Chapter 12: A Taste of Truth

The next morning was calm, but something in the air felt… off.

The sheets beside Rose were cold—Henry was already gone. She stretched, rubbed sleep from her eyes, and reached for her phone on the nightstand.

One new message.

Sophie: Can we talk?

Rose stared at the screen, her brows knitting together. A strange feeling twisted in her chest. She quickly replied:

Rose: Sure. I'm at Henry's place.

A moment later, her phone buzzed again.

Sophie: Yeah… I know. I was there last night.

Everything stilled.

Rose's breath caught. Her fingers tightened around the phone. Without thinking, she hit call.

Sophie picked up on the second ring.

"What do you mean you were here last night?" Rose asked, her voice low, sharp.

There was a pause on the other end before Sophie finally exhaled. "He didn't tell you, did he?"

Rose's chest constricted. "Tell me what, Sophie?"

"I've been trying to talk to him for weeks," Sophie said, voice cautious. "About us. About how we used to feel. I asked him to meet me last night—just to talk. That's all."

Rose sat at the edge of the bed, anger bubbling just beneath her skin. "And he didn't think I should know? A conversation with you—of all people?"

"Nothing happened," Sophie rushed to add. "But… he didn't act like you were the only girl on his mind."

Those words hit like a slap.

Rose didn't respond. She simply ended the call and let the phone fall onto the mattress beside her.

Hours passed.

Afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains when the door opened and Henry finally returned. He stepped inside, setting his keys down casually—until he saw her waiting in the living room. Arms crossed. Eyes unreadable.

She didn't speak right away. Just watched him.

"You saw Sophie last night?" she finally said, voice like ice.

Henry froze mid-step. "Rose—"

"That wasn't family drama, was it?" she cut in, rising to her feet. "You lied. You went to see her. Why?"

His mouth opened, but nothing came out at first.

"I gave myself to you last night," she continued, voice cracking slightly. "Fully. And while I was lying in your bed, you were out meeting with a girl who's supposed to be my friend?"

Henry stepped forward. "It wasn't like that. I was trying to end it—she wouldn't stop calling. I didn't want to upset you."

"You didn't trust me with the truth," she said, blinking away tears. "You made that decision for me."

The silence between them thickened.

"I need space," she whispered, backing away.

"Rose, please—"

"No," she said firmly. "You need to figure out what you really want, Henry. Because I won't be one of two."

And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving him alone in the apartment filled with everything they could've been—and everything he might've just lost.