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“Well,” she scoffed, thinking she was funny, “if you can let go of something that happened almost ten years ago, then I guess I could.”
“Let go of what?” I was squatting near the empty bar cart, searching for a clean glass, when his voice stilled me. It was even more melodic than on the phone, and I would know after listening to his message on repeat in the middle of the night, like some lovesick teenager.
“Rowie!” Aubrey abandoned me, running toward him so quickly that her cheetah tail whipped him in the eye when she ran to him.
“Am I late?” Rowan questioned, looking between us while holding a cardboard box in both arms as he stood in the kitchen.
“I’m so glad you could make it!” Aubrey held her arms around him. “When did your plane get in?”
“I caught an earlier flight. I really wanted to see you,” he spoke to her, but his eyes were on me, deep and blue.
That nickname was horrendous, and I’d need to tell him when things were a little more colorful, not when we were in this weird gray limbo of uncertainty. He set the box down in front of the fridge and returned Aubrey’s inebriated high five.
Rowan put the bottles and cans from his box inside the fridge and took out a bottle of beer for himself before closing the door and greeting me with a chaste kiss to the forehead.
Aubrey giggled, peeling herself from him and holding the stupid tail. “Well, just don’t have sex on the counters because I cook in here. I’ll let you two catch up. I’m so glad you made it, Rowie!”
We watched Aubrey leave, shaking her tail behind her as she went in search of Ethan or another drink. It didn’t matter to me because I didn’t plan on staying. Although, my feet were suddenly melting into the floor, so I wasn’t sure if I should plan on sleeping next to the stove or call a doctor.
It was Rowan, the way his mouth twitched when he tried not to smile, the way his hair was perfect even after walking in the rain, and the fact he took an early flight just to see his friends on Halloween.
“How are you?” He asked, pulling off the bottle cap.
“Honestly,” I blew air out, “I’m a mess.” Someone came into the kitchen, giving a quick word of greeting to Rowan before taking their fresh drink and leaving. I tried, but my toes froze.
Rowan was imposing in the middle of the kitchen, watching me as I felt the last four months crash in on me. “I know the feeling,” he agreed. His muscular chest rose with a deep breath as Rowan approached me, his free hand tentatively reaching for mine.
His touch was electric, sending its pulse up my arm and straight into my heart as his fingers twisted a ring I wore. “Did you get my message the other night?”
“Are we real or pretend here, Rowan?” I blurted, feeling his hand tighten around mine. “Is this where we break up?”
“What?”
Rowan turned, still holding my hand and his beer, and I peered over his chest to see Ethan and Aubrey staring at us. Their poor faces were more distressed than mine and I felt for them. He was biting his bottom lip when he turned back to me, silent.
“You’re breaking up?” Aubrey probed, trying to come closer to us before Ethan grabbed her tail and yanked her back to him. “Ethan, stop. They’re breaking up!”
NINETEEN
“Aubrey,” Rowan’s nostrils flared a little as he closed his eyes, maybe as annoyed as me, or maybe preparing to agree with her, “could you just give us a minute? We haven’t really seen each other in a few days.”
“Hey,” Ethan called to me. “Are you okay, Meredith?”
“I’m fine. We’re fine.” I stammered, offering my quickest smile. Thanking the stars when Ethan pulled Aubrey out of the kitchen, I took my hand back from Rowan.
“She’s incessant.” He groaned, leaning against the sink.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you back. I didn’t even see you called until the middle of the night. I figured you were asleep or busy by then.”
He swallowed a gulp of his beer, shaking his head at me. “I’m never too busy for you, Meredith. I wouldn’t be a good friend if I were. I can promise, though, not to be as annoying as Aubrey.”
“You love her,” I rebuked, smiling at how things seemed to soften between us once more.
“And you’re trouble,” he repeated what he once told me, staring softly into my eyes while his knuckles grazed my cheek.
Once word spread that Rowan was in the apartment, party guests flooded the kitchen with their celebration about his World Series win. Even some of Ethan's and Aubrey’s friends, who were not single, found their way to touch Rowan while congratulating him. I held my breath and my fists, wondering just how a black crayon would look taking down a naughty nurse, a cheerleader, or a cat.
“I really think we should talk,” Rowan told me once we moved into the living room, “but I don’t think we’ll get two words in without an interruption.”
