’s not hurt at all.”

Her eyes clench shut, tears slipping free and trailing down her cheeks. Not able to hold myself back any longer, I round the island and swing her stool to face me. Stepping in between her thighs, I wrap my arms around her and pull her face to my chest, holding her tightly against me.

As I drop my face to the top of her head, her arms come up and wrap around my lower back, squeezing me just as tightly back.

“I’ve got you.”

I place soft kisses along the crown of her head; I hope I can be the safe space for her to not be okay with. To let all her hurt out and know that she’s not alone, that I’m here to help hold her up.

Whilst we all work well as a team, and I couldn’t imagine my life without the guys, we are each responsible for our own relationships with Rosy. I can’t force or change anything, but I can be here for her and for them too.

Fuck, even Max too.

The infuriating person he is.

But I’m also suddenly very aware that she wasn’t present for our conversation the other night, and it’s our fault that none of us have spoken to her about it. We just assumed she wouldn’t be confused and feel guilt over any potential feelings she might have. Our inaction might’ve contributed to some of how she’s currently feeling. At the same time, seeing her so upset over Max has some relief easing through me, underneath the current of concern. If she can feel things for Nate and Max, perhaps there’s a chance for Bry and me too.

“Why do you think you’ve hurt Nate?” I ask softly, my words caressing her hair. It’s hard to focus on the conversation when she feels so warm and perfect in my arms. Her body slots effortlessly into mine, no knocking of limbs, awkward sliding, or crouching to make us fit.

Tension removes some of her softness as her muscles lock. Feeling the urge to soothe, my hand rubs up and down her back, following along the curve of her spine through her dress.

“There’s no judgement here, Rosy.” I keep my voice low. “Whatever’s bottled up inside, I’m here to listen and it can be completely between us. I’m just here for you.”