Page 92 of Hexed & Hazy

Farrah has always loved love—I know that about her. It’s probably why she gets along so well with Aspen. They’ll be gossiping about Rowan and me in no time. Now that her family knows, I don’t need to hide it from my friends… right?

“They’re for Rowan.” I lift my chin and puff out my chest.

Her smile grows, and her eyes widen, something that would be terrifying on anyone else—but it looks kind of funny on Farrah, I guess. “Oh! Are you two…? I mean, I thought I saw something, but I didn’t realize⁠—”

“It’s really new. But it’s serious.”

“That’s—that’s so great. I’m going to.” She points a thumb over her shoulder and shuffles away.

Donnie watches me closely but says nothing as I leave.

Rowan works from home. There’s a little desk in the corner of her room, the one spot of chaos in her otherwise well-curated life. The rest of her room is perfectly neat—bed made every morning, shoes lined up in her small closet, dusted regularly.

Her desk is piled with books, papers, and scribbles of late-night thoughts. It’s probably my favorite spot in her room. She’s there when I enter, clicking away on her keyboard.

She hardly seems to notice I’m there. I stand in the doorway, smiling to myself and watching her type away.

“What is it?” she asks without looking away from the screen.

Seems like she discovered me after all.

“Nothing. I don’t want to interrupt.” I set the flower vase down on her desk. “Just brought something to brighten the space up.”

She looks up then, her glasses sliding down her nose. Her attention drifts from me to the bouquet and back again. “You brought this…?”

I scratch the back of my neck. “I did. Arranged it myself and everything.”

I barely get the words out before she’s on her feet, both arms flinging around my neck. It’s moments like these, more than anything else, that remind me how much everything has changed with Rowan. She’s never been the hugging type, and now, she does it easily.

For so long, I didn’t realize what we were, but I’m going to soak up every minute with her. Every moment like this. I bend closer, wrapping my arms around her waist and burying my face in the crook of her neck.

“It’s lovely,” she says, pulling away long enough for me to give her a peck on the lips. “I can’t believe you arranged this. You have a real talent.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“I do.”

“Eh, I think I still prefer growing more than arranging, but… it was fun to try out.”

“You’re talented in many ways.” She pats the side of my face.

I can’t stop smiling. It’s a good workout for my cheek muscles, but I can’t stop, and I don’t want to. Being around Rowan makes all my smiles real, makes them worth it.

“Sorry. I didn’t want to distract you.”

“But you are my favorite distraction…”

Giving her a real distraction is tempting. Rowan works too much, but I know she cares about her work, and if I become something that keeps her away from it, it could sour our relationship. I’ll always support her in taking some downtime, but I won’t impede her goals.

I chuckle and shake my head. “Text me after work, and I’ll give you the best distraction of your life.”

“I will.” She settles back into her desk, looks at the flowers again, and smiles. “Just a few more hours.”

That night, as promised, she texts me at exactly five o’clock.

One simple text.

Rowan