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“I don’t have a point, Nora. I just need your help as my best friend. Come on, you owe me. Remember that time you needed a ride to the hospital after—”
“Fine, Jesus Christ. Tell the world how I accidentally broke my nose in a car accident, why don’t you?”
“It wasn’t just a car accident. You wrecked your car because you were—”
Her glaring eyes have me shutting my lips. While Nora is admittedly a little crazy, she doesn’t exactly like broadcasting her misadventures to the world, and driving her car into a light pole while trying to get a better look at a hot guy three months ago is definitely one of the things she’d rather keep under wraps. Still, it doesn’t hurt to tease her about it now and then.
“Fine, what do you want to know?” she asks with a loud sigh, her eyes going back to her phone.
“Uhm, everything? Rowan is picking me up in a few, and…I don’t want to disappoint him.”
“Men are different, Willow. Well, not really, but it’s best to learn what pleases your partner from your partner,” she says making a face as though the topic disgusts her.
“But—”
“No buts, that’s all the advice you are getting from me,” she says, then sighs. “Just…try to let loose for once. You always have this deer in headlights look about you.”
I look away to avoid meeting her eyes, so she doesn’t read the truth in mine. She’s right, but I don’t want to think about that right now.
Tonight, I am going to spend time with Rowan, and I don’t need the dark cloud of my past hovering over us.
“I guess this is it for me,” Nora says, getting up and smacking her gum loudly again as she stretches. “Are you sure you’re okay to lock up on your own?”
“Yeah,” I say, settling against the counter and watching the last two customers that seem to be deep into their conversations. Soon, I’ll have to kick them out, but I can wait until Rowan gets here.
I watch as Nora walks into her office and returns with her purse a few minutes later. It’s very rare for her to stay this late, but today was her big day. She’d worked so hard to make Anti-Valentine’s Day a success, she didn’t want to miss a second of the festivities. The day had been a huge hit with customers, and I know Nora can hardly wait to rub it in Rowan’s face.
“Thanks for locking up. I’m ready to go home, have dinner, then take a nice, long bath.” She pauses, then continues, “Willow, have fun, but get some rest too, okay? You’ve been here all day; I know you must be exhausted.”
“I will,” I say, flashing her a smile. She waves at me before making her way out. I undo the ties to my apron and draw it over my head, then straighten the little red dress I’d bought for this very occasion.
Rowan is going to arrive any moment, and I want his eyes to flash with desire when he sees me.
I watch as the last two customers get up to leave, and I hurry to clean up their table. Nora already took out the trash, soI wouldn’t get my dress dirty. I’m giving the counter one final wipe down when the bell over the door chimed.
"Rowan!” I cry. I’m sure I sound as crazy as Nora, but after days of constant text messages and nights of long phone calls, I’m so happy to see him.
“Hey, Angel,” he says, meeting me halfway across the dining room to wrap me in his arms. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I say quietly against his chest.
“Ready to go?”
“Yes, I just need to lock up. Where are we going?”
Rowan smiles before answering, “I thought we’d go back to my place for dinner, if that’s alright with you. I’ve been living on restaurant food for the last few days; I’m ready for a home-cooked meal.”
“That sounds perfect,” I say.
Rowan helps me lock up, then we climb in his car. The drive to his house only takes a few minutes, and he keeps his hand on my thigh the entire way. I’m vibrating with need, and I can feel the tension rolling off of him. By the time we pull into the driveway of his cute, cape cod style house, I’m ready to combust.
I follow Rowan inside and gasp when I see the dining room. Dinner is already laid out on the table, a bouquet of red roses rests in the center, and tea lights and rose petals cover every bare surface.
“Rowan, how did you…this is…” I’m at a loss for words, until it suddenly occurs to me, “You left lit candles unattended to pick me up!”
He laughs. “Don’t worry. I had some help for this. Nora swung by to light the candles while I picked you up. She waited here until I texted her that we were on our way. The candles were alone for five minutes, tops.”
Tears prick at my eyes. This is the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me, and my best friend even helped. I suppose she isn’t as disturbed as she pretended to be at the thought of me with her brother.
