Chapter 9 #2
“Yeah, but also, not missing out on my chance to drive this great Tesla.”
“It's a Polestar.”
She shrugged, her nose scrunched up. “It's white. Can you move? I need to sit down.”
Despite my better judgement I climbed over the central console and sank into the passenger's seat. Rosie dropped into the driver's seat, unbothered by my sweat stuck on the leather.
“Gosh, I hate running. Can't believe you made me run... no… sprint... after you.”
“I thought dancers were athletes,” I arched a brow and felt the side of my lip lift in a half smile.
She rested her head on the headrest and flashed me a sweet smile. Gosh, I loved her smile. It made me feel all warm on the inside. And the way she looked at me, it was like she wanted me.
“Hi,” Rosie whispered, her eyes searching my face.
“Hi,” I said back, not even noticing how easily we slipped into our roles despite the elephant in the room. But no matter how we left it, this girl ran after me to make sure I was okay.
“Where do you want to go?” she asked, looking for a way to start my car.
I would have found it funny if I weren’t concerned for the safety of myself and my baby, aka my car.
“Press and hold the brake pedal,” I pointed at her foot. “You know which one it is?”
She nodded and pressed it.
“Now move the gear to D.”
She followed my instructions, and the car started rolling forward.
“Where to?” she asked again, as she slowly made her way to exit from the parking lot.
“Just drive,” I shrugged. “That was my goal, to just drive.”
Rosie furrowed her brows for a second and nodded. She never adjusted the mirrors or the seat, so she looked uncomfortable as hell reaching the pedal and seeing out of the car.
“Hey, Thorn... do you even have a license?” I asked after she turned onto the road, but drove in the opposite lane.
“Yeah, of course,” she muttered. “Aaron never lets me drive, though, but I got my license when I was sixteen.”
“How many times have you driven since then?” I asked, keeping my voice cool, as she took a sharp turn. “Okay, stop the car!”
Rosalie slammed on the brakes, and I pressed the button to turn on all four lights. “We're switching.”
“No, come on...” she groaned. “Just help me fix the seat, and I'll be fine. Should have started with that, you're taller...”
This girl was going to be the death of me. Not figuratively but literally. Yet despite my better judgement I adjusted her seat and the mirrors, and within minutes she looked more comfortable.
“Just try to stay in the lane on the right and drive through the town onto the main road, and just follow it. Around twenty minutes from here, there is a Supercharge and a drive-through; we can go there.”
Rosie nodded and started driving again. As time passed, I gradually relaxed, and by the time we made it to the main road, I was 70% sure I would survive the trip.
“Look, there are cows,” she muttered, looking through the side window, and I couldn't help my spiking anxiety, but grabbed the wheel.
“If you want to look, look, but keep your hands steady,” I lectured with a groan, but she only grinned at me.
I never breathed out a longer breath than I did when she parked at the supercharger.
“We'll walk through the drive-through,” I decided, making her laugh.
“You feel better?” she asked when the car was parked and turned to face me.
Tilting my head, I nodded. “Surprisingly, your shitty driving really diverted my attention.”
“Good, because I can't do it again,” Rosie let out a long laugh.
“Yeah, I couldn't let you drive again,” I shook my head as she laughed.
“No...” she laughed harder, but instead of finishing her sentence, she moved my car into drive again and executed a perfect parallel parking onto the supercharger, fixing the previous atrocity she had done. “No, I couldn't fake being a bad driver any longer.”
“You're horrible,” I muttered, my heart hammering in my chest. “I thought I might die.”
“It allowed your mind rest,” Rosie retorted. “If you had been at peace, your mind would have been racing. Like this, you focused on only one thing. My driving.”
A grateful smile tugged on my lips, and I couldn't believe she just did that to me. I was impressed and scared at the same time. And so fucking grateful.
“Come on,” she opened the door. “I need ice cream.”
Within an hour, we finished two cheeseburgers and ice cream, and I kept admiring Rosie’s beautiful face as she slumped back in the passenger seat, her long legs resting on my dashboard.
We talked about everything and nothing. Not once did she ask about the game, nor did she bring up the kiss, and the whole last week when we didn't talk.
There were moments she wanted to, the way her eyes scanned my face, her lips parted to speak, but she would always end up closing her mouth and shaking her head.
I reached for my car display and switched the playlist to her 'If You're Still Listening’ one.
“You know... I was surprised you included an actual Taylor Swift song on your sacred playlist,” I said, pushing play on 'This is Me Trying'. Out of the whole playlist, that song was the most Rosalie-coded.
“Guess, this is me trying,” she shrugged, leaning her head against the headrest. “I'm really sorry for how I reacted. I just didn’t want to complicate your life.
But at the same time... I love spending time with you.
It feels so easy and natural, like you know me really well.
You understand me, and that's rare to find.
I'm scared to lose you as a friend, but at the same time, I'm lowkey dying to find out how it feels to kiss you.”
Her cheeks turned pink from the confession, and all the broken pieces from my heart slowly came together, listening to her words.
“Rosie,” I reached out, forcing her to look at me as I palmed her flushed cheeks. “You are the only one in my life who doesn't complicate things.”
“But Aaron...” she reminded me of her brother, and I was well aware my teammate would be less than excited over the prospect of anything happening between us, but I didn't really care.
I owed him nothing. “I don't want you to have a harder time on the field than you already have just because I like you.”
“I like you too,” I admitted quietly. “I think I liked you from the first time you showed up with cupcakes to support my recovery.”
Rosalie smiled at the memory. “I was on my baking kick.”
“Sure,” I laughed. “Nova told me you fussed over those cupcakes like your life depended on it. And you still used pink frosting, so I wouldn't suspect it.”
She shrugged. “I was being subtle. In case you haven't noticed, I didn't know how to play this game. You were supposed to teach me.”
“Oh, honey, you have a lot of game.” I shook my head. “And trust me, the last thing I want is you practicing on anyone else.”
Challenge lit up her eyes as she leaned in closer. “Are you implying that you're going to be my...”
“Whatever.” I rushed to her help. “I'll be whatever you need me to be. Friend. Lover. Boyfriend. V-card holder. Anything.”
The wheels in her mind turned, and she slowly nodded. “Okay... but I don't want Aaron to find out. Not until... We figured this out first. Just you and me.”
I nodded. “Agree.”
“Okay,” Rosie graced me with a sweet smile, and leaning in, she brushed a kiss onto my cheeks.
I slid my hand to the back of her head and didn't let her go too far. “You know you can do more than just a little peck?” I teased her and watched as her cheeks flushed.
“I know, but baby steps,” she muttered, nervously biting her lip.
Letting my hand fall from her face, she settled back into her seat and pulled her legs under her and leveled me with a look.
It was my turn to feel uncomfortable as I followed the flick of her eyes to my phone, which was lighting up every couple of minutes.
“They are going to send out a search party soon if you don't answer.”
It's only been two hours since the game. I was allowed time. But clearly, my friends thought I was being unreasonable. I haven't gotten that many missed calls... like ever.
“Let's talk about the real elephant in the room,” she nodded at me. “What happened out there?”
My heart hammered against my ribs, and I had to look away from her, staring at the other cars in the parking lot to occupy my racing mind.
“I was a liability,” I muttered slowly. “And despite them letting me play, I was scared of getting too close, scared of any real contact.
And then Max scored the goal that he didn't need to.
He could have passed it to me and given me a chance.
It's what I do. I'm the striker, I score.
Maybe I sucked at positioning and getting too close, but I was right there.
It sucks he didn't trust me enough on this.”
“How's the knee?” she asked.
Turning back to face her, surprise crossed her face before she smiled.
“You didn't even think about it?” she asked, and I nodded.
“Doesn't bother me at all. It was a bit tender after all the running, but not more than usual.”
“Good.” Rosie seemed pleased with my answers. “So, what do you want to do now?”
What did I want to do? I wanted to go back to the field and shoot free kicks until I didn't miss one, but I knew that wasn't the problem.
It was the contact and the positioning. I needed to be able to get up close and personal with others without the fear of something happening. That was my main challenge.
“How about a movie?” I asked, nodding towards my display.
“As much as I'm very impressed with your new car,” Rosie said. “I think we should go back.”
She must have seen my face fall, because she reached out, grabbing my hand. “But I'll stay with you.”
“Can we go to the field for a bit?” I asked quietly, suddenly feeling shy and stupid. “I just want to...”
“Yes,” Rosie nodded. “Want me to drive, or are you okay driving?”
If I wasn't already falling for this girl, that question would have pushed me over the edge and fallen in the fastest freefall in history.