Chapter 5
The sunrise seeping through the blinds woke Rose up. She had herself resting on Landon's bare arm, the sheets, over them. She looked up at him, fast asleep. He had been through a lot. She didn't know whether to feel bad about last night but then she supposed he had needed something to distract him. And besides, she had liked him for ages and he knew that. Also he had made the first move; but then again he had been vulnerable then. She reflected on last night. It had been great. The most intimate she'd ever had.
Landon opened his eyes and saw Rose was awake. "Hey," he said quietly.
"Hi," she replied. "About last night -"
"I don't regret doing what we did," he told her. "Do you?"
She paused. "I don't know, Landon, I really don't know…"
"I'll make us breakfast," Landon said. "Shower's in there." He put on his jeans and got out of bed, then headed for the kitchen. Rose sighed and threw the covers off of her. The shower was steaming hot but she wasn't in for long. Once she'd gotten dressed she went down the hall to the kitchen and saw Landon leaning against the work surface. He had not so much as taken out a plate. She approached silently and saw his eyes were closed. She switched on the kettle and got out a mug. "Where are the teabags?" she asked.
Landon opened his eyes and breathed in. He pointed to a cupboard. "In there," he said. "I'll get it." When he put the tin down in front of her he said, "You didn't give me an answer before." Rose looked up at him and lent towards him, stretching out her arm, as if to hold him. He bent a little too but then stood up properly when he realised she was turning the light on from behind him. She stepped back.
"No," Rose said finally. "No I don't have any regrets."
"Maybe we could do it again sometime," Landon said.
"I'd like that." Rose nodded. "Why don't I make the breakfast? Fancy a fry up?"
"Yeah, I'm starving. When d'you learn to make a fry up?"
"Oh a few years ago," she said casually. "My brother taught me."
"Ah, that's something I didn't know about you," Landon said. "So. Tell me. Did you have any rivals at high school?"
Rose drew in a breath and then replied. "I don't think so, I mean there was nothing they could put against me. I hate to admit it, but I was a bit of a goody-two-shoes."
"Really? I pictured you as a, ah… rebel."
Rose laughed. "How?"
"Well, the way you talk; how you dress -"
"Do you have problems with what I wear?" she asked, with a mock hurt tone.
"Absolutely not. You look great," he complimented. Rose got out the frying pan and oil with the bacon, eggs and bread.
"Maybe I should leave you to it," Landon said. "I'll just go have a shower."
"'K." Rose replied.
Landon came back in the kitchen ten minutes later, dressed but still towel dying his hair. Rose was just putting the plates on the table and sat down. "I even found time to wash up." She smiled.
"I was thinking… maybe after breakfast I could head down the hospital. Alone. Only I really wanna see my dad."
"Yeah, sure. I've gotta go home anyway. Feed my cat."
Fifteen minutes later Rose was shrugging on her denim jacket. "I'll see you later then," she said, kissing him quickly on the cheek. She flicked the lock on the front door and stepped out. She headed to the stairs and Landon called "Bye!" then closed the door. He lent against it and decided to head out.
On the road there were loads of traffic and one car swerved in front of him going at least 30 miles per hour. Landon swore and pressed his horn angrily. "Geez!" he exclaimed.
He swung his car into the hospital car park and parked in his usual spot. When he was inside he greeted a few doctors and nurses and headed to the elevator. He stepped out and was nearly hit over by a male nurse who Landon did not know. He looked really pissed off at something
