Ever since Nate had slept on her couch a few days back, Rose, despite having a perfectly good bed in her room…was sleeping on the couch. Her reason was simple, the couch smelled like Nate, expensive cologne and that masculine musk that uniquely him. She just found that she slept better at night when she had the scent all around her. It also did not hurt that the bee he had given her had also retained his smell ( good bee).
She had gone to sleep there the night before, and that was where she woke up on Friday morning. Only this time she did not roll off and drag herself to the bathroom so that she could get ready for the day. Instead, she kicked her legs up, punching the air as she laughed. She had been checking the calendar repeatedly, willing the day to come faster, and now it had finally arrived.
Friday, opera day.
Rose had never been to the opera a day in her life. But as she got ready for the day, she butchered the few songs she had heard over the years. Singing at the top of her lungs, with her toothbrush, and then her hairbrush serving as her mic.
She ate breakfast humming about fantasy, and music of the night.
That day, she served customers with an extra bounce in her step. Feeling extra cheerful when she talked to Lili and her mother. By the time she closed shop and headed upstairs to get ready she floating on cloud nine. She got ready with single minded determination, slipping on the black dress Nate had bought her that she had never worn because the event had been cancelled. It clung to her in all the right places, accentuating her curves. Her phone beeped right after she applied her final dab of perfume.
I am outside. xxx
Grabbing her purse, she made her way downstairs. Her heels clicking as walked through the shop. He was leaning against the car when she walked out, looking dapper in a black suit and bow tie. He looked her up and down, his eyes appreciative, moving forward he took her hand in his and kissed the back of it. "You look, exquisite," He said. Not letting go even as she bunched up the side of the dress with one hand, making sure it did not drag. He led her to the passenger side, helping her in and gently closing the door.
The opera was something else altogether. Even before the show started, Rose was enthralled, the women in their glittering dresses, gliding across the floor like they were floating. The men, suits cut to perfection, shoes so pristine the light actually reflected off of them. They talked in groups but did not linger, either changing conversation partners or moving on to the next topic. All of the soft, not a raised voice in sight, even the laughter was soft. Some conversations were had without words, at her side, Nate was having plenty of those.
A head nod here, a wave there. Returning the greeting of someone across the room. Influential people who knew each other, but were not here to talk shop. Simply there to relax, it was the first time Nate had taken her to an event, where it was not just code for doing more business.
A date.
He had promised, and it seemed he had been serious, no work, just the two of them enjoying each other's company. Warmth flooded through her and Rose could not hold back a smile. Gripping his elbow a little tighter, she leaned into him, head against his chest.
"What is wrong?" He asked, his worry evident in the way he stiffened beneath her touch.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing. This is just perfect," She replied, raising her head so that she could look up at him. Letting him see just how happy she was. Around them, people were moving forward, the show about to begin.
Leading the way, Nate guided her to their seats. Whereas the majority of the attendees were on side by side seats, theirs was up above, theirs was a private balcony, and Rose only got the chance to marvel at it for a few seconds before the curtain on the stage rose, the show beginning.
Just as she had been when she came in, Rose still did not speak a word of Italian. But she sat through the show, and by the end of it, she was crying. Messy tears that were threatening to ruin her make-up. The man and woman on the stage were still singing, their voices sorrowful, their longing so clear. Their heartache there for the world to see.
It was their final song, and it ended with them so close they could touch. Their voice mingling, but their bodies staying apart. Wanting, yearning, but too scared to take a chance, to take that final leap and see what the world looked like if they walked through it together.
The song ended on a said note, whisper, and Rose was the first one on her feet. Clapping louder than she had ever done in her life. When she turned to Nate, emotions still high, wanting to ask what he thought of the performance. She found him already looking at her, eyes soft.
"That was amazing!" Her words did not feel like they did justice to the marvel she had just witnessed, but they were all she had. She cheered for the singing couple once more, and when she sat back down she struggled to compose herself. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out her tiny mirror and began fixing her make-up, her breathing slowly coming down to its normal rate.
"Yes, amazing, exquisite," Nate breathed, and when Rose looked up she was caught in his intense gaze. Why did it feel like he was not talking about the show? He stood before she could puzzle out his odd reaction, holding out his hand for her.
"Shall we?" He asked, she slipped her hand into his, and he led her out.
They were almost at the car when a figure standing a few cars down caught Rose's eye. It took her a while to place the woman but when she finally did, Rose nearly missed a step. Melanie Ntanos was looking right at them. No, not at them, at Nate. Rose might as well have been a tree stump to the woman. It stung a little to have a woman who had nearly destroyed her not recognize her, but then Nate put a hand on her lower back and the irritation faded.
Out of her run-in with Melanie, Rose knew for a fact that she had gotten the better deal. Nate was a catch, and Melanie had let him slip through her fingers. When he opened her door for her, Rose took the opportunity to plant a kiss on his cheek.
"What was that for?" He asked, face burning and Rose could not help but laugh a little.
"Nothing, just a thank you for being you,"
He closed the door, cheeks still pink. Rose used the time it took for him to get to the other side to look back. Sure enough, Melanie was still watching. Her face a complicated mix of rage, jealousy and something else Rose could not place. A balding older gentleman came to stand beside her and Rose saw the look vanish in a split second, replace by a million dollar smile…terrifying. Rose wondered if Melanie and Rex were over, or if she was doing to him what the two of them had done to Nate and Rose.
The driver's side door opened, and Nate, unaware of the little audience he'd had, got in and started the car. Not wanting to ruin his mood, Rose did not say anything. But she did spend the rest of the drive stealing glances at him and smiling like a love struck teenager.
How Melanie could have squandered such a gem of a man was beyond her, but Rose was never letting him go. She ran the back of her hand over his cheek and he leaned into the touch, eyes still on the road and Rose felt her heart sore.
Yes, she would never let this go.