He hummed in agreement.
“Are you sure?”
This time there was no reply. I lay back down and stroked my fingers over his hairline. My eyes grew heavy, and I stifled a yawn. Something deep down niggled at me, warning me not to let Rowan stay the night, but a much larger part longed to feel his hot, firm body next to mine. Before I’d even truly comprehended it, I’d fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
When I stirred, it was still dark. I frowned and rubbed my eyes.
“Fuck. Sorry, Max. I’ve got to go,” Rowan whispered to me, leaping from the bed.
I craned my neck back to look at my alarm clock. Two minutes past five. “Shit, yeah. Get yourself home.”
He leant over me, the bed creaking beneath his weight, and he pressed a kiss to my mouth.
“Message me to let me know everything is okay,” I mumbled, still half asleep.
“I will.”
I lay in bed, listening as Rowan rushed about in the lounge getting dressed. I heard the front door open then shut, and I sighed heavily. I couldn’t wait for the day that Rowan could stay here with me without a care. I wondered if he was going to be in trouble when he got home, or if Christina would have even noticed.
I must have fallen back to sleep, because before I knew it, I was rousing again, but this time light was pouring in around the edges of my blind. I rubbed my hand down my face and glanced back at the clock. Nine forty-three – a much more reasonable hour.
Worry for Rowan overcame me suddenly, and I snatched my phone off my bedside table. There was no message from him, but there was one from Teegan.
TEEGAN: Hey Max, sorry to be a bother but are you still with my dad?
My stomach lurched. How did she know? I hurriedly read the next message.
TEEGAN: He said you and the guys from work were taking him out for a meal, but it’s gone midnight and he’s still not home. Me and mum are a bit worried.
Okay, panic over. He’d obviously told them he was going out last night but had used work as a cover. Smart. I nibbled my lip as I debated how to answer Teegan.
MAX: Good morning, sorry it was a bit of a late one last night. We all got to talking, and you know how it is. Hope he’s home now?
I waited a few moments for a reply, but none came. I locked my phone and threw the sheets off me, startling when there was a loud bang against the floorboards. I glanced down, chuckling as I spotted the plug. Guess I must have forgotten about it. I snatched it up off the floor and headed to the bathroom – me and the plug desperately needed a wash.
A few hours passed by, and I still hadn’t heard from Rowan. I held off messaging him for as long as I could, but eventually worry and curiosity got the better of me.
MAX: Hope everything is okay x
No reply came, so I busied myself tidying up the flat and watching TV. Oliver returned home late afternoon, but it was only a flying visit as he gathered some clothes to return to Becca’s with. It gave me a real warm feeling in my heart, seeing them both so happy together. I wasn’t one for playing matchmaker usually, but they really were perfect for each other, y’know, now Oliver had pulled his head out of his arse. I wondered if, one day, they’d move in together. I presumed Oliver would move into Becca’s, rather than us all sharing this place. The queue for the single bathroom was bad enough as it was with just Oliver and I, never mind adding a woman into the mix.
What would happen to me if Oliver moved out, I wondered. Would Rowan have sorted his shit out by then? Would we be able to move in together? Rowan earned a great wage, that much was obvious. Maybe I could finally move away from this part of town with him to help me with a share of the rent? I sighed wistfully. There was nothing I’d love more than to wake up next to him every day.
My phone buzzed and I snatched it eagerly, breathing a sigh of relief when I saw it was from Rowan. I opened the message.
ROWAN: Can we meet?
Uh oh. Something about that message sent a chill down my spine. I was torn between agreeing and desperately wanting to avoid whatever was coming my way. I tapped out a reply.
MAX: Of course. Where? Is everything alright? x
ROWAN: Meet me at work. I’ll explain later.
No kisses and meeting at work. My stomach turned over, heart thundering. Something was wrong. I quickly shoved a hoodie on and stepped into my trainers. I snatched my keys from the side and hurried out to the bus stop. Rowan would certainly get to work quicker than I would.
The journey passed in a blur, my mind running in circles. I hoped everything was alright, but I had a horrible feeling I was about to have my nightmares realised. I felt a lump in my throat, just thinking about Rowan and I having to go separate ways. I shook my head. No, it wasn’t worth spiralling over this just yet. I needed to see him, to hear him out. I was sure as soon as I laid my eyes on him, I’d know one way or the other.
