He huffs. “Is that why you needed to hear me say something insensitive again? So you could pretend you actually mean that?”
“It’ll make things easier for both of us,” I continue, ignoring him. “I’m going to get dressed. Be ready by the time I get back.”
I dry my cheeks when I get to my bedroom and slip into some jeans and a Camellia High FFA Chapter hoodie. Rowan is waiting at the door by the time I return, rubbing his right eye again. Because he’s still missing a contact lens. And now I feel even more foolish, since he probably couldn’t see much of me in those shorts in the firstplace.
He bids the dogs goodbye while I turn to grab my keys and purse, and I click my tongue in annoyance when the keyring is missing from the hook where I left it.
“They’re in the car,” he calls out from the open door.
I glare at him and walk out to my Bronco, unable to hide my irritation when I discover it’s already warm and toasty inside, courtesy of the chivalrous asshole in the passenger’s seat. We’re both quiet on the drive over to Landry’s dad’s house, and I take out my aggression on the shifter, jerking the car to a stop when I throw it into park.
Rowan lets out a loud exhale. “You’re not going to drive off as soon as I step outside, are you?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
“It’s too bad I can’t call Tiana for a ride,” he says, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Then again, I don’t think she’d approve of what we’ve become.”
I snort. “There is nowe, at least not in Camellia.”
“Yeah,” he says on another long sigh, as if he’s not the one who made that point abundantly clear last night. “I’ll be right back.”
I distract myself with my phone as he goes to knock on the door. This time, Coach Reed appears to let him inside, and I send Daisy a text while I wait.
Claire
Good morning, Mrs. Reed. How was that wedding cake?
It takes a minute for her to reply, but a giggle bursts forth as soon as I read her message.
Daisy
Best. Cake. Ever.
I’ve already informed my husband that I’ll be expecting a piece in bed every night. Luckily, he’s assured me that it would be his pleasure to continue serving cake on a nightly basis.
Claire
I love you. Don’t ever change.
“Weren’t you supposed to leave me stranded with Coach Sunshine?”
I wince at the sound of Rowan’s voice, and he stares at me as he plops down onto the passenger seat.
“Yeah, well, I couldn’t let you interrupt the newlyweds. From what I hear, your sister’s waited long enough for this,” I reply, though the bitterness in my tone is forced. He places the stack of borrowed clothes in the back seat, leaving a strong sense of dread and regret to settle in my stomach.
“Whatever the reason, I’m still grateful,” he says quietly, his hand covering mine, and I finally glance up at him.
“Thank you, Claire,” he adds. I swallow hard as I brace myself to withstand the warm, fuzzy feelings he’s sure to stir up. Those glasses he’s wearing and the light stubble on his jaw certainly aren’t helping.
“It’s nothing,” I barely choke out once he interlaces our fingers.
“It means something to me,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper, triggering a flashback from the night we met. “And so do you.”
I stifle a whimper when he brings my hand up to his mouth for a kiss. “Rowan, please … don’t.”
“I can’t leave things on a bad note again,” he tells me, then he flashes a rueful smile and loosens his grip.
I nod and tug my hand back before driving home on autopilot. Rowan thanks me again when he says goodbye, but I barely allow myself to acknowledge him. I wait until he drives away before I risk unbuckling my seat belt. And it isn’t until I’m back inside the house and tossing the clothes I lent him into the washer that I find his boxer shorts tucked neatly between the T-shirt and sweatpants.
