That just left us.
I cleared my throat.
“So,” Rowe said at the same time, and we awkwardly laughed at one another for a brief moment before silence settled in again.
I gestured roughly with my hands. “I was thinking,” I said, the words too large in my throat.
“Yeah?” Rowe asked. His eyes seemed to light up, and I found it impossible to look away.
“Um,” I said, glancing around and wishing I was anywhere else but there at that moment, given that he was about to reject me and totally ruin my whole life. “Do you want to, maybe – I don’t know – watch a movie? Like, maybe at your place or something?”
I watched Rowe’s face even though I desperately wanted to look away and not see when he said no. I hoped he realized what I was trying to tell him.
That I was changing.
That I had listened.
Watching a movie at his place – that was what he had said was his ideal date.
I wasn’t asking him out to do what I wanted to do – just listening to what he wanted.
Rowe’s eyes widened slightly and he nodded with a grin. “Yes, that would be really great.”
“Oh, that’s fine, because I have something to do anyway, and –” I stopped as his words caught up with me. “Wait, you said yes?”
Rowe chuckled and reached out to take my hand. “I said yes,” he said. “Now, do you want to drive together and leave your car here, or should we take them both?”
I glanced around. It wasn’t free to park at the hotel, and even though I could probably get away with arguing that I should have today comped as part of my weekend stay, I would still have to come all the way out here in the morning before work to get it back. Or take an expensive taxi and leave my car parked here for another day. It was a terrible idea from both a logistical and a financial standpoint.
But I didn’t want to be without him for another minute tonight.
“Let’s go in yours,” I said, feeling the warmth of his hand in mine and wishing it would never stop.
We were already standing next to his car, though, so he only held me for a second longer before turning to unlock the doors and get in. I raced to get to the passenger side and buckle myself in so I could be as close to him as possible.
“What do you want to watch?” Rowe asked, starting up the engine and glancing in his rearview mirror to pull out.
“I don’t know,” I said. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. “What kind of movies do you like?”
Rowe shrugged with one shoulder as he turned the car and started to drive through the parking lot, towards the road. “I like a lot of things, honestly. Maybe not action movies so much.”
I chuckled. “Not even Ridley Angus movies?” The guy had been Keaton’s favorite movie star and so, during that year that we lived together, I’d been forced to watch endless marathons of Ridley Angus movies – and indie film releases, of course. But the Angus ones had actually been bearable for the visuals alone.
“Okay,” Rowe conceded with a light smile. “Maybe Ridley Angus movies. But not for the plot.”
“I don’t think anyone watches them for the plot,” I grinned. “What about horror?”
Rowe shot me a sideways look and then focused on the road again. “Are you trying to get me all scared so I’ll snuggle up with you on the sofa?”
I felt my cheeks heating up. “Maybe,” I admitted. “Would it work?”
“Yes,” Rowe said. We pulled up at a set of lights and he looked at me properly. “But, I’ll be honest, Xavi. You don’t need the movie to convince me.”
My mouth went dry. “Really?” I croaked.
A horn sounded behind us and Rowe tore his gaze away from mine, swearing under his breath and driving forward through the light, which must have changed some time ago. I bit my lip. How far away was his home? And how could we get there even quicker?
I swallowed. I didn’t want to jinx it or talk myself out of it. But… taking advantage of a momentary lapse of judgment? That wasn’t me, anymore. I didn’t want to be that person. So, I had to know for sure. I had to know that this wasn’t momentary.
