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He’s got to be mad about what happened inside, but this reminds me of the old Rockwell who puts aside his own feelings to take care of someone else.
“Thanks.” I spread the blanket around my legs and reach over to adjust the temperature. Finally, my body shakes cease their earthquake-level spasms. Which is unfortunate because now I can fully focus on my awkwardness. I don’t really want to apologize again so soon, so I search for some normal conversation—an icebreaker. “I didn’t see a cat in my house when I got home. Was it hard to catch it?”
Rockwell’s right hand is in the twelve o’clock position on the steering wheel. He looks over his arm at me and shakes his head. “It wasn’t hard to get it out of your house. But it’s been impossible to get it out of mine.”
I sputter a laugh. “What happened?”
“It bolted inside the same way it did when I opened your door. The thing is fast. It jumped on the kitchen counter to the top of the fridge and onto the top of my cabinets. I’m telling you, that cat has issues.”
“I’m sure it’s cold and hungry.”
“Wait until you see it. You might change your mind.”
I chuckle and we fall into a weird silence. I know it’s time to apologize again. “I’m sorry about me and my friends. We should have cleared things up with your mom.” I’ve read enough fake dating books to know it always backfires.
Rock nods. “It’s fine.”
“I haven’t seen her this happy in years.” I’m not justifying my stupidity. Wait, yes I am. Did Rockwell even know how hard life has been for her? And well before the stroke too. I know she visits him a lot, but it’s easy to put on a good face for a few days.
Rockwell sighs. “I’ll explain everything to her tomorrow. Don’t even worry about it.”
I run my hands against the smooth sides of the seat. “Please, be gentle.”
Rockwell looks at me again. “What do you mean?”
“Smile when you deliver the news. Say it like you aren’t eliminating all her hopes and dreams.”
Rock’s grip shifts to his other hand, and he sets his elbow on the console. When he looks at me this time, his head is closer and I can’t look away. “You do realize her dreams consist of you and me married with five kids.”
My eyes widen. His mom and I have the same dream? I choke on air and cough into my hand.
“You think I’m joking? I’m serious. For her to be deliriously happy, we’d have to live next door to her until we’re all buried together in Bearwood cemetery.”
I don’t really see a problem with this scenario. Except for the glaringly obvious one sitting next to me. “Yeah, that’s crazy.” And freakin’ adorable. I leave out the last part because Rockwell might swerve and crash his beautiful car.
“See why I’ll have to be direct with my mom?”
“Sort of.”
He raises his brow, highlighting his big soul-filled brown eyes, even in the dark. “What do you mean?”
“She’s a sensitive woman, especially right now. She deserves some happiness at Christmas.”
“So you want me to lie to her? Tell her we’re seeing each other?”
“No, but you don’t have to sound so disgusted by it.”
“About lying?”
“About dating me.” I can tell he isn’t interested in dating me, but the weak side of me wants to know howuninterested he is. So I don’t sound like I’m fishing, I quickly add, “You did it once, and you didn’t seem so averse to it then . . .”
Rockwell’s jaw visibly clenches, and his hands tighten on the steering wheel. I force my eyes on the dark road out his windshield, regretting every word. Heavy air fills the space between us, and it threatens to smother me.
“Come on, Brie,” Rockwell’s frustrated tone breaks the silence. “What guy wouldn’t want to date you? You’re gorgeous, talented, full of life. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
I flick my eyes to his, but his gaze remains on the road. It’s a relief he’s not looking, or he’d witness me melting next to him. I no longer need the seat heaters. In fact, I’m sure my face is on fire. Oblivious to my reaction, Rockwell shakes his head. “It’s not you as much as it’s Bearwood and all that comes with it. To be honest, I’m not interested in having a girlfriend right now.”
I tuck all those delicious compliments away to replay later on repeat and address the heart of the issue. “Why does Bearwood bother you so much? You loved it here.”
