Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 143633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 718(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 718(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
I pushed that thought to the side as best I could.
I’d already looked up the highest regarded butchers in Worcester. They were in Lowesmoor, with hundreds of glowing reviews online. I chose their finest beef fillet, and I followed that up with a trip to an excellent vegetable stall in the market hall for asparagus, green beans and parsnips. Maris piper potatoes for dauphinoise, and pastry supplies and creme fraiche from one of the boutique kitchen houses, along with a few tubs of local thick cream, coffee, and a delicious looking chocolate fudge cake. I chose champagne and some fine ales from an upmarket off license, along with a summer fruit gin I knew Rosie would love. Then finally, with a smile on my face, I came to one of the key destinations on my mission. A deluxe florist on the way to Foregate Street.
One bouquet stood out for me more than any other. Purity personified, with the most beautiful flash of colour. Traditional, and stunning. Red roses and glorious white lilies.
The woman behind the counter gave me a coy smile as I handed them over for wrapping.
“Someone’s going to be a very lucky lady later.”
I wondered who the florist was picturing in her head when she looked at me. Someone like Katreya, most likely, someone my own age. Maybe a demure woman in her thirties.
If only she could see Rosie. An eighteen-year-old girl whose virginity I’d claimed, whose ass I’d destroyed, whose perfect skin I’d been scribbling filth over for days.
The girl I loved.
She may not be grinning so brightly if she could do.
I took a cab on the way back to the estate, putting the driver on hold in the supermarket car park en route. Time for some essentials. My stack of cigarettes was only the beginning of the store errand. I restocked on everything from tissues to toilet rolls, to sanitary towels for Rosie, and some of her favourite coconut shampoo and conditioner. I grabbed more muesli and fresh milk, and kitchen wipes, and it felt refreshing to be acting like a partner again, not a loser living in a cesspit, alone. I even got some new body wash for my angel, a sweet looking bubble-gum scented one with a unicorn on the bottle. What a novelty. I knew it would make Rosie laugh.
I had my supermarket haul all lined up on the conveyor belt when it became obvious that fate was intent on being an all-out cunt today. I took a look back to find Trisha was behind me in the queue, scoping out my shopping with raised eyebrows. I hoped she would keep her mouth shut and mind her own business, but she didn’t. She looked almost smug.
“Wouldn’t have thought you’d like bubble-gum body wash, Julian.”
I despised how she felt comfortable using my name so casually, despite the fact we’d never been formally introduced.
“You may be surprised by my tastes, Trisha,” I said. “I don’t think we’ve met yet, have we?”
Her eyes were on the sanitary towels as the cashier rang them through. Her brain was clearly ticking as her eyes clamped back on mine. She ignored my question.
“Haven’t seen you around for a while. Have you been away?”
I knew what she was digging at. Her stare said it all.
Since she was going to be obnoxious and ignore my question, I was going to do the same to her. I was relieved when the cashier finished ringing through my items and I could swipe my card on the machine.
“Have a nice day,” I said to the idiot neighbour, but that was all. I didn’t give her so much as a backwards glance.
I was out of there as quickly as possible, jumping into the taxi with my haul. Our forbidden cocoon time was running out, especially now that I’d given Trisha more fuel for the fire. The egg timer had most certainly been turned.
Rosie was organising her stash of clothes in the wardrobe when I returned home with my armfuls of shopping. I put the bags on the floor and presented her flowers with a kiss on the cheek.
She looked at them in delight as she took them. “Wow! They’re just beautiful. Thank you.”
Her joy was infinitely more beautiful than a bouquet could ever be.
“Have you never been given flowers before?” I asked, and she shook her head.
“No. I just…” She threw her arms around me, still clutching them tight. “Thank you. I don’t know what else to say.”
“Flowers are only the beginning of today’s festivities,” I said, smirking as I took up the rest of the shopping from the floor.
She followed me, and used one of my pint glasses as a vase as I began to unpack the supplies.
“No peeking,” I said from the refrigerator. “Tonight will be a surprise.”
“A surprise?”
“Yes. I’m going to show you the full extent of my culinary talents.”