Chapter 42
Water
Need water.
My eyes flutter open to the sight of said glorious water and a Gatorade on my bedside table, and it hits me square in the chest that Rowan really came through for me last night. He could’ve left but he didn’t. Instead, he took care of me and Hollie, and he must have slept in my living room.
I sit up at the edge of my bed and get my bearings. The sound of Hollie’s laughter echoes down the hallway along with the sound of SuperPets . The episode where Power Piggy leads the crew in a dance party on the beach to celebrate World Nature Day.
I pick up the glass and chug my water. The faint growl of my stomach tells me I’m done being sick, and by the sound of Hollie’s energetic chatter, so is she. I grab my fleece robe and put it on, noting that my fever has broken too. I take my time washing my face and brushing my teeth, making myself feel semi human, then I approach the kitchen.
“Not like that!” Hollie giggles hysterically, and I slow my pace just to listen when neither of them knows I’m here yet.
“I’m not doing it right?” I hear Rowan ask.
More giggles from Hollie.
“No, you say, ‘everybody stomp your feet!’ and I say, ‘ come on, pet friends, jump up for the earf .’”
I suppress a giggle as I peek around the corner and see Hollie in little miss bossy mode wearing her superhero cape and glasses, and Rowan wearing a pair of Hollie’s sunglasses and one of my throw blankets secured around his shoulders like his own makeshift cape. Hollie has her toy microphone and Rowan has a wooden spoon.
Rowan rewinds the show a few minutes and the two of them stand side by side. Rowan looks down at her. “Okay, I got it, you ready?”
Hollie nods. “I was ready before.”
I snort back laughter as Rowan chuckles and presses play.
“Come on, everyone, clap your hands as loud as you can!” Rowan sings.
“Evewybody, do your part, find the love in your heart!” Hollie sings.
Both of them jump to the side, put one arm out just like the TV pets and sing together “Shout out for the earth, now LET’S GET LOUD!” they call out, pumping their fists before they both start to jump around.
Hollie jumps up onto the ottoman. “Come on, pet friends, jump up for the earf!”
“Everybody stomp your feet!” Rowan sings, and both of them proceed to stomp until Hollie falls over in fits of laughter as Rowan improvises really, really terrible dance moves.
It's fucking adorable.
I start a slow clap as I enter the room with what I’m sure is a fairly lovesick look on my face.
Rowan spins around; he looks ridiculous, but this might be the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. I start to laugh at the adorable sight that greets me, Rowan makes a surprised face at Hollie.
“Mommy is awake!” he says, reaching his arms out, she jumps into them and he carries her toward me with the same kind of ease I do, propping her on his hip.
“You’re quite the duet,” I tell him with a slow smile. He shrugs and looks down at Hollie.
“Just getting ready for her big night,” he says.
Troy is picking Hollie up in two days to drive to Seattle for SuperPets so I’m relieved she’s feeling better.
“We cut you up some fruit and Hollie said she’s going to make you peanut butter toast fingers.” He comes toward me and Hollie reaches her arms out.
“It helped her tummy last night,” he says. “Just a twelve-hour bug or something,” he adds. I swallow down my emotion as I take her from him and she clings to me in a tight hug, Rowan stops in front of me and takes his neon orange glasses off then traces a thumb over my cheek. “Glad you’re feeling better, Mommy.” He smirks then nods, starting to walk toward the kitchen.
“Toast time, Hols!” he says.
Hollie struggles free from my arms
“Coming!” she says, and I oblige, setting her down. She runs to Rowan and grabs his hand as they enter the kitchen together.
As I sit at the table and watch them make my toast together, chatting easily about Hollie’s favorite Disney princesses, I realize how good this man is, good to his core.
As he and Hollie place my breakfast in front of me, it hits me that I’ve been lying to myself. I can tell myself whatever I want but I am, in fact dating a hotshot and worse than that? I’m definitely falling in love with him.