Rose woke in her bed the next day completely at a loss about how she got there. She felt like someone had simultaneously squished her head in a vice and punched her in the guts. Why, oh why, did she drink so much last night? A knock on her bedroom door made her flinch.

“Whaaaat,” she groaned.

“Oh, good, you’re alive,” Tilly said as she opened the door.

“Go away and leave me to sleep, you horrible woman.”

“It’s one in the afternoon, you horrible drunk.”

“Hey, I resent that. I’m a rather lovely drunk, actually,” Rose said. Reluctantly, she sat up in bed. “Is it really 1pm?”

“Yes, now get your ass up. Danny’s coming over later to watch a movie and you need to clean the loo.”

“Don’t you have a cleaner for that?”

“Funny you should ask, because any other day, and I’m sure Tony would be more than happy to clean up your vomit. But since he doesn’t work weekends, I’m afraid you get that privilege,” Tilly said in her bossy, no-nonsense voice, which only made an appearance about once a year. Normally, it was Rose using that tone. 

“I didn’t? How bad?”

“You did, and you’d best get onto it soon if you want to avoid Danny seeing deconstructed pork pie all over the toilet floor.”

“Please don’t talk about food.” Rose dry-heaved at the mention of last night’s regurgitated dinner.

“Go take a long hot shower and I’m sure you’ll feel much better.”

“Alright, I’m going.” She rolled off the bed, clutching her stomach. “So do I have to disappear tonight?” Rose asked as she dragged her feet past Tilly, towards the bathroom. 

“No, you’re more than welcome to join. It’s just a cosy night in with a movie and wine.” Rose raised an eyebrow. “Relax, it’ll only be a glass or two. You and Danny are just as bad as each other,” Tilly said, rolling her eyes. Rose had been on her case about her excessive consumption of wine a lot lately. And apparently, so had Daniel. 

Rose stopped just outside the bathroom and turned back to look at Tilly. “If he’s mentioned something about your drinking after only a few weeks, then you know it’s a problem.” Now it was time for Rose’s stern voice. 

“Okay, okay. I know alright.” She raised her hands in surrender. “I’ve already cut back to every second night. Haven’t you noticed?”

“Well, I guess that’s a start and what do you mean ‘Haven’t I noticed?’ You’ve been spending so much time with your new man, I’ve hardly seen you this week!”

“Hey, you can’t put all the blame on me. You’re the one who’s been dancing up a storm with your new bestie, Victoria.”

They both stared blank faced at each other for a second, then keeled over laughing at the funniest joke of all—Victoria being someone anyone would want to be friends with. Rose stopped abruptly and pressed her fingers against her temples as pain surged through her throbbing brain.

“Get in the shower,” Tilly commanded. Rose gave a thumbs up, as she didn’t want to risk more pain by nodding, her speech abandoning her as well. 

After a shamefully long shower, one too many painkillers and a lot of scrubbing, the loo and Rose were both marginally presentable. She was so grumpy and tired after the disgusting vomit clean that she decided she’d rather avoid Tilly and Daniel’s lovey dovey-ness and stay in her room all night. Until she opened the front door in her sloth onesie and saw Daniel and Ethan standing there. 

“I see Victoria let you live after you called her a witch,” she said, completely surprised by Ethan’s appearance. She thought Victoria might’ve whacked him over the head and dumped his body after what he said about her last night. That was one part of the previous night she could remember—mostly. 

He frowned and was about to reply when Daniel answered instead. “You called her a witch? To her face?” 

“Over the phone actually, and I thought she couldn’t hear me—I think.”

“You’re a braver man than me,” said Daniel. “Is it okay if he joins us? He showed up at my house with a massive hangover then invited himself.”

“No, I didn’t!” Said Ethan. Looking annoyed at his brother.

“Yes, you did,” Daniel replied.

“Come now boys, it’s fine. Ethan is more than welcome to stay and watch whatever awful movie Tilly has picked.”

“Hey, I heard that!” Tilly shouted from the kitchen. 

“I know,” Rose shouted back, giving the boys a mischievous smile. “Come in.”

Rose led them to the movie room, where everything was set for a movie night. A bottle of wine, a fancy cheese board and expensive rolled up blankets—well, a posh movie night. If it had been up to Rose, there would be popcorn, m&ms and cider—mmm, yum. Oh, and duvets straight off the bed.

“I’ll be there in a minute, just finishing the oysters,” Tilly shouted again.

Ethan raised a brow at Rose. 

“I know, that girl wouldn’t know how to host a movie night if her life depended on it,” she joked.

“I might go see if she needs a hand,” said Daniel, looking back and forth between the two of them. 

Once alone, Ethan turned back to Rose. “Hey, I’m really sorry about leaving you stranded last night. I hope it wasn’t too much drama getting a lift home.”

That’s right, she’d woken up that morning, or rather the afternoon, and had no idea how she had gotten there.

“Tilly!” she yelled. “How did I get home last night?”

“Murray and that lovely man of his. Honestly, if I wasn’t already taken and Kenny wasn’t gay, I’d be all over that fine specimen!” She yelled back.

“Hey!” They heard Daniel’s muffled cry through the wall.

“Nope, no drama. Don’t even remember it. Although I remember Victoria storming in and dragging you away.” Rose nudged him in the arm with her elbow.

Ethan groaned at the mention of Victoria. “Don’t remind me, talk about embarrassing! And to make things worse, I’m sure I saw a camera flash mid drag.”

“Oh dear. Why do you let her treat you like that, though?” 

“Ah… have you met her? It’s easier to keep the peace. We still have what... six weeks left of this shoot?” Rose nodded. “Six more weeks she can have her way and after that I won’t have to see her again until the premier.” Rose wasn’t entirely convinced of his excuse, but she knew how difficult Victoria could be. 

Daniel and Tilly finally came back with oysters and stuffed olives in hand. She rolled her eyes, unaware Ethan was watching, until she heard him laugh and she turned to see him smile at her. One of those panty-dropping, heart skip a beat smiles. If she lived in a Jane Austen novel, she would’ve swooned at the sight.

They sat down and started the movie Tilly had picked—it was called Hot Fuzz. At first she thought Tilly had done it again and picked a stinker. But to her pleasant surprise, she really enjoyed it. She was laughing so loud, everyone kept shushing her.

It was about halfway through the movie. Rose noticed Ethan throwing glances her way from across the room. It was subtle, but she noticed. Then she noticed Daniel frowning from his spot next to Tilly in the middle of the room. Every time Ethan glanced at her, Daniel’s forehead wrinkled a little more. It all seemed very odd. Perhaps Kenny was onto something and Ethan did fancy her just a little?

Once the movie was over, and Tilly was sound asleep, curled up next to Daniel. Ethan whispered it was time for him to go. Rose offered to walk him the short distance to the door, much to Daniel’s disapproval. 

“I’ll go put Tilly to bed,” Daniel said before scowling at Ethan. 

“What’s up with your brother? Is he annoyed at you about something?” Rose asked once they had reached the entryway and Rose was holding the door open for him.

“Yeah, it’s nothing, just something stupid we argued about earlier. No doubt it will all be forgotten by the morning,” he said, looking a tad uncomfortable. 

Rose decided not to push it even though she got the sense it was more serious than he was letting her believe.

“Well, thanks for coming. Even though Tilly is a terrible movie night host, it was fun.” Rose smiled sweetly and Ethan stared at her. Like the way he’d done a few times recently. He was like a deer trapped in headlights and she found it very perplexing. The silence stretched. It seemed like he was deciding what to do next when he shook his head, gave her a weak smile, said goodbye, and left.

Rose was walking back down the hallway towards her room when she met Daniel, waiting for her.

“Can I talk to you for a sec?” He asked.

“Yeah sure. What’s up?”

“It’s about Ethan.” Rose had a feeling it might be.

“Okay?”

“Look, what I’m about to say may come across as harsh, but I have the purest of intentions.” Rose didn’t like the sound of that. “I see the way you and Ethan have become friendly, which is cool. But I don’t want you getting your hopes up. We were raised a certain way and are expected to make decisions that don’t just benefit us, but our families and our reputations.”

This conversation was turning out to be most unpleasant . 

“Ethan is a Dashwood. Our family has been an influential part of London society for generations, like Tilly’s. And he has a certain standard to uphold.”

Ouch! That one really pierced the heart.

“He has only ever dated a certain type of girl and none has ever been good enough for our father. He doesn’t even like Victoria—not English enough. So you can imagine his thoughts on a girl from New Zealand.”

At least knowing Ethan’s family disapproved of Victoria made Rose feel a fraction better about Daniel’s not-so-subtle way of telling her she’s not good enough for his family. 

“Look, I’m really sorry Rose, I think you’re lovely, but I don’t want to see you get hurt either. I can see my brother leading you on, only for you to be met with disappointment when he eventually lets you down. I don’t think he does it on purpose, it’s just how he is.”

“We’re just friends,” Rose said in a hushed tone.

“And that’s wonderful. He could do with more friends like you—”

“Just not a girlfriend?” It came out a little harsher than she intended. 

Daniel sighed. “It’s nothing personal, it’s just the way it is in our family, in our world.”

Rose nodded, fighting back tears. It’s not like she should be upset or anything. There was never any way he would be interested in someone like her, but it still stung to hear the words out loud.

“Thanks, I better be off to bed,” she said.

“Okay. I am really sorry about this entire conversation. I didn’t want to have to do this.” He really looked apologetic.

She half smiled as she made her way into her room and shut the door behind her. She then threw herself face first into her pillow and cried.