Deconstructing Bridges

Chapter Nineteen

Apologies for errors - I'll fix them up ASAP

**

"Do you want a cuppa? Rose?"

There was no response, and when he treaded closer he realised she had actually fallen asleep.

She's so pleasant when she's asleep and not tearing chunks out of me, he thought with a chuckle. Though he didn't mind her snarky, clever moments, to be honest. It was one of the things that made life with her so enjoyable.

As soon as they arrived home, Rose had headed straight to the sofa and turned on the television, almost sighing with relief when the sound went on. She often needed her moments of solitude and he recognised the incessant noise as a sign that he was to leave her alone. They'd only been back for twenty minutes, and now she was fast asleep. He didn't blame her. God. What a day.

He wasn't leaving tonight. He didn't want to go home. Despite the comfort and freedom of his own house, the thought of going there alone depressed him. Sleeping on this cramped couch was far more appealing to him.

With a sigh he crouched down, viewing the smooth planes of her complexion. She'd insisted repeatedly that they were over, and perhaps they were. A life based on lies really was no life at all, and there was every chance she had never loved him to begin with. Yet she had craved comfort, she had allowed him to hold her in her weakest moment when he'd been sure that she would never trust him on that level again.

He didn't want them to be over. He wasn't ready for that.

By the time she woke, the lighting in the sky had completely faded and lamplight shone from across the room. Matthew was standing at the window, his hands in his pockets as he rocked his weight back and forth, his mouth pressed tightly together. He turned to the sound of her yawn, and saw her dragging herself up into a sitting position.

"What's the time?"

"Close to nine."

"You didn't wake me for dinner," she pouted with a stretch.

"I'm surprised at you. You actually allowed me to skip a meal?"

"I can re-heat you some of the stew. I ate a bit already, but-."

"I'm not hungry," she responded, her eyes following him as he stepped over to the refrigerator.

"I bought something else too, by the way. If you don't want dinner, you can at least have some of this."

He then handed her a small cylindrical container. Ice cream. Her eyes twinkled as she accepted it, as well as the spoon he held out for her.

"Butterscotch?"

"Only the best, honey."

As she pried the lid off, he frowned.

"Wait. Was that a lie too? Do you even like butterscotch ice-cream?"

"You think I lied about my favourite flavour ice-cream?"

"I don't know."

"I really messed you up good, didn't I?"

She chuckled as she ran the spoon across the surface, and he also laughed.

She placed the tip of the spoon in her mouth, closing her eyes in enjoyment at the taste.

They had fed each other in bed one night. She had been playfully and purposefully missing his mouth,  smearing it across his chin before leaning over to capture the loose drips with her own lips.

Now she was focussed on her spoon as she continued to scoop tiny spoonfuls into her mouth.

"You aren't going to share?"