I clear my throat and throw my hand up in the air for him to high five, like it’s the only sensible reaction to have after envisioning kissing him in front of all of these people. He tilts his head, confused, like he can’t make sense of my gesture before lifting his hand and high fiving me back.
“Wanna go outside?” he asks after fist bumping an obscene amount of people, but I guess a guy like Rowan Pierce has an obscene amount of friends.
Some fresh air should do me some good, hopefully it helps knock some much-needed sense into me. I don’t know what I was thinking but I do know that kissing Rowan is a very dangerous thought, one that I have no business having. “Sure.”
Rowan snags a couple of red solo cups, I’m assuming full of beer. Then he heads towards a set of doors at the back of the house. As soon as we cross the threshold the noise from the party drops several decibels. A change my ears are very thankful for.
I reach up and push my finger in my ear and wiggle it around, trying to get the ringing to stop.
“Your ears okay?” Rowan asks just as we reach a bench towards the back of the small yard. He takes a seat and I join him, burying myself in my warm coat we picked up before heading out here.
“I think so, just need them to pop so it’ll release the pressure.”
“Yeah, the music can be pretty intense. Sometimes I sneak earplugs in when it’s really bad. Have you tried yawning?”
I giggle because I can’t picture him walking around with earplugs at a college party. It feels kind of old man ‘ish’. “You do not.”
He smiles and leans back on the bench, spreading his legs wide enough to brush the side of mine. I don’t move, liking the feel of his thigh touching mine entirely too much.
“I promise, I do. It makes it so much more bearable and I can actually hear the next day.”
I giggle some more, “I’m having a hard time picturing that. Has anyone caught on?”
He shakes his head and chuckles, “That’s the best part. Nobody’s figured it out yet.”
“That’s epic. I should have thought of that.” I yawn just like he suggested and I get a little pop but not enough to relieve the pressure entirely.
“You aren’t cold?” I ask after just noticing Rowan doesn’t have a jacket on.
It’s not freezing cold tonight but there’s definitely a chill in the air that requires a coat and probably a hat, which I don’t have. I reach my hand into my pocket and realize my gloves I shoved in it last time I wore it are still there. I might not have a hat, but gloves are the next best thing. I pull them out and shove my hands in them, instantly feeling warmer.
His chin juts up and he gives me the side eye. “I play hockey, remember?”
I snort, “So that means you’re immune to the cold?”
He looks affronted that I would even ask that question. “Of course.”
“Oh, my bad, I forgot your middle name is Yeti," I deadpan.
My little jab gains me a deep chuckle that I feel all the way down to my toes, that curl in my boots. Boy, do I like that sound.
“Damn, I wish my mom would have thought of that.”
“Yes, Rowan Yeti Pierce does have a certain ring to it.”
“I’ll have to make sure to tell her she screwed up when she gave me my grandpa’s middle name. Yeti is so much cooler than Zachary.”
I smile because I really like that name. “Zachary suits you better.”
He shakes his head, “No, it doesn’t. I have ice running through my veins, woman.” He raises his arm up and flexes, like the total goofball that he is. “See right there, that’sice, ice baby.” He points to the veins running up his forearm.
I throw my head back, unable to contain my amusement any longer. My giggles turn into full-blown laughter, the kind that comes up from your belly and spills out uncontrollably. “You’re too much,” I gasp between each word.
We fall into a comfortable silence. I’m watching the few people that have wandered into the backyard with us. They’re mostlystaying on the porch, near the back door. I feel like we’re in our own little cocoon back here. There are a few trees that provide a barrier between us and the rest of the partygoers.
“You ready to tell me what that was about back at the diner the other night?” he finally breaks the silence.
I close my eyes, I knew this was coming I just kind of wished I could’ve lived in my little bubble that I’ve created for myself for a while longer. You know, the one where no one knows that I was sick, or that at more than one point I was close to death.
