Rose’s POV
He walked past me.
Just...
Walked past me with no apology, no explanation, not even that irritating smirk of his.
He could drag me through the whole club to kiss me but can’t pull me aside for an explanation, an apology?
I slowly turned to watch him disappear further into the house beside Devon, talking as though nothing had happened.
"...Rose?"
Mum’s voice snapped me out of it.
"Hm?"
"You’ve been staring for a while."
"Oh."
I quickly looked away.
"I was just thinking."
She smiled.
"Don’t think too much, you might start having frown lines."
That instantly made me smooth out my expression.
"Sure."
She nodded before excusing herself to go do something. That left me sitting there alone. Still staring in the direction Reagan had disappeared.
What the hell was that?
For two days I’d imagined every possible reunion.
I’d pictured yelling at him, ignoring him, even slapping him.
I didn’t ever—not once—imagine him ignoring me.
A strange feeling settled in my chest.
Relief?
Anger?
Maybe...
Annoyance?
No.
It was something worse.
My pride had taken a direct hit.
I wasn’t even sure why it bothered me this much. It wasn’t like we had some sort of special relationship, It wasn’t like he owed me anything.
So why did it feel like I’d somehow lost?
I folded my arms tighter.
No.
This wasn’t about feelings. It was about basic human decency.
If you kissed someone...
The least you could do was acknowledge they still existed.
"...Unbelievable."
I muttered under my breath before marching toward the hallway. If he thought he was getting away that easily, then he was highly mistaken.
I checked the hallway.
Then the lounge.
The study.
And finally...
The kitchen.
Devon stood by the counter drinking yet another energy drink while Reagan leaned against the island, scrolling through something on his phone.
Neither of them noticed me immediately.
"You’ve had a lot of those. Replacing whiskey with energy drinks?"
"I’ve been forced into retirement."
Reagan only nodded once before answering, "You’ll survive."
"By sheer will."
Devon looked genuinely offended.
"My mornings have lost all meaning."
Reagan’s lips twitched.
A laugh.
It wasn’t even a full one, but it was enough to annoy me even more.
He laughs with everyone else.
The sound irritated me far more than it should have.
For two whole days I’d convinced myself he’d at least feel awkward when we saw each other again.
Maybe even guilty, But instead he looked completely at ease. As though those two days had meant absolutely nothing.
To him, maybe they hadn’t.
That thought alone was enough to make me want to throw the nearest object at his head.
I cleared my throat.
Both of them looked over.
"Rose," Devon greeted. "Feeling better?"
"Much."
"Good."
He nodded before glancing at his watch.
"I’ll be taking my leave."
"What?"
"No."
Neither of us had meant to answer at the same time.
Devon checked the time and let out a quiet sigh.
"I’ve already stayed longer than I intended."
He picked up another energy drink from the fridge.
"You two behave."
He walked out before either of us could respond.
Silence...
Reagan returned his attention to his phone.
That was it?
I folded my arms.
"So..."
"Hm?"
He still didn’t look up.
"That’s all?"
He finally lifted his eyes lazily, like he’d rather be anywhere but here.
"Need something?"
I stared at him.
Was he serious?
"You’ve got nothing to say?"
He locked his phone and slipped it into his pocket with a tired sigh.
"Elaborate."
This Motherfucker
Was he doing this on purpose?
Because if he was... Then it was working.
A laugh escaped me.
Not because I found the situation funny, but because I couldn’t believe him.
"You disappear for two days."
"You ignore me the moment you come back, offer no form of greeting or apology, and you ask me to fucking elaborate."
He quirked a brow.
"Nothing?"
"I greeted you."
"You looked at me, briefly."
"Like I said, I did."
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"You are unbelievable."
"Heard worse."
"Oh, I can fucking imagine."
Silence settled between us again.
He didn’t seem uncomfortable.
If anything, he looked almost relaxed, and that irritated me.
"You really don’t have anything to explain?"
His expression finally shifted.
Only slightly.
"I don’t."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I expect nothing."
That answer annoyed me far more than it should have.
"So you’re just pretending nothing happened."
He watched me quietly for a long moment.
"No."
His voice was calm.
"I figured you’d appreciate the distance."
What?
"I was angry."
"Obvious."
"Who the fuck wouldn’t after what you did? And your best thought was to ignore me?"
"I gave you space."
I blinked.
That...
Wasn’t the answer I’d prepared for.
I searched his face for even the slightest hint that he was joking.
There was nothing.
No smug grin, No teasing smile, Just that same calm expression he’d been wearing since I’d walked into the kitchen.
He actually believed he’d done the right thing.
That somehow made it even more infuriating.
"I didn’t ask for space."
"You didn’t have to."
I hated how calm he sounded.
It made arguing with him impossible.
"You really think that’s better?"
"I gave you what you wanted. Space."
"It wasn’t."
The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
His eyebrow lifted.
I froze.
"...I mean..."
Damn it.
He took a slow step closer.
Not enough to invade my space. Just enough that I had to look up slightly.
"If you wanted me to stay away..."
His voice dropped.
"...all you had to do was tell me."
My heartbeat stumbled.
For a second...
I forgot why I’d come looking for him.
Forgot every sarcastic remark, Every accusation, Every speech I’d spent two days rehearsing.
One sentence.
That was all it took.
How did he keep doing that?
How did one calm answer make me question everything I’d convinced myself of?
I hated him.
I really, really hated him.
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