51
Rose, understandably, doesn't want to go home after we're done at the hospital. We collect a sleeping Jimmy from La Push and drop him and Izzy back home, where Izzy throws some items in a bag for Rose to borrow, then I drive her to my place.
"If you want to sleep in my room, you can," I tell her, as she pauses at the door of the guest room, fingers hovering over the door handle.
"You don't mind?" she asks.
"Of course I don't mind."
"Will you stay with me?" Fear, so foreign an emotion to Rose, is all over her voice and her face. A surge of anger burns through me for Royce.
"Whatever you want," I tell her gently.
We click the bedroom TV on and Rose showers and changes while I make us something to eat. I fetch extra pillows and blankets and make a nest on the bed. She manages to look a little more relaxed when she comes to find me in the kitchen with my hoodie back on over the pajamas she borrowed from Izzy.
"I hope you don't mind," she says, pulling at the front. I smile and shake my head.
"Don't be stupid, why would I mind?"
A wince of discomfort creases her face and she holds onto her ribs as she sits down on one of the wooden kitchen chairs.
"Fuck formality," I say. "Come on, we'll eat in the bedroom." I pick the two plates up and nod for her to go on ahead.
Once dinner is done and Rose has relaxed a little, she turns her attention to me.
"So…"
I switch my eyes from the TV screen to her.
"So, what?"
"Izzy seems…different."
"Yes, she does," I state. She persists in looking at me. "What?"
"You're smiling."
"I'm sorry, is that a crime?" I tease.
"No, but it's very telling. You're as easy to read as a book sometimes."
"You think I'm an idiot." It's not a question, but she addresses it anyway.
"No, I don't. I'll admit I did, but after today I can kind of understand why you'd think about taking a chance with her again. Do they do personality transplants in Arizona or something?"
"Ha! I wish they did, I can think of a few more people who'd benefit from one right now."
"Let me guess, Mama Cullen's trying to push you back to Kate again?"
"Not only that, she was here when Izzy called and left a message. She's not a happy woman."
"Take it easy on her, E. We all watched that girl break you apart and you're still Esme's baby. It makes sense she wants to protect you."
"I know." I scratch at the soft cotton of the covers.
"And you and Kate do make beautiful babies."
"We do," I admit with a smile. "But that's not reason enough to try and live together."
"And what reason's good enough to put yourself out there again for Izzy?" she asks.
"I'm beyond reason," I admit. "She's just…it."
~S~