When I pulled in front of Tatum’s house she was already waiting outside. She hopped down the front steps and hurried to my car. “It’s freezing,” she shivered.
“Then why were you waiting outside?” I questioned as I pulled away.
“I couldn’t get out of that house soon enough,” she grumbled under her breath, looking out the window. “I hate it there. I just want to get away.”
I didn’t bother asking her about her home problems. It wasn’t my business, and besides, I knew all about how easy it was to become trapped.
I drove to a local coffee shop that was open all night and that we’d often used for homework nights before. I ordered a latte and a muffin. I normally didn’t indulge in such frivolous things, but since Trent had bought the groceries for me the other night I had the extra cash to treat myself.
I sat down at the table in the corner and Tatum left to order herself something. I pulled my books out of my backpack, sighing heavily at the amount of work I had to do. It never seemed to end. For once, I wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to be able to sleep in and go out with friends. I wanted to let myself be with someone. But I couldn’t do those things. I had to focus on getting through school and making high enough grades that I got accepted into the nursing program. I had to be able to take care of Ivy and Tristan. My mom and step-dad didn’t do it now. It was all on my shoulders, and I was beginning to bow under the pressure. I was one person and I could only handle so much.
I removed the lid from my coffee so it could cool down. Tatum returned, pulling her blonde hair into a ponytail. She looked exhausted, with bruise like shadows under her eyes. A part of me wanted to ask her if everything was okay, but I knew how much I hated being asked the same thing, so I kept my mouth shut.
I opened one of my books, flipping to the right page. I felt too tired to do homework, but I didn’t have a choice. I only hoped we’d both be able to finish in two hours. I needed to get some sleep before class tomorrow. It was our last day before break and while we weren’t starting anything new, I was sure they’d give us plenty to do for the few days we got off. I had learned early on that there was no such thing as a break.
I took a tentative sip of coffee, not wanting to scald my mouth. It was the perfect temperature though. Griffin, the owner of the coffee shop—that was really a coffee shop, restaurant, and a place for local musicians to perform—always got everything just right. I had never really talked to the guy—he was older and always pretended to be grouchy—but he seemed like a cool guy. He kept the place open round the clock. He and his wife mostly ran the place, with the help of a few employees. They did a really good business with all the local college kids.
An hour later I was out of coffee, had eaten my entire muffin, and thought if I read one more word I might fall over.
“I’m getting more coffee,” I told Tatum as I stood.
She nodded in acknowledgement of my words, but didn’t look away from her laptop.
“Same thing?” Griffin asked as I approached the counter.
I nodded. “No muffin this time, it was delicious though.”
He punched something into the register and gave me the total. “Yeah, my wife makes them from scratch. Best muffins in the whole world.”
I handed him the money and took my cup of coffee.
As I was turning I bumped into someone. “Shit,” I cursed, doing a little dance to avoid spilling my hot coffee all over the person. Some sloshed on the floor, but I managed to miss the guy. “I’m so—you’ve got to be kidding me,” I groaned. “Do you have a tracking device on me or something? This is so not cool.”
Trent smirked, tilting his head as he studied me with those piercing blue eyes. “Maybe you’re following me.”
“I was here first,” I responded, cringing at my words. I sounded like a whiny child. “Anyway,” I moved around him, backing towards the table, “sorry for almost spilling coffee on you,” I ground the words out.
“Apology accepted,” he smiled, his eyes sparkling.
He turned to Griffin to place his order and once he wasn’t looking I ran for the table, falling into my seat.
“What the hell?” Tatum exclaimed, surprised at my abrupt arrival. “No more coffee for you if it makes you that hyper.”
“It’s not the coffee,” I whispered, letting my hair fall forward to shield me.
“Then what—” She looked over her shoulder to see what I was staring at. She smiled. “Ah, I see now,” she laughed. “I don’t know why you don’t face facts, y’all so want to do each other, so get it over with already.”
I spat out my coffee, surprised at her words. She ducked to avoid the spray, but some still landed on her shirt.
“I can’t believe you said that,” I grabbed a napkin, wiping up droplets of coffee.
“Hey,” she shrugged, “you two are the ones who have sex with your eyes.”
“Who’s having sex?”
I closed my eyes, my whole body flushing in embarrassment.
Trent grabbed a chair and pulled it up to the table. “Please, don’t stop talking on my account. It sounded like you were getting to the good part.”
Tatum sat forward, propping her head on her hand. “I was saying that clearly you’re both attracted to each other,” she pointed from me to Trent, “so you might as well do it and get it over with. It’s going to happen eventually.”
“Tatum!” I shrieked.
“It’s true!” She exclaimed, throwing her hands dramatically in the air.
“Well,” Trent tipped his chair back on two legs with a smirk gracing his full lips, “I’m happy to hear I have someone on my side. Not that I only want to do the lovely Rowan,” he nodded in my direction, “I want much more than that.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, please.”
“What?” He raised a brow. “It’s not possible that a guy might want more than sex? Come on, Row, you know I’m not some player looking to get in your pants for one night.” He eyed me, daring me to refute him, but I couldn’t. I did know Trent, and I knew he wanted much more from me than sex, and that’s what scared me the most. Trenton wanted all of me, specifically my heart, and it wasn’t something I could give away. I couldn’t deny my attraction to him though. I did yearn for him, but he wanted more than I was willing to give. “Go on a date with me,” he pleaded. “You, me, and a delicious dinner. I’m not asking for anything else.”
Tatum kicked my shin from beneath the table, willing me to say yes.
“No.”
Trent stood, replacing the chair he’d sat in back to the table it belonged with, and grabbed his cup of coffee. Pointing a finger at me, he said, “I knew you’d say that. But it won’t stop me from asking you again and again, until one day you do say yes. See you later, Rowan.”
With that, he turned sharply on his heel, and headed out the door. The bell dinged above the door, signaling his departure.
“Why won’t you go on a date with him?” Tatum asked, her mouth agape with shock. “He’s hot and he’s nice, that’s a winning combination in my book.”
“I don’t date,” I stated bluntly. “I don’t have time for a relationship. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“Excuses, excuses,” Tatum shook her head, a few strands of blonde hair escaping her ponytail to frame her face. “I know you’re busy with school, and taking care of your brother and sister, but you have to find time to do something for yourself. What’s so wrong with letting yourself have some fun?”
“It’s complicated.”
“I don’t see anything complicated about it. You like him. He likes you. Go for it. Live a little,” she smiled as she started packing her stuff up.
Live a little.
I pondered those words, wondering if I could do it—if I could branch out and let myself give in to my desires.
chapter five
Jude and I walked across the parking lot towards our cars. Today had been the last day of classes before our short break. Unfortunately¸ the professors had
n’t been kind enough to cut us some slack so I had plenty of homework to occupy my time—which I had been sure would happen.
“Wanna grab something to eat before you go to work?” Jude asked me. “I’m starving and I’d really like to have a pretty girl to sit with me.”
“Jude,” I grumbled, “I really don’t have the time.”
“You have an hour before you need to be there,” he bumped my shoulder with his as we stopped beside my car.
I stared up at him. “The fact that you know my work schedule is mildly disturbing. Don’t you have better things to do to occupy your time than take me to dinner?”
“That would be a no,” he grinned, adjusting the beanie he wore. “Come on, Row. I’ll even buy your meal.”
I was hungry, and while I’d been planning to use my spare hour of studying, I decided what the heck. I did deserve to have some fun now and then.
“Okay,” I agreed.
Jude appeared taken aback.
“Excuse me, can you repeat that? I don’t think I heard you right.” He turned his ear towards me.
“I said okay,” I shrugged.
“It’s a miracle folks,” Jude began to clap like we had an audience.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you’re always turning me down. This is a moment that should be documented in history.”
“Oh, whatever. You know I’m busy,” I told him. I did feel bad though, that I tended to ignore my friends, but I had so much going on and they didn’t even know the half of it.
“Yeah, I know,” he reached up and removed his beanie, twisting it in his hands, “but sometimes you need to be a normal twenty-one year old for a while. Otherwise you might go crazy.” He tweaked my nose.
I pushed his hand off of me, glaring at him. “We haven’t even gotten dinner yet, and I’m already regretting my decision to say yes.”
“Oh, Row, straight to the heart,” he put a hand against his chest, dramatically acting like he’d been shot. People were beginning to stare.
“Quit it, Jude,” I grumbled under my breath, not liking the unwanted attention.
“Aw, come on, Row, don’t get so worked up,” he slung an arm over my shoulders.
I shrugged his arm off. “Are we going to eat or not? I do have to get to work,” I warned him, grabbing a clip off my bag and using it to pull my hair out of my face.
“Alright, bossy pants. Let’s get some food in you. You get grumpy when you’re hungry,” he smirked.
“I’ll follow you,” I opened the driver’s door of my car.
“I knew you liked looking at my butt, Row,” he winked, sauntering away.
“Your truck! I’ll follow your truck! Who said anything about looking at your butt?” I called after him.
He threw his head back and laughed, completely ignoring me.
Ugh. Jude could be so irritating sometimes.
I got in my car, tossing my purse and backpack onto the passenger’s seat. I followed his truck out into the traffic and through the town. He parked on the street and I was lucky to grab a spot not too far away from his.
He jogged over to where I was, blowing air into his hands. “Fuck, it’s cold,” he groaned.
“It’s not that bad,” I shrugged. “There isn’t even any snow.”
He rolled his eyes, jumping in place. “It’s cold,” he stated. “You’re crazy and feel nothing.”
I chose to ignore his statement. “Lead the way. I don’t know where we’re going.”
Jude shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and looked both ways before jogging across the street. I did the same, letting my long legs carry me to the sidewalk. He led me up a set of steps and in through the back of the restaurant. We passed a formal dining room and bathrooms, before it opened up into a large bar. I saw a door leading to a deck and outdoor patio, but of course it wasn’t open in the winter months.
Jude picked a booth in the back corner. I took the seat across from him, looking around.
“You’ve never been here?” He asked.
“No,” I shrugged, running my finger along the shiny lacquered tabletop. “I don’t have extra money to go out to eat at nice places like this.”
“Row…”
I looked up and flinched when I saw the pity in his gaze. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. I wasn’t ashamed that I was poor. Lots of people were. But I hated when people looked at me like I was missing out on stuff because of my lack of money. I already knew I was and I didn’t need to see the reminder in their eyes.
“Just the two of you?” A waitress appeared beside our table, glaring at Jude. Geez, I couldn’t go anywhere with guy. Had he slept with everyone?
“Yeah, just the two of us,” Jude replied, leaning back in the booth with an easy grin.
She dropped the menus on the table and the plastic made a smacking sound as it hit the table. “What can I get you to drink then?”
“Water,” I answered.
“Same,” Jude replied, smiling at the waitress.
She rolled her eyes and turned sharply on her heel.
“She’s so going to spit in my drink,” I grumbled.
Jude chuckled, pulling off his beanie and running his fingers through his hair. “Nah, she won’t bother you. It’s me that’ll be drinking her spit.”
“Ew,” I wrinkled my nose. “Anyway,” I picked up the menu, “what’s good here?”
“Everything,” he replied.
“That’s real helpful, Jude.”
“Hey, it’s the truth,” he chuckled, scratching his stubbled jaw.
Since I was starving and running out of time before I had to get to work, I ordered a turkey club sandwich. Jude ordered the same and cheese fries for an appetizer.
“Uh…Rowan?” He leaned forward with both his hands on the table, looking at something over my shoulder.
“Yes?” I responded, inspecting my water for any foreign substances.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“God no, Jude! You know that! And no, I’m not going to date you!”
“Hey,” he raised his hands in defense, “I know you’re not interested in me, that’s why we’re friends. But that dude over there is glaring at me like he wants to rip my balls from my body.”
“Thanks for that disturbing visual, Jude,” I groaned.
I looked over my shoulder to see who he was talking about, but couldn’t see anything, because the top of the booth blocked my line of sight.
“Did he leave?” I asked.
“Nope,” Jude picked up the wrapper from his straw and began playing with it, “he’s still staring. I think he’s planning to kill me and trying to figure out the best place to hide my body so no one finds me.” He reached across the table and took my hand. “If I don’t make it out of this alive, please tell my mom I love her.”
“Are you sure you’re not studying to be an actor?” I pulled my hand from his grasp.
“Oh, fuck,” Jude paled, sitting up straight, “he’s coming over. I think he’s pissed that I held your hand.”
“Hello, Rowan.” Both words were said through gritted teeth, telling me the person who spoke them was beyond mad.
A shiver danced down my spine as I recognized the voice.
“Hi, Trenton.” I tried to keep my tone light and sound unaffected, even though my whole body was humming with pleasant zings at his close proximity.
“You know this guy?” Jude asked me, his mouth falling open in shock that I might possibly know someone other than him that possessed a penis.
I nodded. There was no way I could deny it, and I didn’t want Trent to cause a scene. Well, an even bigger scene.
“Oh, she knows me better than I’m sure she knows you,” Trent smiled—and there was nothing pleasant about it—as he slid into the booth beside me. “Who are you?”
“You don’t have to say anything,” I warned Jude, taking a sip of water.
Trent glared at me.
Jude swallowed thickly, loo
king like a deer caught in headlights. “I’m Jude.”
“And are you on a date with my friend here?” Trent tilted his head towards me.
“No-o-o.” Jude’s voice shook. Scaredy-cat. “We’re just grabbing a bite to eat.” Jude was a tough guy, and I found the fact that he was scared of Trent to be hilarious. I’m sure with the way Jude got around he’d run into plenty of jealous boyfriends, and had to fight his way out of a sticky situation, but something about Trent had him shaking in his boots.
“Yeah, and I bet you’re trying to figure out how you’re going to get her to go back to your place, aren’t you? I bet she’s just another conquest to someone like you. I know your type. You’re always looking for an easy fuck. So, I suggest you look elsewhere.”
My eyes widened and my jaw dropped at Trent’s words. I punched his arm as hard as I could, forcing him to acknowledge my presence. I could tell Jude was pissed too, and opened his mouth to say something to Trent, but I didn’t need Jude to fight my battles.
“I can’t believe you just said that to him,” I spat at Trent, keeping my voice hushed so we didn’t disturb the other people in the restaurant.
“Yeah, well,” Trent reached up and ran his fingers nervously through his hair, obviously ashamed of his behavior, “I’m a bit pissed off that you keep wanting to brush me off, but you’re out with this guy. You turned me down for dinner last night, but here you are with him,” he pointed a forceful finger at Jude.
“This guy,” Jude pointed to himself, “has a name, and it’s Jude. J. U. D. E.”
“Do I look like I care?” Trent glared, his nostrils flaring with anger.
“I’m not on a date, so stop being rude to him,” I told Trent. I was tempted to kick him, but since he was beside me, that would’ve been quite difficult.
“Then what are you doing?” Trent looked from me to Jude.
“Why should I tell you? You’re the one that came over here like a dog pissing on its territory,” I seethed.
“Oh, this is good,” Jude chuckled. I turned in his direction to see him shoving cheese fries in his mouth. “Please, continue.”
Tempting Rowan Page 6
