Page 121 of That Fake Feeling
I’mnot out of the woods yet, though. “ButIstill have to tellMomandDad.Andthey’ll definitely be disappointed.”
“Nope,”Elliotsays. “Afteryou andRoseleft the house that weekend,Momsaid she wished you were always as happy as you were that night.”
“Yeah,”Walkersays. “Ithink the exact quote was, ‘Ifsweeping streets put that smile on his face all the time, he should go sweep streets.’”
“AndthenDadsaid that street-sweeping was a noble profession,”Elliotadds.
“You’llbe fine, then,”Maxsays. “They’llbe as happy for you as we are.”Hepauses and looks at each of us. “Now, will you all please get the fuck out soIcan finish up here and drive upstate to see my amazing fiancée?”
“Okay.”Iput my hand over my mouth and take a second to pull myself together. “Nowthere’s just one more thingIstill have to do that really could get a terrible reaction.”
“Oh, shit,”Maxsays, heading back toward his desk. “Notgoing to tellMomgardening’s been outlawed, are you?”
Theyall chuckle.
Ishake my head. “Ineed to find out where the hellRoseis.”
32
CONNOR
AwomanIassume isBrittneyopens the apartment door dressed in a pink satin bathrobe.
ThankGodSterlingdid all that research intoRose, and thankGodhe was willing to give up her address.
“Hi, sorry to bother you.”I’mstill breathless from sprinting up four flights of stairs in this old walk-up building.
“Howdid you get in here?”Brittneyasks.
“Ifollowed someone in the front door.I’mlooking for—”
“You’resupposed to buzz.”
Ido not have time for this shit. “Yeah, sorry.I’min a hurry.IsRo—”
“Oh, myGod.”Sheslaps a hand onto her bare chest. “You’reRose’srich boyfriend, aren’t you?”Sheturns and calls over her shoulder. “Rob.It’sRose’sguy from the magazine.”
Oh, fuck.
“I’vecome to see her.Isshe in?”
“In?Whatmakes you think she’s here?”
Myheart drops to my stomach.She’dbetter be here orI’mall out of ideas. “Isn’tthis where she lives?”
“Notsince she moved out.”
“Whenwas that?”
“Rightbefore she moved in with you.”Sheputs a hand on her waist and thrusts out her hip. “She’dnever mentioned you, though.Notonce.”It’sfollowed by a flick of her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Theysay the quiet, studious ones are always the worst, huh?”Shewinks.
Shit.Wherethe hell else wouldRosehave gone if she didn’t come back here? “Doyou know where she is?”
“Aw.”Shetips her head to one side and makes a pouty face. “Didyou guys have a fight?”
“Notreally.Ijust need to find her.”
Aman walks up behindBrittney.
