Rowan takes a swig of his beer. Sure, he’s drunk and soon, I will be too. But I haven’t seen muscles fill out a shirt so perfectly since the day I met Theodore Reed, and everything about the place my mind goes right now seems really wrong. That’s what makes turning toward him so my leg rests against his seem so right. I’m due for anepicmistake.
His eyes shift to my bare leg for a prolonged second as a smile grows behind the neck of the amber bottle paused at his lips. “Well, I like the name Scarlet, but not nearly as much as I like the way you say it.”
“And how do I say it?”
“Gah!” he says with exasperation as he presses his beer to his chest, head thrown back. “Just like that. Don’t stop talking. I could listen to you forever.”
I laugh, a real, honest, spontaneous laugh that feels so damn good. “My housemate doesn’t agree.”
“Well, she’s crazy.”
My head shakes as I swallow my sip of wine. “He. My housemate is a bloke.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Hahaha! No. He seems pretty angry that I’m using up some of the oxygen on Earth.”
“He’s a prick, then.”
Sucking in a breath, I prepare to agree with him but at the last moment this foreign emotion prevents my words from forming.
Protective.
I feel protective of Theo. He is a prick and so much worse, but I don’t like Rowan saying it.
“He’s… troubled. But he’s also so amazing. You should see him work. He’s a carpenter, and everything he touches turns into the most beautiful creation.” I take another drink of wine then my finger traces the rim of the glass. “Sometimes I watch him when he doesn’t know I’m watching him. He’s an artist. I love how his hands skim over a newly-sanded piece of wood, the subtle nod he gives himself when he’s satisfied with something he’s done, or the way he sits back on his heels while kneeling on the floor, worrying his upper lip between his teeth while he contemplates his next move.”
Rowan puts his empty bottle down and grabs my legs, scooting my stool closer to his, so his legs cage my knees. “So he’s a talented prick, but if he doesn’t treat you well…” he leans forward until his lips brush my ear “…then he’s still a prick.”
I shake my head, intensifying the heavy fog seeping into my brain from one glass of wine. “He’s just… he’s…” I continue to shake my head as I pull away and drop some money on the bar. “I have to go. It was nice to meet you.”
“Wait.” Rowan pays for his drink and follows me out of the bar. “Where are you going?”
“My house.” I continue to make my way to the beach.
“Scarlet, I thought we had a connection.”
His hand clasps my arm, stopping my momentum.
Run, Scarlet!
“Please don’t.”
“I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to talk.”
My narrowed eyes attempt to focus on his hand still gripping my arm. Now who’s the prick? “If you’re not going to hurt me then why are you gripping my arm so tightly?”
He chuckles. “Sorry. If I let go, promise not to run?”
My heart screams, “Giddy-up!” Adrenaline dances in my veins.
“If you don’t let her go, some early morning jogger will find the remnants of your dead body washed up on the beach after I bloody you up and feed your pathetic fucking ass to the sharks.”
Theodore.
I don’t have to look back to know that my housemate must look quite intimidating because Rowan releases me and stumbles backwards like he can’t get out of here fast enough.
“Three… two…” Theo’s voice jabs through the air.
