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“This is okay, right?” Rowen shuffles a little closer and reaches up to run a finger from my hairline to my jaw. My hands go to her hips instantly.
“Yeah.” I’m saying that word so much, but my brain is mush and it’s all her fault. I know I have a better vocabulary than saying, yeah, every other word, but she’s touching me and nothing else matters. I haven’t felt this in a really long time. Years. I haven’t wanted a woman so bad inyears. I never wanted Reggie this badly. Our union was more one of convenience than real attraction. Reggie is hot, don’t get me wrong, but Rowen is something else.
“I don’t think I’ve ever made out with anyone before a first date before.” Rowen’s thumb traces my bottom lip.
“We had coffee this morning.” I nip at her thumb and lean in to kiss her forehead. “That counts.” Her whole-body melts against me when my lips touch between her brows.
“It was free coffee. That doesn’t count.”
“Then I’ll buy the pizza, sit next to you, and hold your hand while we eat. Or you can not care that we haven’t been out yet, agree to go out with me soon, and it still counts.” My phone buzzes in my pocket again and I sigh. “Collins.” I pull the phone out and check the text. Rowen shamelessly peeks at the screen.
Collins: Cheese, pep, and a Hawaiian. See ya in an hour.
Collins: Stop making out and order the pizza. Everyone is coming.
Rowen giggles and I nearly drop my phone. If I thought her smirk was disarming, her laugh is everything. I close the text and switch to the app for the local pizza place, tapping on toppings and finding the best deal while still feeding the entire crew. I know I won’t get Rowen alone again until they all leave tonight, and I probably won’t see her tomorrow, so I pull her close, leaning her against me while I order.
“If we leave now, get to the store to get cleaning supplies, and grab your car, we can get back in time for pizza and help.” I kiss her head again just to feel her reaction and watch her smile.
“Let’s go.” She grabs her coat on the way out, shoving her arms through and pulling her hair out from the back as we step out into the cold. I start the car and take her hand as we walk and open her door for her. The drive to the store is silent, whatever I had on this morning plays softly on the radio, but I’m focused on her hand on top of mine resting on her thigh. Her fingers trace mine, sending little pulses of electricity up my arm and making me warm all the way through.
I stop at the store first, the only big box store in East Hollow, and Rowen grabs a cart as we go in. Twenty minutes later, we’ve argued playfully over which cleaner smells best, which color rags to buy, and the best mop for the job. She may never have to buy cleaning supplies again after this. Instead of fighting, we bought my choice and her choice on everything so we have double the stuff. I toss rubber gloves in the cart, a bag of chocolates as we pass, and a case of beer. Once we’ve checked out, we pick up her car and head back to her new home.
Pulling up the second time in one day doesn’t make the house any less breathtaking. With some touch up paint, pressure washed siding, and some landscaping, it can be the most beautiful house in town. I jump out and help her carry all the bags, mops, and cleaners in as the pizza pulls up. I hand the driver a twenty-dollar tip for delivering eight pizzas, take the food and balance it all on the way to her magnificent kitchen. I’m not even a chef, but the kitchen is the best part of the house. At least I think that until I see her standing in the sunroom we never got to. I leave the pizzas on the dark marble counter tops and go to find her. The room is warm and outfitted with dated wicker furniture and threadbare rugs. The windows are grimy and streaked in dust, but the view over the small back yard and thick tree line is almost as creepy as the doll room, but in a beautiful way. It’s dusk out, the sun is hitting the trees at the right angle to cast long shadows over the grass, and it’s a haunting sight.
“Wow.” I step in behind her and rest my chin on her shoulder, hands going around her middle. Rowen tenses and I start to pull away, but she holds me in place. “Is this, okay?” The realization that I’m probably coming on a little strong hits me. Just because her tongue was down my throat earlier doesn’t mean she is as into me as I am her.
“Mmhmm.” She sighs and leans her head into mine. “You startled me. I was just thinking.”
“About?” I brush her hair back and kiss her neck.
“I work tomorrow morning at a job I don’t know how to do, I have this really hot woman hanging out in my house right now, and I own a home. A month ago, I wasn’t sure I could pay half the rent on a two-bedroom apartment, had a dead-end job, and was swiping left a whole lot. It’s overwhelming.” She watches me from the corner of her eye.
“Last month was just like this month, except I was driving to Knoxville to hang out in gay bars.” I shrug, making her head move along with mine.
“Can I take you out sometime soon? I mean… If this is just whatever, I’d still like to hang out. I like spending time with you. I’d like to get to know you outside of your cleaning and handy woman skills.” I feel her hold her breath and I relax my shoulders. It’s nice to hear she wants to spend more time with me too.
“I work tomorrow, night shift, but that has me going in at nine. I can do dinner. Getting to know you sounds great.” A knock echoes through the house and she pulls away to get the door, but I pull her back to press a quick kiss to her cheek before she gets sucked up in all the new friends she’s about to have.
Collins strolls down the hall first, wearing paint splattered clothes and a backwards ball cap. Behind Wyatt is August, a frequent patron of Words for Nerds and professional gamer slash influencer. Trailing in last is Rae, August’s other half. Her hair is in two long blonde braids, headphones over her ears, and eyes on her phone. August gently reaches and takes the phone once they make it to the kitchen. She glares at him and blows a pink bubble as big as her head. I know nothing of the professional gaming world, but Rae is the biggest of big deals. She’s the top grossing Glitch and YouTube streamer currently, followed closely by August. Once they joined forces, they became an unstoppable force that has made all the magazine covers as two of the thirty under thirty most wealthy people.
“I heard you need people to get their hands dirty.” Rae rubs her hands together and her gaze flicks between Rowen and me.
“You’re RaeGunn.” Rowen’s cheeks turn red.
“Hey, you’re my brother’s new boss, right? Rowen? I’m Rae, this is August. Leo’s my asshole older brother.” Rae holds out a fist for Rowen and for as second, I think Rowen might bow down and kiss her hand, but finally lifts her own fist in a bump.
“Leo… is your brother?” Rowen’s voice is a squeak. “RaeGunnReality is in my house?” She looks at me like I might tell her this is a dream. I just laugh. Maybe it’s a generational thing, but the celebrity gamer concept is lost on me. I totally support anyone who can make it happen, but I don’t understand it.
“You a gamer?” August offers Rowen his fist and the conversation about gaming ensues. I step to the fridge, grab two beers, and take one to Collins. We watch the gamer talk go on for a while, until they all three start laughing and break up the party to grab pizza.
“This place is cool AF. Addams family vibes.” Rae wanders into the bathroom.
“Explore anything you want.” As soon as Rowen says the words, a scream comes from the bathroom and the door slams.
“What in theMy Strange Addictiondemon hell is that?” Rae comes out, eyes wide, chest heaving. I choke on my beer and Wyatt snorts as the front door opens and Greer comes in. Her first comment is how amazing the house is and talk of a mini-Hogwarts castle. Rae points her to the bathroom and we all standby while Rae traumatizes her friend. Once the early crew is all sufficiently freaked out by the hundreds of doll eyes and pink wallpaper, we hand out cleaning supplies and each person picks a room. Rowen and I go up and pick the largest bedroom to start on together, buckets, hot water, cleaners, and towels ready to dust.
“I love the walls in here.” Rowen runs a hand down the black and gray striped wallpaper. “Ready?” I look from the king bed to the bay window with the same view as the sunroom, and all the cobwebs living in the massive chandelier.
