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Matt
It’s hard to read the expression on Rowan’s face, because, while it looks like she’s probably been crying, the tears are dry, and her brow furrows in confusion when she meets my face outside her front door.
“Hi,” I say.
“What are you doing here?” she asks. I open my mouth to respond, but she rattles on, bowling over me. “Are you here to fuck up the rest of my life?” she demands, face growing red with anger. “Sorry, Matt, nobody is here to help you and Dereck take me out, okay? Try Carly, I’m sure she’d be more than happy to plan her revenge on me again.”
I smile, because I can’t help it. Rowan is fucking adorable when she’s angry. And if I focus too hard on the silky red hair that cascades down the front of her chest and the fiery, emerald eyes she’s trying to burn me with from the inside out, I get a hard-on and can’t focus on the real reason I’m here.
“Why in the hell are you smiling?” Rowan shouts, seething. She glances back over her shoulder, and I realize she must have company. Is it another man? Jason? Jamie?
“I didn’t realize you had anyone here. Sorry to interrupt.” I take a step back, mind sparking with curiosity. But at that moment, the stranger comes to the door, approaching right behind Rowan.
“Who is it, honey?” the woman says, and I meet her gaze over Rowan’s shoulder.
“It’s nobody, Mom. He was just leaving.”
“Nonsense,” Rowan’s mom says with a flap of her hand. “I was actually just about to leave; I have to take lunch to your father at work.”
“No, honestly, Mom, you can stay,” Rowan says, and I’m pleased to hear a hint of panic in her voice. As Rowan’s mom shrugs her coat on, I step back up to the door, smiling still. I recognize Rowan’s mom–Cindy, I think is her name–but I highly doubt she remembers me.
“Matthew, right?” she says, stepping around Rowan and onto the front porch. Under the warmth of my hooded sweatshirt, heat rises on my skin, making me itch.
“Yes, that’s right,” I say, offering my hand. “I’m surprised you remember me.”
“It’s hard to forget the little boy that drove my child to depression,” Cindy says quietly. But even with her words, there’s a kindness in her eyes. An understanding. Instead of taking my hand, she leans in and wraps her arms around me in a motherly hug. “It’s also hard to forget the men who called me the night it all happened to tell me that you’d hurt Rowan, and she might be upset.”
“What are you talking about, Mom?” Rowan demands. Cindy looks over her shoulder at Rowan, pain etched across her face. “I never told you because I never thought it was relevant. You didn’t need any more reminders. But the reason we came home early from our date that night is because the boys called me and told me what happened. They said you might be upset, and someone should keep an eye on you.”
Rowan looks from her mother to me, brow furrowing in confusion, bottom lip pulled between her teeth to chew on it.
“I didn’t know that,” she says quietly, and the pain in her voice is so overwhelming I think I might be nauseous.
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter, does it?” I mutter. “We were still the reason you did it to begin with.”
Rowan says nothing to this, but Cindy steps forward and rests a hand on my shoulder, squeezing.
“You’ve grown up, Matthew. I anticipate you’ll treat my daughter now like the woman she is and not like the little girl you all bullied.”
Hurt tightens once again, but I know her intention is not to spew hatred. She’s willing to give me another chance.
But is Rowan?
“Also, I’m so sorry about your mom, Matt. I heard about the progression of her cancer.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Bates.”
“Please, call me Cindy.”
“Jesus, Mom!” Behind Cindy, Rowan throws her hands in the air in exasperation. “Why don’t you just adopt him, okay? I’m sure dad will love him.”
“He probably would,” Cindy whispers to me before she turns to hug her daughter. “Talk soon, baby girl.” Her eyes travel to me. “Play nice, you two.”
Silence settles over the front porch as Rowan and I watch her mother drive away. I feel better about coming here, if only for that reason. Rowan, however, looks like she’d rather throat-punch me than invite me in.
“Can I talk to you, please?” I ask, stepping towards the door. Rowan’s lip curls in a sneer, freckled nose scrunching.
“Piss off, Matt.” She starts to close the door in my face, but I’m too quick for her. My foot shoots out and jams the door open, forcing her back.
