Among The Roses

Chapter 19: Up and About

"Everything okay? You feeling okay?"

Chiara found Ned's concern cute and touching. She nodded at him, giving him a smile as well.

He was sitting at the foot of the bed, long legs crossed at the ankle as they stretched out next to hers.

They were just chatting, doing nothing in particular. Waiting for Drew to come back from her house with some clothes for her. Today she was finally being allowed out of bed, like downstairs to walk around and not to be on semi-invalid status anymore.

"It's just that you seem kinda quiet this morning."

"I'm sorry, I'm just buzzing with everything I need to do, that's all." Chiara reached out and patted Ned's socked foot. As usual, Ned was wearing blindingly white athletic socks. He had a thing for them and washed his socks in hot water with lots of bleach, always. Chiara smiled as she touched it.

Ned smiled back and wiggled his foot.

"Just don't try to over do it, yeah? You were really sick for a long time, so easy does it. Drew's got your move well in hand, so you won't have to lift a finger, you'll be all moved in to the cottage by tomorrow night."

Chiara sat up. "What? We never discussed anything like that!"

Ned face palmed for a second. "Fuck me, was I not supposed to tell you that?" He shook his head. "Too late now, I suppose. "Well, anyway, movers have been hired, everything will be brought over here, so there's nothing for you to worry about."

Chiara had actually supposed that the three of them would just get her moved over the course of a few days or a week. Now that she thought about it, however, that was kind of a ridiculous idea. Who would ever think of internationally famous pop stars pulling on work gloves and moving furniture and packing dishes and all that?

Chiara, stop being a git.

"And I guess there's no chance that Drew will take money from me for any of this, is there?"

Ned laughed, his famous, loud guffaw that girls the world over loved. He shook his head. "You need to put that thought right out of your head," he agreed.

Chiara hadn't really talked to Drew since their second and very enjoyable kiss the day before. He seemed to pretending that it hadn't happened, so she was doing the same. The three of them had spent the previous evening in Chiara's bed, watching a movie on the TV that was above the fireplace in the master bedroom.

Perhaps a more astute observer than Ned might have noticed a bit of strain between Chiara and Drew, but he was happily oblivious, laughing uproariously at the funny parts of the movie, slapping his leg and digging into the popcorn.

Today, however, he gave her a keen glance, green eyes very bright in the December sunlight shining through the window. "Something going on between you and Drew?" When she didn't answer right away, he nudged her with his foot.

Chiara bunched the comforter up between her hands to give herself time to think. She finally looked back at him and shook her head. "No? What do you mean by 'something?'"

"I suppose I mean what people usually mean when they say 'something,'" he answered with a grin.

"Of course not!" Chiara tried to make her voice strong and convincing. "Drew is an international pop star, he could have anyone, he's not going to slum it with the local gardener, is he?" She gestured to herself. "Not to mention this package I come in--"

"Hey!" Ned's voice was soft, but stern. "None of that, now. You have a lot to offer a fellow."

"Ned. Edmund." They both smiled at her use of his given name. "I've seen the women you guys date. They're all supermodels, Victoria's Secret Angels, social media influencers--I mean, the least glamorous and famous one is Gary Pillsbury's baby mama, and I think read somewhere that she's already signed a contract to do a layout for Playboy after her baby's born."