Chapter Seventeen
Millie
Rowan: Want to hang out tonight?
Istare at my lit-up screen for at least a full minute before answering him.
Me: You never answered my question…
Rowan: That’s because I would rather show you.
I chuckle to myself as I look at the clock. It’s almost eleven at night. I look down at my pj’s that are covered in pink iced donuts and giggle even more.
I’m sure he’s out celebrating his big win.
Yes, I looked it up.
No, I never cared before, but can you blame a girl? Rowan Pierce fascinates me in a lot of ways, including him being the reason for my newfound fascination with hockey.
I hold my phone up and snap a quick picture of me lying in bed, in my pj’s and all their donut glory. I only let myself look at it for a split second before sending it to him, not letting myself overanalyze if I look good or not.
Me: Not really dressed for going out…
Rowan: Are those donuts?
Me: Yes. You got a problem with that?
Rowan: No, I just have a sudden craving for a sweet treat…
His response leaves me stunned and a little breathless.
I can’t tell if he’s flirting with me or not.
I’ve never flirted with a boy before, is this what it’s like?
Sexual innuendos that feel like more and have your core tightening with anticipation?
Because that’s exactly what’s happening right now.
I roll onto my stomach, my knees bent and my feet up in the air. I’m trying to think of my response but before I can send it a picture comes through.
And Oh. My. Goodness. It’s Rowan Pierce in all of his fine, fine glory.
His hair is swooped back off his face in long waves.
It looks like he’s sitting in his car, but I can’t tell for sure because the background is pretty dark, but his eyes are still bright and piercing even in the dark.
The green sucks me in and has my core clenching with desire.
Rowan: Don’t you want to see this face?
I’m too busy looking at his pretty face to respond so he sends another text.
Rowan: Do I have to beg? Because I will.
He sends another picture, this one just as appealing as the first. His bottom lip is puckered out like he’s pouting. A look that I didn’t know I would like on him, but I find I like it very, very much.
Rowan: Pretty please, Daredevil.
His please snaps me out of my daydream, one where Rowan Pierce shows me just how much he’s willing to beg.
Me: Put the lip away, dreamboat.
Rowan: Is that a yes?
Me: It’s a maybe, I have one condition…
Rowan: Name it.
I nibble my bottom lip, worried that sneaking out might not be the best decision I’ve ever made but I want to go. Dang it, man. Am I really doing this? As soon as I ask myself the question, I’m already answering it with my text.
Me: You have to pick me up
Rowan: That’s it? That feels too easy.
Me: What did you think it was going to be?
I giggle, suddenly very excited to do something that I’ve never even considered before but most teenagers have done at least once in their lives.
Rowan: IDK, figured you were going to have me scaling walls or some shit to get to you.
Rowan: Which I would do btw, just needed to know if I needed to change my pants before coming and getting you.
I laugh at how damn silly he is.
Me: Why on earth would you need to change your pants?
Rowan: For flexibility and breathability of course
That really has me cracking up. I giggle so hard my chest tightens up and I have to stop because the pull feels uncomfortable on my scar.
Me: I’m pretty easy to please, Pierce. No spiderman moves required.
Rowan: I know you are, Millie. It’s one of the things I like most about you. See you in 10.
My head pops up, my eyes finding the clock in my bedroom. Then I look down at my pajamas. There’s no way I can be ready that soon.
Me: Give me 15 and I’ll meet you outside. My parents are already asleep.
I don’t wait for his response as I throw my phone down on the bed. I don’t have a minute to spare if I’m going to look halfway decent for the hockey god headed my way.
I tiptoe down the hallway. Careful to step over the old wood planks that are too loud and will creak under my weight. I’ve never snuck out before because I’ve never had to. I don’t think my parents would necessarily be upset that I was going out but there would definitely be questions.
Is it serious with this boy?
Do we need to worry?
Will you be safe?
All valid questions but I don’t have the answer to at least one of them. I’m trying to not overthink this, even though I’m so far out of my comfort zone that I can no longer see it in my rearview mirror.
I push down my nerves and head for the front door. I stop mid-step and make an abrupt turn and instead I head straight for the kitchen.
I go to the junk drawer and pull out a notepad and scribble out a message for my parents in case they wake up in the middle of the night and find me gone. I’m not trying to send them into a full-blown panic or have the cops called.
If they wake up, they will find the note here in the kitchen, if they don’t then I’ll trash the note as soon as I get home and they are none the wiser. I leave the note out where it’s easily seen and then turn to make my way back down the hallway and to the front door.
I only hesitate for a second before I open the door and step out, quietly closing it behind me.
“You sneaking out, Daredevil?” His rich velvet voice floats over me like a warm blanket and causes a shiver to run up my spine.
I turn around and find him right behind me on the step. So close I can feel his breath skate across my cheek when he says, “Is this on your list too?”
“What? Sneaking out?” I ask with a whisper, still worried I’m going to wake my parents up.
There’s something thrilling about sneaking out into the night though.
A zing courses through my body at the prospect of getting caught, even though I’m technically an adult, it still feels like I’m being a sneaky teenager.
“Yeah, but you know the proper way to do it, is to go out your window," he says as he reaches down and threads his fingers through mine and gently tugs me down the stairs to his waiting truck. His touch elicits a zap of electricity that goes up my arm and straight to my core.
“That just seems silly when you can use the door,” I answer almost breathlessly.
“But that’s no fun and a sure way to get caught.” His smirk tells me he’s no stranger to sneaking out and probably getting caught too.
“You speaking from experience?”
“I’ve been known to climb through a window or two.”
“Your window? Or someone else’s?” I ask playfully, not even thinking about how his answer may make me feel.
He laughs good-naturedly and raises his eyebrows suggestively. “Not just mine.”
He doesn’t say anything more but the implication that it wasn’t just his window leaves too much room for my mind to wander. Does that mean he’s climbed out of girl’s bedrooms too? I suddenly don’t want to know anymore about Rowan Pierce’s window hopping adventures so I change the subject.
“Where are we going?”
He lets go of my hand, only to open the passenger door for me. He leans against the door frame as I slide into the truck.
“It’s a surprise.”
I laugh, not at all surprised by his answer. “You seem to like those an awful lot. Your last surprise had me sore for two days.”
He waggles his eyebrows, “Had you thinking about me the whole time, didn’t it?”
I shake my head and huff with amusement. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
He leans down, his face mere inches from mine when he answers, “You don’t have to tell me, Daredevil. I already know the answer.”
I think he’s going to kiss me because he leans even closer.
I feel heat radiating from his chest, his breath once again skates across my cheeks.
I close my eyes in anticipation, my heart pounding in my chest. My palms grow sweaty and just when I think his lips are about to touch mine I hear the click of my seatbelt locking into place.
My eyes fly open as I once again misread his intentions.
My cheeks flame red hot in embarrassment.
He’s still so close, his body hovers over mine in the seat.
His eyes scan my face so slowly, like he’s taking in every beauty mark, every imperfection.
My breath halts in my lungs as I hold perfectly still during his inspection.
I finally release my breath when his eyes find mine.
He watches me for what feels like an eternity, his pupils dilated so wide that I can barely see the pretty green of his irises. I feel transfixed in the moment, like time has been suspended and it’s only him and me in the world.
My lips part from the intensity of the moment and I watch as his eyes widen with the movement right before he says, “you’re so damn beautiful, Millie.”
His words have my heartbeat shooting off into a breakneck speed, my pulse pounding just beneath my skin.
Maybe I wasn’t wrong. Maybe he does want to kiss me. I practically beg him with my eyes, pleading for him to make the first move and squelch this burning inferno deep in my core that only he has been able to ignite.
He clears his throat and backs away. I feel the loss of him immediately, practically screaming on the inside for him to come back but he doesn’t.
He closes my door and walks around the front before sliding into the driver’s seat with an easy-going smile, like nothing happened. No heated stares, no lingering looks.
Did I just freaking imagine that?
I feel so stupid. I mentally slap myself on the forehead as Rowan cranks the car and pulls out onto the street.
This was a mistake. I can’t do this. I can’t just be friends with him.
I’m having a full-blown internal freak out and Rowan seems to not have a care in the world when he asks me if I’m hungry.
“What?”
He looks over, his eyebrows pull together briefly before smoothing out. “Are you hungry? I ate before I came but we can stop somewhere if you want—”