"Dude, didn't we talk about this?"
I look up where I'm setting my belongings down at my desk as Christian walks into the office.
"Talk about what?" I ask focusing on trying to turn the computer on.
"You. And my sister. Together. Dating."
Each words he enunciates slowly as if I can't comprehend their meaning as one whole sentence.
"I thought you were okay with me helping your sister. We've only hung out together a few times," I tell him sipping the hot chocolate in my hand.
"Helping? Yes, that's okay. Hanging out? Also acceptable. But according to Tasha you've been dating as in full on going-out-to-dinner-and-kissing-her-goodnight dating."
"And you have a problem with it?"
He sits himself down in the chair opposite my desk in one heavy huff. "I don't have a problem with you seeing her. I have a problem with her calling me to give me all the painstakingly dull details. I mean, there are some things siblings, especially a brother and sister, just don't talk about and there are things dudes just don't take about and that's including conversations that relate to one dude making out with his friend dude's sister," he rants. After a breath he adds, "There was a bit of gender stereotyping in there."
"You hate gender stereotyping," I point out.
"Now you sound like Rose."
At the mention of her name I realize she isn't already here. The last few days I'd made it a point to keep my distance until I could figure out what to do and how to respond but I'd always been immediately aware when she was here or not.
"And before I start interrogating you about whatever is going on between you two," he says before I can ask where she is and if she's okay. Despite avoiding her, I make it a point to check in with Christian or Stan to see how she's been but the last few days I'd been lagging. "I beg of you, just turn down your natural Dimitri like charm with Tasha on your dates. That way I'm less likely to have to sit through nitty-gritty details."
I smile and nod. "Agreed."
"Good. So, next problem at hand, you and Rose, what's the deal?"
"Meaning?"
"Meaning you haven't been in the same room together in...days! In fact, since that thing with Charlie and the media being everywhere. I get the feeling I'm her second choice of a training buddy so what's going on?"
There were three responses to this:
1) Deny knowing what he was talking about.
Christian's not stupid.
2) Tell him a half truth that things are fine, just a little weird now, and assure him things would be okay soon.
He not easily dissuaded either.
3) Tell him the truth.
He's been my closest friend since Ivan died. It wasn't easy at first, once I realized Christian was the type of guy who tried to be everyone's best friend and I'd just lost mine. In fact I pretty much blocked him out as nothing more than an employee until a few months ago when I finally started to accept the fact that Ivan was gone and I was still here and I to keep living my life.
I decided to tell him...but couldnt bring myself to do it. I didn't want to have to possibly hear the suggest that things might not be okay and normal again with me and Rose.
So instead I went for a fourth option:
Diverting the question.
"Where is she anyway?"
Christian squinted his blue eyes at me telling me he knew exactly what I was doing.
"She and Liss are meeting with Stan to work out the details of their statements. He thinks he found a lawyer that's willing to take the case but the lawyer is requesting to hear all the details. You really haven't spoken to her lately have you? Or else you'd know all this."
"You're pretty good and bringing the conversation back around," I mutter.
"I was a cop in another life. Now spill," he ordered, no more willing to let me change the subject now than a few moments before.
I decide to just tell him.
"Things got...weird between us."
"Weird..." he questions like that wasn't the answer he was expecting. "You mean like pick your nose and eats it weird or sacrificing pigeons weird" he suggests as scenarios.
Those are nowhere close to the weird I'm describing. I almost ask where his far fetched scenarios come from but just decide to ignore it.
"I mean like..."
I can't bring myself to say it right away. It's feels...personal.
"Stuff...happened."
He rolls his eyes. "Dude can you be anymore vague! From that sentence alone I can assume the worst. I am assuming the worst so just tell me."
I open my mouth and start to before I realize I missed what he said earlier about Rose. "Wait...Rose is with Lissa?"
He dramatically rolls his eyes. "Obviously you're not in the loop and you havent been for the last few days."
"So what happened? What's going on?" I ask but Christian shakes his head.
"Nope. I'm not going to be the one to tell you. This is the perfect chance for you to talk to Rose and see how much better she is."
"Really Chris?" I ask grabbing my phone to dial Rose.
He nods and smiles triumphantly.
"Really. This whole keeping your distance from each other thing is really starting to bother me so talk to her. If you're not going to tell me what's going on I'm not going to give you information you can just find out on your own," he says crossing his arms over his chest.
"Real mature," I mutter.
"The same goes for you," he retorts as I scroll through my phone.
"Will she be here later?"
"I don't think so. It'd be better if you see her in person anyway and see how...improved she is."
Of course I wanted to see how well Rose was doing. Despite my attempts to keep my distance and not worry about her, there were moments when I wasn't distracted enough and I couldn't help it.
"So...are you going? Or am I going to have to set something up where you two 'accidentally' run into each other?" Christian asked eyeing my car keys I'd set ont he table moments before.
Without even a moment's hesitation, I stood up and grabbed my keys.
Christian grinned triumphantly.
A/N: Short chapter (i know, don't kill me). I wanted to keep up the alternate pov chapter pattern i have going but i really want to write Rose and Dimitri seeing each other again from Rose's pov. As for the reviews: you guys continue to be amazing! I love all of your suggestions and I'm am seriously searching for a way to tie them all in to the story. THANKS!