I chuckle and raise my arm, showing off my bicep. “By help, you mean, do it for you?”
Maize rolls her eyes. “Never mind. Put your ego away. I bet Rowan and I can handle it.”
Shrugging casually, I walk around them. “Alright.” Then I look over my shoulder and grin. “Remember to lift with your legs.”
“Asshole,” I hear Rowan mutter, then smirk when Maize looks away.
Diesel: Are you packed?
Rowan: If by packed you mean a bag of Starbursts and my cowboy boots, then I’m good to go!
Diesel: Well, darlin’, you won’t be needing much else anyway :) I’m almost to Wyatt’s. You leaving soon?
I’m driving us to San Angelo, but since her parents think she’s staying with a friend, she can’t leave her truck at home or anywhere they’ll see it. But since Wyatt lives in Eldorado, he’s letting her park it in his garage. He’s the only person who knows about us, and I trust he’ll keep it that way until we’re ready to announce it.
Rowan: Be there in 10! Had to find my lucky thong.
Diesel: The red one, I hope?
Rowan: You’ll have to wait and see ;)
I love the way she always makes me laugh. Chuckling, I shake my head and park my truck on the street outside Wyatt’s apartment. I send him a text so he knows I’m here and can give me his garage opener.
“You two gonna finally bang tonight?” he asks the moment he comes up to my window.
“Shut the hell up and give me the opener,” I say, holding out my palm.
“I’ve had to listen to you talk about Rowan Bishop for months, so the least you could do is give me the details.”
I roll my eyes, ready to sucker punch the idiot. “Not happenin’. Go back to your Pornhub.”
“Just fuckin’ with ya. Relax.” He digs into his pocket, then hands it over to me. “Tell her to park it in nice and slow…”
“For fuck’s sake, don’t make me kick your ass.”
Wyatt laughs, and when I try to smack him, he retreats. “Okay, for real, though. Have fun. Wear a condom.”
He waves when Rowan’s car comes into view, and I open the garage for her. She turns in, and I go and meet her.
“Hey, Cowboy.” She hops out and immediately wraps her arms around me.
“Hello, yourself.” I pull her closer and press my lips to hers. “I’ll grab your stuff so we can get outta here.”
I put her bag in my truck next to mine, then open the passenger door for her.
“So gentlemanly,” she teases as she sits and fixes her sundress.
“My thoughts are anything but gentlemanly.” I waggle my brows as I stare at her bare legs. “Especially with you wearing that.”
She blushes and shakes her head at me.
“Ready?” I ask after I get in the driver’s side.
“Yep! If anyone asks, I’m visiting my friend Camila this weekend.”
“Camila? Got it.” I smirk.
“Do you remember in high school when Thomas Blake asked me to junior prom?” she asks as I turn on the main road that leads out of town.
I look at her confused. “Huh?”
“Thomas Blake,” she repeats. “The quarterback of the football team,” she clarifies, though I know exactly who she’s talking about. The asshole I nearly punched in the face after I found out he’d asked her.
“What about him?” I tighten my grip on the steering wheel, hoping she’s not about to confront me about something in the past.
“I’ve just been doing some thinking lately and wondering why no guys asked me out until my senior year because the day after Thomas did, he canceled.”
I feel her staring at me.
“Huh. Weird.”
“Yeah,” she draws out the word. “Weird.”
I finally look at her. “You think I had something to do with it?” I lift a brow, feigning innocence.
“I’d be willing to bet money you did.” She crosses her arms, glaring. “I started to put it together the other day, especially when I asked Riley about it, and he looked at me like I’d grown a second head. So that only leaves one other option…”
“That you just weren’t that nice in high school, and no guy wanted to date you?”
She smacks my arm so hard, I actually groan and pull away from her. “See?”
“Don’t play dumb!” She points her finger and narrows her eyes at me. “I know you must’ve said or done something to make sure no one ever asked me out. It’s no coincidence that once you graduated, a few guys finally did.”
I inhale a deep breath and readjust myself in the seat. “It was for your own good, Rowan.”
“Oh my God!” she screeches. “I knew it!”
“Okay, geez. Take it down an octave, babe.”
“I can’t believe you…” She pouts and looks out the window.
Reaching over, I grab her hand and thread my fingers through hers. “You can’t be mad. That was years ago, and we’re together now, so…you’re welcome.”