She had given her word, so Rosie clocked out early on Wednesday evening, changed out of her smock and pants, fixed her makeup in the harsh light of her parked car, and made the long drive over to Eddie's as the last few rays of sun slipped away. His uncle was at work again, and she squeaked when he yanked her into the dim of his trailer, slapping her ass and kissing her giddily. It was tempting to just stay there and forget all about Claudia and her sour looks, but they had to try.
"Did you pick something out?" She politely removed his groping hands and held them.
"I went through my closet," Eddie let her past the kitchen into his room, smiling curiously as she passed the threshold. "I don't really have many nice clothes."
Rosie jabbed him in the ribs. She was already taking in her surroundings. The bedroom was exactly how she'd pictured it, though he had obviously cleaned up. Guitars, posters, a tape player softly buzzing to the rhythm of Bark at the Moon. Bed, desk, jackets, shoes…
"What are those?"
"OH!" Eddie jumped in front of the handcuffs hanging from a hook on his wall, like she might instantly forget about them. "They…they're just decoration."
She nudged him aside and took them down. They were heavy, very real. When she closed one cuff around her wrist it snapped sturdily and unlocked with a small key. "Decoration?"
Eddie had blushed in front of her before, but right now she thought he might turn purple. "I-I mean… I don't really use them…"
"Why not?" Rosie was already running the chains on a lower hook through her fingers.
"I-I-I…um…"
She chortled. "You're sweating."
Bobbing from leg to leg, he giggled back. Rosie returned the handcuffs and turned to inspect the clothes he had laid out on the bed. He didn't lie; there wasn't much.
"This is nice." She remarked, picking up a pale blue shirt. It looked like it had been dry cleaned.
"Yeah." Eddie's voice was still shaking. "I thought that. I have slacks, too! Look!"
"Show me?"
"Eh."
Rosie reached over and helped him ease his t-shirt off. Eddie was giving her that look again, and she felt warm all over. Focus. It had gotten colder, so he had a tank on underneath. She fought the need to pull that over his head, too. Instead, buttoning the shirt up.
"Yes." She commented. "Try the pants."
Not wanting to torture him too much, she sat politely on the bed while he changed out of his ripped jeans. The slacks were snug, she noted. They looked good.
"I have a belt somewhere…"
He nearly leapt out of his skin when Rosie snapped the leather together. She maintained eye contact as she handed it over. "Here."
"Thanks."
"Don't you clean up well."
"I do?"
"You do. And maybe…." Rosie pulled his hair around to the nape of his neck. "Ugh. No. You look like a founding father."
Eddie snorted. "Woooow!"
"With your hair like that, you dork!"
"Sure. Sure."
"Come on. Shoes." She nudged the loafers by the door. "Hate those."
"Me too. They pinch."
"Your docs are still polished. Just pull the trousers over them."
"Yesss!"
She brushed off his leather jacket and held it while he tied his boots. "Can't erase all of the image."
"Oh thank god."
Eddie really did clean up well. Rosie stole a few glances at him as they drove back to the Henderson's. The shirt and pants both fit a lot more closely than his usual jeans and t-shirt, and the more she looked the more she admired. For one thing, he had more of an ass than she assumed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He tapped her nose as she brought the car to a halt. "What?"
"You look good."
"Good enough to win Claudia's heart?"
Rosie puffed apprehensively.
His mom was not impressed. Not with Eddie. Not with his shirt or slacks. Definitely not with Rosie, smiling at his arm, rubbing Eddie's back soothingly as he sat and tried to make small talk. Dustin had set the table, and helped put out the food. He even finished the gravy.
Everyone was impressed with the food, however. Dustin's mother dug into her roast beef in complete silence, too distracted to continue contradicting everything Eddie tried to say. Munson did his best to eat with restraint, but couldn't help himself. He was already shoveling more mash onto his plate.
"Oh my god, Mrs. Henderson. This is delicious."
"Rosie made it." Claudia shot back, like he should know.
Eddie sat back to admire her. "You did?"
"I told you I could cook."
"'Cook' is an understatement." Dustin added.
"It's amazing, Babe." Eddie snuck in a quick kiss.
Claudia scowled, giving Dustin a harsh dose of reality. Was that how he had looked before? "Meat's a little tough, Dear."
Rosie blinked. "Oh-"
"It's perfect."
And just like that. Eddie and Dustin's mother were openly glaring across the table. Rosie took a gulp of wine.
"It really is." Dustin added flatly, also eyeing her.
Claudia backed down, giving them a cold silence again. If there was anything wrong with the meal, it was that Rosie had prepared far more food than even the four of them could eat. Dustin soon discovered the reason for this, when she started filling up some tupperware for Eddie.
Smart. Munson lived with his uncle, and probably rarely saw a home-cooked meal.
Eddie tried to excuse himself after dinner, but both Rosie and Dustin begged him to stay a little longer. Claudia retreated back to the living room, even refusing a glass of wine because she "shouldn't start drinking on a Wednesday".
"More for us." Rosie said under her breath, putting her arm around Eddie as she poured. Munson did not look comfortable.
Sorry. Dustin mouthed, gripping his glass of cola in front of him. "Do you guys wanna go watch TV?"
They both shook their heads. Eddie undid the third button on his shirt. Dustin had half a mind to go in and tell his mom to apologize, when the phone rang. All three of them could hear her nattering away to one of her friends, then the receiver clanged and she appeared at the dining room door. Neither Rosie nor Eddie acknowledged her.
"Dusty…could you please clean up here?" She had her coat. "Marie's after slipping on the stairs again. Twisted her ankle, poor thing. I gotta go see if she's alright. Probably take her to the hospital…again!"
Rosie brightened, jostling Munson's elbow.
"Sure thing, Mom."
Claudia was hardly out the door when Rosie spun to him
"Ready?"
Dustin's hand jingled. "Already got your car keys."
"Get your coat on?"
"Where -"
She threw the leather jacket at Eddie. "Come on!"
They drove to the video store, with Rosie laughing as Eddie tried to change back into a t-shirt in the front seat. He rolled up his pants, too, and mussed his hair for effect. Dustin raced in ahead of them. Going here with his mom meant nothing higher than PG-13. But Rosie would consider everything he showed her.
"Hey." Rosie turned to Eddie, handing him a bill. "Can you get me some ice-cream. Please?"
"But I thought I was gonna be -"
She jabbed him in the ribs. "Ice cream! Please!"
Cackling, Munson tripped out the door.
"What'd he mean?"
"Nothing!"
"Rosie, I feel really bad. About dinner."
"Same." She affirmed, turning a case over to read the back. "Eddie tries not to seem upset but…"
"She was a total bitch!"
"Dustin!"
"She was."
"I know." Rosie swept her hair out of her face. "Let's just forget it for now, ok? Try to have a nice evening?"
"Ok…" He picked something up and showed it to her. "This one?"
Rosie gawked at it. "This is Terminator."
"Too R-rated?"
"No. Dust. You haven't seen Terminator!?"
"No. Mom wouldn't let me. Then I just kinda forgot."
"I've heard you make references -"
"I got the gist of it!"
"There are no other options." She was already bringing it up to the desk. "But don't gag at the smoochy bits!"
"I'm not five."
Eddie relaxed as they were watching the movie. Despite the faces Dustin pulled, Rosie took to feeding him spoonfuls of ice-cream as they cuddled on the sofa. The poor child was more disturbed by them acting "smoochy" than anything happening on screen, and went to bed virtually bouncing with excitement.
She came out of the bathroom to find Eddie putting his jacket on. They had finished the whole bottle of wine, so his cheeks and nose were flushed. His lips almost red. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Home?"
"I'm not really good to drive right now."
"I can walk."
"Walk?" Rosie edged up, pushing the jacket back off his shoulders. "Stay."
He ducked down to press his lips to hers. "I don't think Claudia would like that."
"Fuck her."
"Ew. No."
She laughed. "Eddie…"
He tilted his head. He liked when she said his name like that. "What?"
"Stay."
"Don't you have work tomorrow?"
"At ten. Not relevant. Stay."
"I'll stay." He agreed. "But only to make sure you sleep."
She didn't really have anything for him to wear, so stole more blankets from the cupboard. The bed was really too narrow for two people, so Rosie nestled into him. It would keep him warm, she told herself. She had made sure he took his jacket in, too, so Claudia wouldn't cause a fuss, and made a note to try and sneak him out when she brought Dustin to school.
"Eddie?"
"Hmm?"
He sounded sleepy. Rosie stroked a few curls out of his face. "I'm really sorry - about Claudia."
"She's a bitch." He murmered, drifting. "Not your fault."
"I just wish you had a better time."
Eddie's arms tightened around Rosie, tucking her into his chest. He rested his head on top of hers. "I'm having a good time, now."
