Free An Unforgotten Bet: (A Contemporary Romance) by Emily Marcucci Page A

we last spoke. Now’s not a really good time to talk about it, though, I—”
    “It’s fine, Rose, I get that you’ve been busy,” she says warmly. “That’s not what I called you about, though.”
    “Oh?”
    “I actually invited Tom and his family around for dinner tonight. They’ll be here around half five.”
    “Ah,” she says, her voice wavering. “I’m kind of busy tonight Mom.”
    “Busy? Busy doing what?” asks her Mom, her cheerfulness replaced by dismay.
    “Uh…actually, you know what, it’s not that important. Sure, I’ll be there,” she says, trying to sound as excited as possible. It’s not ideal, and her thoughts are still scattered all over the place, but one thing that Rose has never been able to do is to let her Mom down.
    “Oh, really? Are you sure?”
    “Yes, of course.”
    “That’s great, then. Try and come a little earlier so I can spend some time with you. It’s been over a week since I even spoke to you, that’s far too long!”
    “I know, Mom, I will,” she says, smiling. “I’ll see you then. Love you.”
    “Love you, honey.”
    She doesn’t even look at Danny as she exits the room, slamming the door behind her.

Chapter 18 - 5th November, 2013
     
    Work drags even more than usual today, and when Tom is just beginning to think that he won’t be able to make it through, his phone vibrates in his pocket. His hands shake as he reaches for it, hoping that it will be an explanation from Rose for the way she acted this morning. But it’s not.

From: Luke
Sent: 10:39
Hey, just checking that you’re still alright to meet up tonight.
     
    Tom hesitates for a moment. Will the dinner be over in time? But when he remembers how Rose acted with him this morning, his mind is instantly made up.

To: Luke
Message: Of course. Looking forward to it.
 

With Rose’s sudden mood swings and paranoia, they’ll probably be lucky if the dinner lasts at least half an hour tonight. But despite all of his efforts to forget her, or at least temporarily push her to the back of his mind, she is all he can think about. He didn’t have time to shower this morning after he’d got back home, so his skin still smells like her perfume, and everywhere he turns it’s like she’s there with him.
    He sighs, standing up to get another cup of coffee to try and make time pass faster.
    By the time he does finish work at 5pm, Tom can barely keep his eyes open. Rose still hasn’t called or text him, and he’s beginning to feel more foolish with each passing second. But of all people to do this to him, he never thought it would be Rose. She was always so happy, so open, and so carefree. What happened to her?
    By the time he reaches his parents’ house, it’s already 5:15pm. His Mom opens the door before he even reaches it.
    “Hey, sweetie, it’s good to see you,” she says, kissing his cheek as she brushes straight past him towards the car. “We’re a little late, so we’ll have to head off right away. Is that okay?”
    “Uh, sure,” he says, taking off his tie and trying to ruffle his shirt a little to make himself appear less formal.
    “Hey, son,” says his Dad, smiling at him as he steps out of the door and locks it behind him. They bundle into the family jeep, Tom sitting in the back seat and his parents sitting in the front.
    “It’s just like old times, eh?” says his Mom, grinning to him through the font mirror. He grins back, trying to ignore the endless knotting sensation in his stomach which only seems to be getting tighter and tighter.
    When they arrive, Mrs. Evans is already standing in the porch to greet them. She looks very different to how he remembers her — much older and much more haggard — but her she’s still smiling and her eyes are still sparkling as they always did. She has that same oversized, crooked smile as Rose, and it widens when she sees them.
    “Hey,” she shouts, opening the door as they approach. “I’m so happy you guys could come