Page 41 of A Heart in Knots

Thanks for staying up with me.

It was nice. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

Rowan

Me too. Good night. Sleep tight.

I closed the app and turned off my screen. A pleasant warmth fluttered in my heart. The more I got to know him, the more I wanted to get to know.

Chapter 26

SKYE

Rowan’scarwassomekind of hatchback. Something that could go into a forest, but not conquer extreme nature trails. It was roomy, and felt almost homey. I got in the car, and settled in the passenger seat.

“Hi,” I said.

“Good evening,” Rowan said.

From out of nowhere, an angular, furry face popped up between the front seats. The dog panted happily, and seemed to smile in that way dogs did.

“Hi again, boy.” I ruffled his scruff. “Tracker, right?”

“Yeah,” Rowan said.

He pulled into our driveway, and turned the car to head up the bluff. The drive-in was up in the hills, deeper in the city proper.The shepherd rested his head on the centre console while Rowan drove.

“Looking forward to the movies?”

“Very,” I said. “I’ve never been to a drive-in.”

“I think you’ll love it,” Rowan grinned, catching me out of the corner of his eye as he stopped at a red light. “I got you a little something.”

He reached behind my seat and pulled out a grocery bag. He put it in the passenger footwell, and I opened it to find baked, low fat potato chips, a large sandwich bag filled with trail mix, and a variety of bottles of clear sodas, all naturally caffeine-free.

“I didn’t know what you liked, so I got a selection.”

At first, I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t find the words. Then, my brain finally kicked into gear and I looked at him.

“How did you know I was nervous about the food?”

“I knew you were watching what you eat for your health. I didn’t want to add stress.”

My heart felt so full and my chest so warm it was hard to breathe, but in a good way. “That’s so considerate. I would have never even thought of this. Thank you, so much.”

The idea of placing a quick peck on his cheek floated through my mind, but Rowan, my pack and I weren’t at the place to negotiate displays of affection like that. Best to keep it chaste.

“I really, really appreciate it,” I said, hoping Rowan knew how much I meant it. I wondered if he did it out of genuine care for me in particular, if it was a result of his healthcare ambitions, or if it was for the benefit of the heart that beat in my chest. I wasn’t sure the answer would have changed just how much the gesture touched me.

He tapped his phone that was mounted on the dash and from the car speakers came a thundering baseline and scream of guitar.

I recognized it instantly. Low Trauma High Drama.

“You like Perfume & the AlphaBetas?” I asked.

“Yeah, you?” Rowan asked, lifting the volume of his voice to be heard over the loud music and the whip of the wind.

“They’re my favorite!” I said. “Sweet Scent of Freedom means a lot to me.”

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