My thumb hovered over the call button, but I hesitated. If she was busy or tired, I didn't want to seem clingy. But the knot in my stomach tightened with every passing second.
I tightened my grip on the phone and dialed Rose's number, heart pounding harder with each ring. It rang for several long seconds, the sound echoing in the quiet room. My lingering worries climbed higher with every unanswered tone.
Just as I started to lose hope and considered hanging up, the call connected.
"Hello? Alex?" Rose's voice came through, soft but a little breathless, like she'd rushed to answer.
"Hey! Rose. It's me" I said, trying to sound casual even though my heart was hammering. "I... I was just worried about you."
There was a small pause on her end, the kind that made the silence feel heavier. Then her voice came through, a little breathless. "Oh... Alex. You mean Mike? Don't... don't worry about him. I'm fine."
"Really?" I pressed, sitting up straighter on the bed. "I don't trust him at all. Can you just... be a little more alert around him? Please?"
"Alex..." She let out a soft breath, almost like a sigh. "I know. I'm careful. He wouldn't... dare to touch me. Ah—"
My stomach dropped instantly. "Rose? Hello? Rose? What happened?"
The line went quiet for two seconds, then her voice came back, a little rushed. "Hello, Alex. Sorry, I'm here."
"What was that sound? You screamed."
"Oh, it's nothing" she said quickly.
"I was just cooking something and... and I accidentally touched the pan. It was hot."
"What? Did you burn yourself?" My grip tightened on the phone.
"No, no, it just brushed lightly. It's not that bad, really."
"Rose, be careful. That's not like you to be clumsy." I frowned, trying to picture her in the kitchen, hair tied back, sleeves rolled up, the way she usually moved with quiet grace.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay. Promise. I'm just... tired from the day, that's all." she said, and I could almost hear her forcing a smile through the phone.
"Okay. Just... text me or call if anything feels off." I exhaled slowly, leaning back against the headboard again.
"I will" she replied, softer now. "Thanks for worrying. It means a lot."
"Always" I said quietly. "Good night, Rose. Get some rest."
"Good night, Alex."
The call ended with a soft beep. I stared at the dark screen for a long moment, the knot in my chest loosening just a little. She sounded fine. Tired, maybe a bit off, but fine.
Still... that little gasp lingered in my mind. Just a hot pan. Nothing more. I kept telling myself that, trying to push the doubt away.
To calm myself, I let my thoughts drift back to a happier memory of one of the times Rose baked a cake for me. She always loved cooking, especially when it was for me. She brought homemade lunch to school very often, carefully packed in that little lunch box she insisted on using. The food was simple but made with so much care that it tasted better than anything else.
If I had to say who came close to Mom's cooking, it would only be Rose. After Mom, she was the only one whose food I truly loved.
I remembered that day clearly. It was probably my birthday. Rose had worn a pink-and-white striped apron tied around her waist, the kind that looked cute and a little too big on her slender frame. She stood in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, hair tied back in a loose ponytail, a small smudge of flour on her cheek as she focused on mixing the batter.
I had spent a while just watching her from the doorway. She moved with quiet confidence, measuring ingredients, cracking eggs carefully, stirring everything together with a soft smile on her face. The kitchen smelled like vanilla and sugar, warm and comforting. Every now and then she'd look over her shoulder at me and say something silly like, "Don't peek, it's a surprise" even though I was already standing there.
She was so focused, so gentle in the way she handled everything. It made my chest feel warm just remembering it.
That day, the cake came out a little crooked, but she decorated it with pink frosting and little white sprinkles anyway. When she brought it to me, eyes shining with pride, it tasted perfect not because it was flawless, but because she made it for me.
I smiled faintly at the memory, lying there on the bed. Rose was like that, thoughtful, careful, always trying her best.
With those thoughts swirling in my head, I don't even remember when my eyes finally closed. Exhaustion pulled me under, and I drifted off to sleep, completely forgetting that I still had Mike's blog to read. The phone slipped from my hand onto the mattress, screen going dark, leaving everything unfinished.
When I woke up the next morning, sunlight was streaming through the curtains in soft golden lines. I blinked a few times, groggy, then realized something felt off. I was fully naked under the blanket. The towel I'd wrapped around my waist after the bathroom incident had somehow come loose during the night. Now it was bunched up in a crumpled heap next to my hip, leaving my body completely exposed. My cock lay soft against my thigh, the cool morning air brushing over it, making me shiver slightly.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes, the memory of yesterday flooded back in pieces. I quickly grabbed the towel, pulling it over myself like it mattered now, even though I was alone in the room.
* * *
Today was a school holiday, so the whole day stretched out in front of me with nothing planned. I sprawled on the living room couch in loose shorts and a t-shirt, remote in hand, flipping through channels without really watching anything. The house felt strangely quiet and peaceful.
Mom had told me she joined a new fitness club, so she left early that morning, dressed in her usual tight yoga pants and long-sleeve top that hugged her curves. She gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before heading out, humming happily like she always did.
Lily had gone out with her friends for something about shopping or hanging at the mall. She left with a big smile, waving goodbye and promising to bring me back something sweet.
As for Lisa... I had no idea where she went, and honestly, I didn't care. It was better this way. After last night I didn't wanted to see her face anytime soon. She was dangerous. The kind of dangerous that made my stomach twist with fear and something else I didn't want to name. She'd left the house before I even woke up, which was a relief. No awkward breakfast, no glares across the table, no more threats whispered in my ear.
I sank deeper into the couch cushions, letting the TV drone in the background. The house was empty except for me, and for once, the silence felt like a break. At least for a few hours.
To be continued…
* * * * *
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