A Dead End
I frowned. “You come to my home uninvited to... ask me out?”
Rowan leaned against the porch railing, completely unbothered. “Technically, it’s not a date. It’s a trip.”
I scoffed. “Oh, my mistake. You came uninvited to my home to ask me on a trip.”
He grinned. “See? That sounds much better.”
I rolled my eyes, turning on my heel. “Goodbye, Rowan.”
I stepped inside, fully expecting him to stay outside like a normal person with boundaries.
But of course—
The bastard followed me in.
I whipped around. “Did I say you could come in?”
He shrugged, closing the door behind him. “You didn’t say I couldn’t.”
I gave him a look. “That’s not how this works mister man.”
“We both know nothing between us works the normal way.”
I opened my mouth to argue—
But he suddenly pulled something from his pocket.
A rose.
I blinked.
Then blinked again.
Rowan wiggled his fingers dramatically, making it look like he had just magically produced the flower out of thin air.
“Ta-da.”
I stared at him, deadpan.
“What the hell was that?”
He smirked. “A magic trick. I learned it online.”
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Yeah a magic trick. Did I tell you that I can fly?”
“You can?”
I rolled my eyes.
“Come on Remi, I am trying here. Give me some credit.”
I groaned, turning toward the kitchen. “I need coffee.”
Rowan followed.
I pointed at him without looking back. “You are not welcome here.”
“And yet, here I am, still standing.”
I grabbed a mug aggressively. “I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
I turned, glaring. “What do you want, Rowan? Why are you really here?”
His smirk faded.
For the first time since he walked in—
His expression softened.
He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Because I want you to take a break, Remi. A real one. I am worried about you. Being a mum. A surgeon. A research specialist. You have so much on your plate. I just…I spoilt your life and I just want to do my best to make it better ”
I stiffened.
Rowan leaned against the counter, watching me. “I see you, you know. The way you carry everything like you’re afraid to put it down. Like if you stop moving for even a second, everything will fall apart.”
I swallowed.
His voice dropped lower.
Softer.
“But it won’t. It won’t fall apart just because you take a breath. It won’t collapse just because you let someone else hold the weight for a little while.”
I didn’t answer.
Couldn’t.
Because damn him—
He was right.
Again.
He sighed, stepping closer. “Come with me. Just two days. That’s all I’m asking.”
I looked at the rose still in his hand.
At the man who shouldn’t care this much.
At the stupid way my chest felt lighter for just a second.
I exhaled.
“Fine.”
His grin was instant.
“I knew the magic trick would work.”
I snatched the rose from his hand. “I still hate you.”
He laughed.
I turned away, already regretting this.
What the hell had I just agreed to?
****
I buttoned up the oversized pink-striped shirt, tucking one side into my cream-colored cargo pants. The fabric was comfortable, loose enough to move freely but still stylish. Casual. Effortless.
White sneakers. Gold chain necklace. A slouchy shoulder bag.
I slipped my sunglasses onto my head, grabbing my phone before heading outside.
And of course—
Rowan was already there, leaning against his car like he owned the damn world.
I slowed down as I approached, noticing something.
His sleeves were rolled up again, showing off his forearms. A crisp white shirt, dark pants.
We… matched.
Not intentionally. But still.
Rowan smirked, pushing off the car. “You clean up nice.”
I rolled my eyes, slipping into the passenger seat. “Don’t get used to it.”
As soon as he got in, I pulled out my sunglasses, sliding them over my eyes.
Then, I turned to him.
“Ground rules.”
He lifted a brow, amused. “Oh? There are rules?”
“Yes. First, you better agree to all my music.” I waved my phone. “No complaints, no changing the playlist, no groaning when my favorite songs come on.”
He tilted his head, considering. “Depends. Do you listen to anything unbearable?”
“Define unbearable.”
“Screaming rock. Elevator jazz. Country.”
I gasped, hand over my chest. “How dare you insult country music?”
Rowan chuckled. “Fine. Music rule accepted. What else?”
I hesitated.
Then, quietly—
“Don’t ask about the kids.”
His expression shifted.
Not annoyed. Not angry.
Just… unreadable.
I waited.
Then—
“Okay.”
No argument. No prying.
Just okay.
I nodded, turning forward.
And just like that—
We drove off.
****
Rowan actually wanted to know about the kids. What he missed.
It made him anxious.
But he also doesn't want it to feel as if that's why he is hanging out with her. He feels guilty. With no memory, he only knows he hurt her and the guilt is saying away at his heart.
Also he wanted to help. To be present in both her life and the kids. But if it eventually comes down to her wanting him off.
Cut off completely. He would agree and leave her alone.
His hands were clammy.
Which was ridiculous because he never got nervous. Never.
And yet—
Here he was, gripping the steering wheel a little too tight, sneaking glances at the woman beside him, hoping to God he was doing something right.
She sat with one leg tucked under the other, sunglasses covering her eyes, making it impossible to read her expression.
The silence in the car was thick.
Too thick.
Rowan cleared his throat. “So… you always wear sunglasses in the car? Or is this just a me thing?”
Remi didn’t even turn her head. “It’s a me thing.”
Short. Clipped.
Alright.
“Right.”
Another beat of silence.
He tapped his fingers against the wheel, thinking.
“I think you’d like the place I picked. It’s got—”
“You’re not telling me where we’re going, remember?”
Right. She hated surprises.
“Right.”
Another silence.
God, this was painful.
He tried again. “Jo would have been pretty excited about this trip.”
“Jo gets excited about anything that involves me leaving my house.”
Another dead end.
Rowan exhaled slowly, staring at the road.
Why was this so damn hard?
Why did it feel like every word was a step on a minefield?
Before—before whatever the hell happened between them—conversation had been easy. He didn’t have to filter himself. He didn’t have to second-guess every sentence.
But now?
Now it was like trying to climb a wall that kept getting taller.
He gritted his teeth.
He didn’t want this weird, stilted tension between them.
Didn’t want her acting like she was just tolerating his existence.
He wanted to talk to her. Actually talk.
So he tried one more time.
“You know, I saw this article about s
ome medical breakthrough in—”
“Rowan.”
Her voice was quiet, but it cut through him like a blade.
He glanced at her.
She finally turned her head toward him, her expression unreadable behind those damn sunglasses.
Then she said—
“Stop being something that you’re not.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
