Now It's My Time to Strike Back

I couldn’t believe she said yes to him! We had a fantastic morning, now all of a sudden it’s as though she completely forgot what she admitted to me earlier.

I began questioning my judgment which was completely erased as I heard a key unlock the door I’d entered almost ten minutes previously when the love of my life entered the same door.

Her eyes were full of sorrow as she stared at me for a moment before walking past me as I sat on my bed.

My eyes couldn’t help but follow her figure as she sat down on her own bed before turning on the TV, the only sound now filling the room. After almost five minutes of nothing but Rose channel surfing, I broke the silence.

“Are you really going to go out with Jake?” I asked surprised at how soft my voice was.

I felt my breath get caught in my throat as I waited for her to respond.

“Nick, you just said this morning-,” she began, but I cut across her.

“I know what I said, Rose, but Jake?” I asked in disgust.

“What’s wrong with Jake, Nick?” she asked, catching me off guard.

“Oh, come on, Rose! I said it before and I’ll say it again. He likes you! Hell, he might even be in love with you!” I blurted, stopping my rant as she opened her mouth to speak.

“Are you afraid, Nick?” she asked, catching me off guard at how soft her voice was.

“Are you afraid that you might lose me to Jake?” she asked with honesty and sincerity. She wanted to know what I was thinking, but I couldn’t admit that to her.

“No”, I said scoffing as I diverted my eyes away from her.

“I think you are,” she said, walking over to me before she sat on my bed with me.

My heart started pumping harder and faster. It was so strange she still had that effect on me.

“I think you are, Nick. And to be honest, I’m kind of worried myself,” she admitted, staring directly in my eyes.

“It’s bad that you’re thinking that,” I said in a low tone.

“There’s no way I’ll forget what happened this morning, but I need to get my head clear about this whole situation. Vic could come in and say anything to ruin either of our reputations more than they already are and Jake could easily do the same,” she said in the same tone as me.

I instinctively lifted my hand to caress her cheek, but stopped, restraining myself to do so. I had to get used to letting Rose do her own thing whether I liked it or not.

“It’s going to be hard for me, too,” she said, mimicking my actions, but actually going through with it.

Her soft hand touched my cheek as her perfect hands lightly brushed across the surface of my skin. I thought she would stop there, but she didn’t. I soon felt her lips come into contact with my own and it was then that I knew I would never get tired of kissing Rose.

Our lips moved in sync with one another and I soon wanted the morning to repeat itself in its entirety (except Vic’s phone call). Her hands moved to the sides of my neck as she pulled me on top of her as the kiss began to get more intense yet loving and passionate.

But still, even after the kiss seemed to last for hours, no clothes were removed and for that, a new memory was created into my mind. I wasn’t sex hungry, but I began to realize that I didn’t need to make love to her to show her I loved her; but Rose knew that before I did.

When we pulled away, a smile covered my lips as I saw one on hers as well.

“Just because I don’t say I love you, too doesn’t mean that I don’t think it,” she confessed, catching me off guard.

My heart erupted with joy at Rose’s words as a chuckle escaped me.

“I’ll hold you to that,” I joked, but she knew otherwise.

“I know you will,” she said with a slight laugh.

She stood, walking back to her bed as a comfortable silence fell between us. From that point on, I could only hope things turned out in my favor even as the day of Rose and Jake’s date arrived.

I had to hope and pray my jealous side wouldn’t come out. I couldn’t lose Rose again. I just couldn’t.