Then visibly considered turning around.
I almost laughed.
“Relax,” I called out. “I’m not contagious.”
“Debatable.”
Jace looked between us like Christmas came early.
“Oh, I’m staying for this.”
Rowan ignored him completely and walked to the fridge.
I watched her longer than necessary.
Couldn’t help it.
She moved like someone permanently braced for disappointment. Sharp edges everywhere. Guard up even when she was standing still.
But she wasn’t shy.
That was the interesting part.
Most people either tried too hard with me or avoided eye contact entirely.
Rowan looked directly at me every time like she was daring me to become a problem.
Which obviously made me want to become a problem.
She grabbed a water bottle from the fridge.
“You know staring is creepy, right?” she asked without looking over.
“Depends.”
“On?”
“If the person staring is attractive.”
That finally got her attention.
Rowan slowly closed the fridge door.
“You recycle lines often or is tonight special?”
“Not a line.”
“Right.”
“It’s observation.”
Jace made another choking sound behind me.
Eli looked exhausted already.
Rowan twisted open the bottle. “You flirt like someone who’s never been told no.”
I stepped closer before thinking about it.
