“Did you have fun?” Isa asks. “Was he like…” She bounces her eyebrows twice.
Lana gapes and slaps Isabelle’s shoulder. “Are you seriously asking if he has a big dick?”
Isabelle gasps and rubs her shoulder. “What? I can’t ask?”
I roll my eyes and punch the dough. “I’m not talking about Rowan’s dick size right now. I just…I’m unwell.”
“Because of the sex?” Lana’s brows pinch with a tilt of a head.
“Yes,” I squeak. “What don’t you guys understand?”
“All of it?” Isabelle huffs. “I mean, you’ve both been bickering since teenagers, he’s always been by your side, and he’s obsessed with you. You basically walk him like a dog.”
I freeze, gaping before I turn to gape at her. “I don’t walk him like a dog!”
“Well…”
“Lana.”
“What?”
I sigh. “Do I? I treat him that badly?”
“I wouldn’t sayterribly,” Isa says, sounding cautious of her words. “I just mean…it’s sometimes like you want him to hate you.”
“I do,” I admit quietly. “Sometimes.”
“Nat,” Lana says sadly. “Why?” She stands from the chair and comes to my side to rest her head on my shoulder, her arms wrapping around mine.
“It’s easier to keep him at arm’s length,” I murmur. “I don’t want him to get hurt.”
“You haven’t given him a chance, Natty.” Isabelle stands and come over to join our group hug, as my two best friends give me firm, comforting touches.
“You know,” Lana says softly, “Christian once apologized for bleeding on me when I wasn’t the one cutting him; I was the one stitching him and giving him the Band-Aids.”
There’s silence that follows her statement, allowing what she means to settle.
“I think you’re scared of bleeding on Rowan,” she continues. “But I think you know, better than anyone, that Rowan is the man who gives Band-Aids to everyone. He would stitch up everyone if he could.”
“He shouldn’t have to stitch me up,” I say.
“No, you’re right,” Lana says, her hands squeezing reassuringly. “But he will still try to.”
“And even if you don’t want him to,” Isa chimes in, “he will want to. No matter what. That’s who he is. I mean, he literally does so much community service I’m still in shock.”
I huff a laugh.
Rowan doesa lotfor this town. He donates meals to the shelter, he’s helped so many people with jobs in his restaurant or has worked his ass off to find them a job. Don’t get me started on the things he does for the children hospital in the city. And that isn’t even all of it.
“I’m not like him,” I rasp.
“You know that doesn’t matter,” Isa counters. “And so what?”
“Lana and Christian are alike.”
Lana cackles. “Only in a few ways, Nat. We aren’t perfect.”
But they look it.
