“Woah, hold on, what’s the problem?”
“I just need to get back.”
Shaun laughs incredulously. “We need you back on set in ten hours. By the time you make it there you’ll only have four hours of sleep before you need to be back.”
“I won’t be here tomorrow.”
I barely spare them all a glance as I storm past them, desperate to get out of this place. The air is thick withchlorine and my water clogged jeans are starting to chafe. I need to get home to Rosie.
“Can you call a car?” I ask Eric before I jump the metal stairs into my trailer, shaking the frame with the force. I quickly strip the damp clothes off, leaving them in a pile on the carpeted floor. I tug on my street clothes before groaning internally, rummaging for a bag and sweeping the clothes inside. My mother would kill me if she knew I left a wet heap of laundry for someone else to deal with. She used to make me re-wear my damp rugby socks if I left them on the floor until I learned my lesson.
I swipe my keys and wallet off the side and check my phone for any messages from Rosie. Nothing.
Clenching my jaw, I swing the door open into the cool night air. Thankfully, Eric wordlessly leads me to the car idling in the lot and I offer a genuine thanks as I slide inside the cool exterior. It’s not Eric’s fault I’m here when my life is imploding back home.
I settle into the seat, pulling up Rosie’s name.
Jackson
I’m on my way baby.
The car pulls out of the lot and winds through the country back roads. I don’t look up from my phone until we start stopping and starting at the traffic in London. I scan post after post mentioning either of our names. It’s everywhere. Social media is going crazy and there are more than a few tabloids running the story. Finally, I find the source.
I have never liked Rosie’s sister, but the rage I feel when I see her face on the screen, spewing lies about her sister with sickly sweetness disguised as concern, makes my blood boil.
I lock my phone and take a breath as I try to unclench my jaw.
I know enough from the bits and pieces I’ve gleaned from Rosie to know that her sister is the worst kind of person. My sisters and I had our arguments growing up, but as soon as we hit our teen years, we started to see each other as cordial roommates. The older we got, the more we became friends rather than just siblings. Sure, I occasionally rib them and they do me, but I’ve never been outwardly cruel. And they’ve never talked to the public about me. Ever.
Slowly, we start to take familiar corners heading to Danny’s house. It’s a tall Georgian townhouse on a quiet residential street, a walled gate high enough for privacy.
I thank the driver as I slide out the car, glancing up and down the street for any lurkers. Empty.
I don’t know who was outside Rosie’s flat, but it’s safe to say they didn’t track her down to here.
Inside, it’s dark. Checking the time on my phone, I figure Danny and Anya aren’t here yet.
“Rosie?” I call out into the darkness.
I peer into the rooms downstairs quickly before toeing off my shoes and climbing up the stairs. I feel like a cat burglar, so I hope Rosie doesn’t leap out at me with a cricket bat.
“Rosie?” I whisper as I peer into each room.
The guest room door is ajar and I push it further in, my heart stopping. There she is, curled on top of the bed with her jeans still on and a human sized pillow clutched in her arm.
The moonlight from the open curtain bathes her in a glow, and I have to lean on the door to prop myself up. She’s okay. I watch the rise and fall of her chest for a few minutes before tiptoeing into the room. I gently approach her, brushing the hair back from her face. She whimpers softly and my heart nearly cracks in two.
“Hey, pretty girl,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“Jackson?” she mumbles, turning towards me.
“I’m here, baby.”
“I’m sorry,” she says, her eyes closed and voice sluggish.
“You’ve nothing to be sorry for, Rosie. It’s all going to be okay.” I press another kiss to her lips, desperate to be close to her. “Let’s get you in bed.”
She makes a little noise as I flick the button of her jeans and gently tug them off her legs.
