I sucked a harsh breath as I came out of the bathroom. I tried my best to control myself as my breathing laboured. This is insane. He is trying to kill me, that's for sure. God. I closed my eyes and tried to get rid of the image of him in that damn towel. Oh god, he was so nonchalant about the whole situation, and my blood rushed to the downside when I took a glimpse of him. I never felt this horny, never once before, not even with Eddi nor with Shreya. This horniness is on another level, and I am not getting how or why. Rowan was cornering me from every side.
The bathroom door opened, and Rowan walked out. My back was facing him; I tried to get a grip on myself. I barged to the balcony to get some air, to be alone and to control myself. I couldn't when Rowan was so near to me. By closing my eyes, I inhaled and exhaled slowly, making every nerve in me calm. For a few minutes, I stood, clearing my mind.
"If you are done, you should get fresh up. It's already late." Rowan spoke, not aware of the turmoil of the situation. "Ok." He nodded his head. I went to my room by grabbing my clothes; I dashed toward the bathroom. I wanted him to be asleep by the time I returned to the room, so I took time under the shower. I stood for 15 or 20 minutes and walked out.
Rowan lay on the right side of the bed, watching the ceiling. I held back the groan that threatened to leave my mouth. He smiled as he saw me, and I took the left side of the bed. This is going to be a long night. I thought of building a wall between us for safety, but I know Rowan would have so many questions, and I am in no mood to elaborate on my situation.
"Feeling sleepy?" He questioned me. "No," I replied. After what I saw, sleep is the last thing on my mind at present. He hummed in return. "Me neither." He informed. "You had a sleeping disorder, right? What's the condition now?" "Same," I grumbled. "Oh, no use of that doctor, I think. Shall I do some research from my side?" Rowan asked genuinely. "I tried everything and every doctor, Rowan, but this one is good. He is not getting results, and it's not his fault." "I can give you company today." I chuckled at that. We stayed silent, watching the sealing.
"Today was fun." He once again broke the silence. Today, he was too talkative. "We should do this more," he added, and I hummed. "I shut everyone's mouth at the party." He went on, boasting. "Well, I fucking loved it; they deserved it." I sighed, and I suddenly felt drowsy. Strange. "You know I am liking this version of me. I was never this confident before, and shouting something like that in front of a crowd was the last thing that I could dream of. I loved it, every second of it."
I stopped babbling when I didn't get a response, and I turned toward Dante; he was asleep. I pouted at that; he just told me he was not feeling sleepy. I approached him and tested him by pinching him a little, but he didn't move. I gave up feeling empathy toward him. It's hard to believe about his disorder when he always sleeps on me or with me. I lay back, watching the ceiling and happy over today's event. I should have been this way from the beginning, not holding back on anything. The aftermath taste feels so good. I rubbed my eyes with a yawn. Looks like Dante's sleep affected me too, and I closed my eyes.
I groaned when I felt weight on my shoulder. I opened my eyes slowly, rubbing my eyes, scanning the surroundings. I sighed when I was in my room, and a content yawn left me. 'Best sleep,' I mumbled. My shoulder felt numb, and I met the source: Rowan slept, wrapped in the blanket. 'He should give me a break,' I mumbled. I was at my side, didn't move an inch, but he had ditched his side completely. A wall would never stop him, I guess. I never liked anyone latching onto me. I never cuddled or slept together after sex or after doing any other shitty things. I love my own company when I sleep, calm and peaceful. I never entertained anyone, as I was sleep-deprived; no one could sleep beside me so easily. Now, I wasn't even aware when he came and slept near me, on my shoulder. Everything about him is just crazy, beyond my reach.
I tried to unlatch him, slowly, but I couldn't. "Rowan," I grumbled, which didn't have any effect on him. "Rowan." My voice was louder, and he stirred a little at that. "It's bloody 9 am, and I am starving to death. You'd better come out of the damn room." My dad shouted, and Rowan got up abruptly at that. In shock and blinking rapidly. When he saw the surroundings and acknowledged the voice, he groaned at that. "Don't tell me, he won't have breakfast without you." "No, this is new, waiting for me." "I hate him." He sighed, brushing his hair. "Can you try to get along with him?" I requested him, not daring to order. I don't know why. "Hey, I want to get along with him, but your dad is not on the same page." He stated the obvious, and I sighed at that. "We should get freshened up and head down." He nodded at that and rushed to the bathroom.
We joined the table, and my dad was already present, indeed waiting for us. "You took your time." He started to provoke. "Well, you disturbed us; we were in the middle of doing something." He was agitated hearing Rowan's words. "Can you both stop and please eat in silence?" I tried my best to defuse this environment. They are turning toxic to each other.
My peaceful speech was thrown into the dustbin when my dad opened his mouth. "You guys are everywhere, in gossip columns, getting trolled and hated. Congrats on your achievement." I knew this would be the outcome. "Dante." My dad started another round of pouring his misery and hate toward us. "Can't you consider my age? I am too old for this bullshit, and because of you, my blood pressure is high all the damn time." He groaned at me. "My doctor's appointment is frequent because of this." As if I am not getting updates on his health. Give me a break. Rowan chuckled beside me. My dad glared at him. "What was that for?" He was genuinely curious, including me. "I thought you were visiting the doctor for a different reason." Dad and I were in shock at the implication. And my dad was momentarily stunned on the spot. "How? What's that supposed to mean?" "It means Brandon," Rowan replied nonchalantly, and immediately my dad turned his glare toward me. "Did you..." My dad started, but it was cut off by Rowan. "No, Dante didn't inform me. I visited the hospital once, and I saw you," Rowan replied. "That's nonsense; my business is always outside in a hotel or my flat." My dad defended, like seriously. Rowan shook his head while chuckling. "At least you agreed about Brandon." My dad huffed, scowling at Rowan.
"After breakfast, he is going back, right? Please say yes." My dad pleaded. "No." Once again, Rowan poured the water. "It's the weekend, and I am spending it here." I nodded at that; we should go on a date before we become too busy with the new project. "Yeah, we should go somewhere, another date. Can you plan?" Rowan was excited at the idea and eagerly nodded his head. "Of course, like a zoo or amusement park." He paused, thinking. "There is a new restaurant we should try, and also a new pub." I groaned and held a hand at him. "No, no, and no too crowded. Let's do normal things," I suggested. "Like a couple doing things?" Rowan questioned, and I didn't know what that meant. "I don't know, but normal human things, not chaotic," I emphasised the words. "Whatever, I am in." "Are you both done?" My dad glared at us. I knew his eyes were darting when we were having the conversation.
Suddenly he turned toward Rowan and spoke. "Is your dad ok with this bullshit?" I don't know why he is poking him so much. "I mean, I know he is definitely not. Who in their right mind would consent to this bullshit?" He further provoked, igniting Rowan. "My dad obviously is against the idea, my mom is in a dilemma, and my sisters are enjoying the drama that's going on in my life. My friends, especially Davis, are deadly against everything. That's why I shifted for good and am staying alone for a reason." He contributed a short story, and my dad just stared at Rowan. "I even started to ignore their call," Rowan further added. "Should I applaud you for giving us a short story?" my dad mocked. "Oh no, I care about you and your blood pressure." Rowan didn't waste a second to mock my dad back. "You know, I don't like you from the day I saw you with my son, Rowan." Rowan shrugged at that. "I am aware of it, Mr Morris," he rebuked. No matter what, my dad could never win over Rowan.
"Dante, this will cost us." I shrugged nonchalantly about it. "Of course, if I only let it. I will handle everything," I informed him firmly. "That's Merdith, Dante." "And she is not fucking an angel." I rebuked him, to which he grumbled something.
After that, the breakfast went in silence. Once we were done, my dad left the mansion. Rowan sat on the couch; after ending a call, I joined him. "Did I apologise for dragging you into this?" Rowan suddenly spoke; he had taken my dad's words seriously. "I don't know why I dragged you into this mess." I hate the sour taste that's coming from him. Rowan. "You never complained or scolded me either." "Because I have my personal agenda, and trust me, you can't deal with her."
I don't know how to take the words, but he is right. My family or I could never deal with her alone. "I was waiting for an opportunity, and you created that for me. So, I should thank you." I hummed at that, too many questions popping in my mind.
"What should we do for the rest of the day?" Dante questioned me, and I chuckled at that. "Were you serious when you mentioned going on a date?" "Date or not, we can hang out like normal people, but I am worried about getting noticed in public," I hummed, thinking. "We can cover part of our face," I suggested. "We can try; let's hope we don't get noticed." "I am not worried about me," I muttered the sentence as I knew who would get the full attention of the crowd.
We were near the city centre; Dante parked the car, still thinking about the idea. "We are not going to war." I tried to humour the situation, and he chuckled. "I know, it's just." "Be cool and act normal, simple as that, common." I first got out of the car before he changed his mind and dragged me back. Reluctantly, Dante got out and scanned the area. "Normal things, remember?" I reminded him of his words. "More private, where the crowd would be less." He groaned. I chuckled and started dragging him. We made sure to wear the mask; Dante was insisting on wearing glasses too, which I stopped. It would give out.
We started walking on the footpath. He had given instructions to his security, who were tailing us at a distance. We roamed for a while, enjoying the streets and busy people and watching local vendors. I thought Dante would be silent on the whole ride due to irritation, but he would talk when his interest piqued. He spoke with a few local vendors, discussing their techniques, from when they are running the stall and so on. He is picky in that too, only sparing a glance at those who are successful in running their business for years. He also gave his visiting cards to two vendors who were struggling and informed them to contact him. I was busy eating and didn't hear their discussion while consuming the food.
We stopped at the shopping complex. "Do you want to purchase something?" Dante questioned me. "No, I thought of giving a glance at the latest outfits," I informed him. "Ok, let's go, then." We walked inside the mall. The memories with Shreya hit me, and I groaned while remembering everything. "I have memorable moments of shopping," I told Dante, and he chuckled at that. "Haunting memories," I added. He nodded in understanding. "With Shreya?" I don't like the way he knows in and out about her. "One and only," I affirmed him, and he snorted at that.
I didn't purchase anything; Dante didn't even glance at anything. "I am hungry," I announced louder, and Dante smiled at that. "I really thought you forgot about your stomach." "That's never going to happen." "Let's go then." Dante started dragging me, but I stopped him. "Where?" "Home or restaurant." "There is a food court over here." He grimaced at that. "Rowan, no, let's go somewhere else." "It's good; give it a try." I tried convincing him. "It's too much of everything, and I don't want to have that." This guy should take a break from being picky. "Come on, I promise you won't die." I started dragging him.
Dante sat on the chair with a groan, and I went to grab the food. As I sat down, I placed the food in front of Dante. Chicken wings, soft drinks, fries, and rolls—that's it. Dante saw the items and sighed at that. He pushed back the fries, a few wings, and drinks to me and reluctantly took a bite of the wings. I don't know how he could hate these items; I would die for them. We started by watching the busy crowd, too busy to notice anything. Dante was worried for no reason. "You are not informing anything about Shreya," I asked Dante. "What is she up to? Her next move." I enquired further. "Don't worry about anything; enjoy your food." Once again, he is keeping me in the dark. "My grandfather has suggested that my dad keep things on paper and proceed with the marriage," I informed him. "And?" "I am worried they are plotting and sketching. My grandfather and Shreya have teamed up from the beginning; they are a deadly combination." He hummed at that. "You trust me, right?" "Yes." "Then leave it to me; I will handle everything. I mean everything." I shook my head, not questioning him further. "Should we have some ice cream, chocolate?" Dante chuckled at that. "You can have some, Rowan, but no, I am done for now." I leaned on the chair. "Why do you hate food?" I was curious. "I don't hate, Rowan. I do enjoy it sometimes." "Like?" "Thomas's mother cooks well; I enjoy hers and also Brandon's cooking." "Oh, your chefs are good, too." "Yeah, but it's ok." I nodded.
Curiosity got the best of me, so I tried to dig more. "So, you know, Brandon, well." "He is my doctor." I rolled my eyes at that. "Besides that." "Like, what?" Confusion was evident on his face. "Your dad and Brandon," I stressed. "Yeah, they have been fucking each other since forever. I got to know about that at my third or fourth visit." "Are they going to commit or something?""I don't think so; besides, he is married and stuck with that woman." "Stuck?" I questioned him. "She is pathetic, floating in her misery and dragging him along with her. He gets drained being with her." "Oh." That could also happen? Suddenly. Shreya came to my mind, and I dreaded just thinking about my future with her. It would be fucking pathetic; no more than that, she would choke me in my misery. That's for sure. "Your dad is a kindhearted man." I think I mocked Dante, who burst laughing. "His dick is too kind." He managed a sarcasm.
We started walking out of the complex. The day went well; I liked it and enjoyed it too. No hassle, no bustle, which I liked the most. I always liked his company when he was mute too. I enjoyed his expression and tried to read him through it. Now, it's a lot better, conversing, getting to know each other more,
We could definitely be good friends when this shit is over. I really hope we would be in contact somehow.