Page 29 of Rainstorm

The light by her door came on as it suddenly opened.

“I’d say five minutes is plenty long enough to say goodbye, wouldn’t you?” a male voice announced, startling us.

Rose screamed, startled, as I instinctively covered her body with mine.

Her fucking brother.

I’d been caught like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar.

“What in the hell are you doing here, Neil?” Rose yelled from behind me. I glanced back at her to see flushed cheeks and fire burning in her golden eyes.

“Making sure you get to bed safe and sound,” replied her brother smugly. “And alone.”

Looking at my girl I was almost afraid for him.

“Oh yeah? What’s it got to do with you anyway?” She rolled her eyes, her feet tapping the floor with annoyance.

“Well, Dad’s not happy about any of this either,” her brother proclaimed.

“I swear to God, Neil, if you aren’t out of here in five seconds I’m gonna tan your backside and don’t think I wouldn’t.”

“I’d like to see you try, shorty,” he retorted.

If I’d not been so wound up, the situation would’ve been quite funny, watching the siblings bickering, just the way I had with mine, growing up on the farm.

“I don’t need any of this shit, I’m a fucking adult, for God’s sake,” she yelled again. “Tomorrow I’m looking for a place to move out. This is just ridiculous.”

I was about to speak when she turned to me.

“And you can just shut up. We have business to conclude.”

“Yes, ma’am.” What the heck was I to say?

I told you I grew up with four older sisters, so I sure as hell knew when to hold my peace.

Rose strolled into her apartment, shoving the door so hard her brother stumbled back.

“There you go.” She returned with a baseball bat, apparently ready to hit a home run.

With her brother’s head, I imagined.

Her poor brother lost his nerve at the sight of that.

Run, Forrest, run!

Neil beat a hasty retreat from the apartment, leaving me with my fuming goddess.

So the night wasn’t ending yet, and I was more than ready to deal with my angry beauty.

Chapter 7

Rose

Present day

I never believed love could be so cruel.

I never thought happiness could be so ephemeral.

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