Page 42 of The Date

“It’s a drink to have with dinner,” I answer. “You and I both know our interpretation of a nightcap doesn’t include alcohol.”

“Just making sure we’re on the same page, Mr Kingsley,” she says, leaning in to brush her lips with mine before she climbs into the car.

“I’m going to throw my gym clothes in the machine,” Rose says as we enter her apartment. “The plates are in the cupboard above the stove if you want to dish up dinner. Hi, Polly,” she adds as she passes the cage.

Squawk. “Fuck off.” Squawk. This bird is a hoot.

“You’re so rude, Polly,” Rose grumbles as she crosses the main room and disappears down a hallway.

I chuckle as I enter the kitchen, place the bags on the countertop, and go in search of plates. I’m glad Rose has opted to eat first because she’s going to need fuel once I get my hands on her. Tonight’s been a long time coming, and I intend to make the most of every second.

I grab two plates and start opening cupboards, searching for wine glasses. I frown as I realise a lot of them are empty. I know she hasn’t been living in Sydney for long, but it still worries me. Does she plan to move back to Melbourne eventually? What happens when her parents return from their cruise?

I’m getting ahead of myself, but I can’t help it. And maybe it’s still early days, but I can already see a future with Rose. Nobody has ever captivated me like she has.

By the time she joins me in the kitchen, I’ve laid out all the dishes of sushi. Her pretty eyes widen when she sees how much I bought. “Are you hungry?” she asks, gesturing towards the sushi.

“Not for food,” I reply, briefly locking eyes with her. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got a bit of everything.”

She pulls out one of the barstools and takes a seat as I open the bottle of wine and pour it into the glass. “I couldn’t find any wine glasses,” I say. “I couldn’t find much of anything.”

“I only bought the essentials when I moved here. I wasn’t sure how long I was staying.”

My stomach drops at the thought of her leaving. “Are you planning on moving back to Melbourne eventually?”

“No,” she replies matter-of-factly, picking up her glass and taking a sip of wine. “Mmm, Sauvignon Blanc.”

“New Zealand,” I clarify. “It’s what you ordered on our first date.”

“You remembered.”

“There’s not much I don’t remember when it comes to you, Rose.”

I watch as she picks up her chopsticks and leans closer to inspect the selection in front of her. “Can I ask the real reason you never told me you weren’t Brendan that night?”

“By the time I realised you’d sat down at the wrong table, I was already invested. Innards and all.”

“Hmm.” She selects a piece of sushi and places it on her plate. “I still wish you had told me.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t.” I meet her eyes. “My reasons were selfish.”

She studies me for a moment before looking back at the food. “Melody still won’t talk to me,” she says quietly. “I passed her in the downstairs in the foyer the other day, and she held a hand to the side of her face like I wasn’t even there.”

“She sounds like a child.”

“She was my only friend in this city.”

“On the plus side, you lost one and gained three others.”

That has the corners of her mouth lifting. “I really like Violet.”

“She really likes you as well.”

“Callum seems nice too.”

I narrow my eyes. “You’ve known him for five minutes. Let’s not get carried away.”

That makes her laugh. “Someone sounds jealous.”