Chapter 14 - Pushover

Over the next few days, I tried everything I could to politely tell Carly I had no desire to attend Lyn's wedding. 

Of course, she was used to my self sacrificing personality, so she didn't believe me and simply assumed I thought I was burdening them by planning to attend. That wasn't all wrong, especially since Rowan and I had been skirting around each other since I woke up with my head on his thigh. 

I hated the idea that Rowan felt pressured by his own wife to attend a wedding with his kid and the nanny that also happened to be his fated mate that he wanted nothing to do with. 

But, regardless of what I said, I was too much of a pushover to really get the message across to Carly. The woman already bought everyone's outfits for the wedding, for Goddess' sake! I couldn't back out now. 

So, that's how I ended up in the kitchen—making dinner for the Maddens' again on Rin's request—apologizing repeatedly to Rowan for the inconvenience while Carly occupied Rin in the living room. 

"Really, you don't have to come. I can go by myself. Or, Hell, I can just dress up and say I went but actually go get a cheeseburger from McDonald's. I swear I won't mind." I rambled, gesturing wildly around myself with the knife I was using to slice carrots. 

"How about you put that down first," Rowan started, pointing a finger at the offending knife in question, "and then I can tell you how I actually feel about this matter, hm?"

Sighing, I gently set the knife down on the cutting board and gave Rowan my full attention. Of course, his returning smile swarmed my stomach with butterflies. 

I gulped down my nerves and rose a brow at the alpha as he leaned a hip against the kitchen counter and crossed his arms in front of his wide chest.

"Go on. . ." I encouraged, mirroring his body language. It was at times like that where I almost forgot Rowan and I never even acknowledged that we were fated mates to each other. Of course, the seemingly never ending ache in my chest always made sure to remind me.

Rowan huffed out a breath in a sort of chuckle as he rolled his eyes at me, but he didn't seem annoyed. His expression was almost fond.

"Contrary to what you seem to believe, I actually enjoy spending time with you. And if you even think for a second that Rin doesn't feel the same, then you're really not as smart as I think you are."

He looked at me all smug after making that statement and it was so irritating, but it also warmed my heart how Rowan could now read me so well. He saw how desperate I was for his reassurance, but phrased it in a way that didn't make me feel pathetic for craving it from him. 

It was a little scary, to be honest. 

I opened my mouth to say something—what, exactly, I had no clue—but was cut off by Rowan speaking up again, "And I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious about this mysterious family of yours I never hear about. So, did you ever think that maybe I want to go with you?"

Stunned, I tried to come up with something to say. When that didn't work, I stood unmoving as I stared at Rowan, trying to figure him out. It was no use, no matter which direction I tilted my head to stare at him in, I still couldn't tell if he was lying to me or not. 

"Okay, well. . .that settles that then." I finally decided on, going straight back to cutting carrots while I tried to process this conversation. 

It scared me how fast I was falling for Rowan, and I knew if I looked him in the eyes right now I'd probably do something stupid like, I don't know.

Kiss him. . .or something. 

"Great. I'm looking forward to it, and I know Rin will be, too." 

Rowan patted my shoulder as he passed me to leave the kitchen and his touch left a burning imprint behind. A waft of his scent blew through the air as he walked out, as well, and it took everything in me not to follow it out. 

It was strange how Rowan made me feel. All my life, I never stood up for myself. I just let my parents say whatever they wanted to me and I never complained. Hell, most of the time I believed them, never trying to talk back. It felt like I wasn't physically capable of confrontation. 

But, when it came to Rowan and how he always knew what to say that would leave me speechless, it didn't feel like it was caused from a physical block in my throat. It was more like the things he said somehow always had a way of bandaging the cracks in my heart that I didn't even know were there until he found them. It wasn't like I was too scared to speak, I was just too overwhelmed with the feeling of being known that my body and mind had no clue how to react.

It was a fickle thing, because while Rowan was mending the cuts and bruises of my heart, there were new ones left behind in his wake.

What was I meant to do with that?

A/N~ Hey Reading Mice! Here to tell you that you can check out this chapter from Rowan's POV on Patreon and Ream! AND chapter 15 of Alone in Love is already up over there, too! 

QOTD: What social media platform is your favorite?

Answer: TikTok and Discord! You can go check out my social media platforms through the link below:)

https://linktr.ee/Eli_Kay