Damaged Beyond Repair by Kashmira Kamat (KittyKash) (best short books to read TXT) 📗

Chapter 16

I was almost done with the packing; I grabbed for a peach colored night gown and stuffed it in.

Nightgown- check

Toiletries- check

Extra clothes- check.

The thought of spending a night with Rowan at his house was exciting yet overwhelming. The entire week had been busy until I could prepare myself for the day, I got a call from Claire reminding me about their family dinner where I was invited according to her. I had a weird feeling about it, I mean, c'mon I didn't know these people and clearly Rowan didn't get along with them but Claire told me it was important I come along with him, if that baggage of worry wasn't enough, I had another 100 kg baggage to worry about and that was spending the night with him. I was all mixed emotions, the anxiety and the excitement almost killing me.

When I was done with dinner and a bit of the weekend homework, I got a call on my cell phone.

"Hey."

"Hi, Alana." Nina spoke softly from the other end; she would usually show up at the doorstep for even minor problems like, 'I need an extra HB pencil'. It was a wonder; she was placing a call from a floor below. "What are you doing?"

"Packing for tomorrow."

"Of course you are." She sounded pale like she was speaking with a huge rock pressing her back, "Listen, Uh—would you believe me if I told you something?"

"Is this about Chez?" that was my first guess.

"It's about Rowan." She corrected me quickly.

That had me wishing my battery was dead or the network was bad.

I ran a hand through my hair, "Shoot."

"Do you know where he is at the moment?"

My heart went thump thump thump, "No, I don't. Do you?"

"I was at a cafe with Chez just a while ago," Now Chez was hanging out with Nina? Awesome. I was the only one without an invitation card. Even though I liked Chez and Nina together, the thought of my best friend hanging out with someone else while ignoring me was eating me alive. "And we were just leaving when I saw Mr. Masters with that same woman, y'know, the one we saw that other day you were playing Nancy Drew."

I started to speak but she cut me off, "They were busy in a heated conversation and then they both left in his car."

That was like worse than a punch in the gut, "What time was it?"

"Huh? Twenty minutes ago, it's not like I'm bitching about your boyfriend or saying he is cheating on you. She might just be his old friend..."

"Ex-girlfriend." I confirmed her doubt.

"What?"

"That woman is his ex-girlfriend." Who apparently didn't have a name.

"Oh I see. I just wanted you to know about it, Alana."

"Yeah, I get it. Thanks Nina."

"Oh my God! Al? Are you crying?" I could almost imagine her tumble off the bed in exaggeration, "Listen, I know Rowan loves you okay? Don't you misunderstand; you'll have to speak with him."

"I'm not crying silly, I'm just not feeling fine." I needed to make a call urgently, "I'm going to bed."

"Should I come over?" the offer was great but I needed to pull those Nancy Drew instincts now and fast.

"No. No. Just stay." I tried to sound ultra cool, "and..."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for being so understanding, Nina, it means a lot."

"Hey, I'm always here for you. That's what friends are for." Nina assured me.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay."

As soon as I hung up on Nina, I dialed Rowan's number.

First ring.

Second ring.

Rowan answered on the third.

"Hello."

"Rowan."

"Hey, are you done with the packing?" I had a wave of suspicion engulf me.

"Yeah..mostly."I mumbled, "What are you doing?"

"Just getting some fresh air."

"Is Minnie with you?"

"No. She's with Cary at home. I'm alone."

The Lie dog hissed at me, "Can I come see you right now?"

Normally, Rowan would've jumped at the suggestion, but I heard him shrug, "Alana, I'm heading home right now."

"Oh. My bad."

"I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Sure." I said, and added, "I love you."

"I love you too." Something was so Off about the way he was acting.
 

****

At exactly 7:00 pm, I received a call from Rowan informing me he was waiting for me at our usual place. I quickly checked my appearance in the mirror. I didn't look bad in the lemon dress; my usually messy brown hair looked glossier. I grabbed for my bag and my tote and made my way downstairs. Some of the girls in the dorms would go visit their homes in the weekends; I'd told the matron that I was visiting my uncle from Far-away Island; she seemed least interested and didn't bother to enquire who this uncle was. Good for me.

Rowan opened the car door for me, like a true gentleman. He wore a dark tee-shirt over faded denims—the sleeves of his t-shirt fit his broad biceps to perfection, the Rolex glimmered on his wrist. Minnie sat in the back seat with a doll in her hand, "Alnana."

Her mispronunciation always managed to crack me up.

"Hey."

Rowan quickly took over the driver's side, put the car into drive and we were on our way. When I asked him how far it was from Carmel, he told me it would only take an hour and a half. He never spoke for almost twenty minutes while I let my fingers do the snooping in the compartment, and rummaged through Rowan's CD collection. It wasn't like I was actually interested in reading CD covers or counting the trees outside, I freakin' needed to keep myself occupied somehow and this man wasn't helping. When I looked over at him, he was staring straight ahead.

No happy camper.

"Is something the matter?"

"Nothing."

"I want to ask you something, if it's okay."

"Ask away." He said, still not averting his eyes off the road.

"You met your ex-girlfriend yesterday?" I knew I was walking a fine line here being Princess Blunt.

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