Page 38 of The Blue Rose
I sit at the head of the table, Aster on my left, Mustache to my right, and the younger one behind him.
The older cop gets out his notebook and pen, looking at me with concern shining in his gaze. “Alright, tell me what happened.”
I glance at the younger cop, avoiding the watchful eyes of Mustache. He’s short and lean, with a chip on his shoulder as he waits for a chance to prove himself, with black hair and blue eyes. He has some stubble growing back, making him look younger than he is, and his eyes are glued to Aster. On guard, but also with a look of recognition and opportunity, like he’s trying to figure out how he knows him.
The way he is studying Aster makes me tighten my hold around his hand. My eyes lower and I want to tell him to back off, but the fear of the consequences has my lips shut and my face trying to relay my message.
The younger cop addresses Aster, cutting off Mustache with a youthful giddiness. “Do I know you from somewhere?”
I feel a slight shift in Aster, his hand gripping my hand with a bone breaking force. He looks at the cop, dead in the face, and says “No.” his voice stern and ending any conversation before it begins.
“Are you sure? I swear you look familiar.”
“Jason!” Mustache snaps to the younger cop. “He said you didn’t. Now, don’t interrupt me again.” He turns his attention back to me, “Back to you, tell me what happened.”
Grateful for his interruption, I answer. “I was on the phone with my father, and I heard a conversation between him and someone else. What was said shocked me and made me faint.”
He’s scribbling on his notepad, humming to himself. “What was said that made you faint?”
“He was getting remarried.” The truth is worse, if I tell him it was because of a secret, I myself didn’t know, they would ask more questions I couldn't answer. I want to get them out of here as fast as I can, if not to calm Aster down. The energy coming from him is buzzing, and it makes me nervous. If I don’t get them out of here soon, Aster might hurt Jason, if the look in his eyes is any indication.
“Okay, why would that make you faint?”
I’m getting frustrated now, this cop has no business being in mine, and I don’t want to explain myself to him.
Before I can respond, Aster is for me, “She is estranged from her father, her mother passed away not too long ago, and the news shocked her. That is all. So, if there is nothing else, officers it is time for you to go, so she can get some much needed rest”.
I smile, grateful for Aster cutting in and telling the cops to leave.
Mustache clears his throat. “Yes, that is all. Sorry to disturb you, thank you for your time.” He looks at me, “I’m happy to see you’re okay.”
We walk them to the door, the younger one standing there staring at Aster longer than necessary before finally leaving when Mustache yells for him to come. As he’s walking away I hear him mumble “I swear, I know him.”
I shut the door and turn into Aster's waiting arms. He holds me for a minute until I look up, “Everything okay? You seemed on edge since the cops showed up.”
He looks down and smiles. “Yeah, I’m good, little lamb. Let's get you upstairs.” His smile doesn’t reach his eyes, his body is still tense, I can tell he’s lying. Something tells me to leave it be, for now.
He helps me into bed, sitting on the edge next to me.
“So,” he starts, brushing some hair behind my ear. “Want to tell me what really happened?” I tense and he levels his gaze with mine.
Did he see through my lie, like I did his?
“It’s exactly as I told the police, I don’t remember anything after everything went black.” I jab him in the chest. “Want to tell me how you got into my house?”
He looks away, his cheeks heating with embarrassment. He schools his features before looking back at me. “I came over to pick you up for a surprise date, I saw your car in the driveway, so I knew you were home, but I kept ringing the doorbell and after ten minutes, with no answer…” He looks down and starts to fiddle with his hands. “I just had a feeling something was wrong, so I forced my way in.”
“What do you mean you forced yourself in?” I squint my eyes, and tilt my head, nervous to hear he broke my door or something.
“I picked the lock and came in.”
Thank God my door is still intact.
Wait… What?I was not expecting that. My eyes take in everything that Aster is, trying to see past the man full of secrets in front of me.What else can he do that he hasn’t told me about yet?
“Look.” He runs his fingers through his sandy hair, “I didn’t know if you were hurt and the feeling I had… I couldn't ignoreit.” He looks at me, taking my hands in his. “I had to make sure you were okay. I know I shouldn’t have broken in, but I’m not sorry. You should get better locks.”
“Aster, it’s okay. I’m not upset, I’m actually grateful you were here, who knows what would have happened if you weren’t. I was only quiet because I was thinking how much of a mystery you are to me.”
