Page 34 of Moon Shot

Say what now? I waited in the hallway for the burning blush to leave my cheeks before following him into the kitchen where the room was still softly lit by the stove light.

“Whoa,” he blurted, his lips pursed over his coffee mug. “I wondered what that might look like on.” Rowan blinked, tensing his jaw. “Coffee?”

“Thank you.” I helped myself to a cup, suddenly aware of my dress, his eyes, the quiet, and the dark. The mugs rattled as I took one from the cupboard, willing myself to act like a respectable human being and not some hormonal teenager.

“I have to go,” he uttered behind me.

“Big game?”

“Big game.” Rowan repeated. He slid the white box toward me on the kitchen island when I turned around, sipping my coffee as I stood barefoot in his kitchen.

We stared at each other until I broke the silence. “Good luck.”

“Thanks. Meredith?” Rowan approached the doorway, spinning once to ask me something. “You’re slowly becoming one of my closest friends,” he confessed. “I choked with the journalist because she asked about my past and,” he paused, shaking his head, “I just don’t go there. I don’t do,” he waved between us, “this for real.”

“I don’t know what that means.” I lied. I knew too well he was warning me not to think too deeply about the messed-up thoughts he didn’t even know I had when I watched him go upstairs last night. “I’ll walk out with you.” Taking one more sip of my coffee and grabbing the white box with my purse, I followed Rowan out to his garage. When he finished packing his duffel bag in the trunk, Rowan turned to me.

I was more secure around him in my heels than barefoot, and the fresh air helped clear out the fog of his cologne.

“There’s a dinner for the college team at Willamette State tomorrow. Will you come with me?” Rowan cocked his head, eyeing me as he asked.

“It won’t be like last Saturday?”

Rolling his eyes, Rowan’s warm laugh filled the space between us. “I promise.” Nodding my reply, I turned from Rowan to head toward my car, waiting to devour the cinnamon roll in privacy.

“Meredith,” he whistled, pausing until I turned around. “You look beautiful.” Choking on my heart, I fumbled with the cinnamon roll box.

FIFTEEN

Rowan picked me up from my apartment, the cool air in his car a needed relief from my steaming apartment and the scorching afternoon sun on the sidewalk where I waited for him. He climbed out of his Audi to open the door for me.

“Do you ever sleep?” I asked, considering his schedule of games, travel, and fake relationship social obligations. I tried not to notice his white button down, the undone top two buttons, the cuffs folded crisply over his muscular and tanned forearms, while he stood at the door.

“Never enough.” His gaze sparkled as he studied my face, time slowing for a moment until the train clanked by. “I don’t mind my night off the field in the company of my fake girlfriend, as long as everyone plays fair.”

“Wh-what do you mean?” I stammered, suddenly feeling nervous strapped into the seat next to him. Play fair? Like this is a game? Does he know my brain is playing tricks on me? Worse, I wondered if I might’ve said something in my sleep.

“The competition will be there. Levi and his girlfriend, Diego, and Ryan. I’ll have a hard time,” he peered over at me, his knuckles tightening on the steering wheel, “restraining myself.”

“I won’t let you punch anyone,” I blurted, really unsure about the deep rasp of his voice and how my knees locked to keep myself from melting when he looked at me.

Rowan groaned a little, maybe because I annoyed him, maybe because it was just a reflex, but the sound was a lightning bolt to my nerves. This is not happening. I kept myself contained to the passenger seat, turning a little to look out the window while we drove across the river to Willamette State’s campus.

The event was on the first floor of a building overlooking the river, with tables and decorations scattered about. Rowan offered me his arm when we left the car, and I was thankful for the stability because leaning against him was making me melt. It was a catch, being with him seeming more confusing after I slept on his couch, all the while knowing I needed to be there.

Inside, students guided us to a table near a small stage where the college baseball team would sit for dinner. Some players quickly approached Rowan the moment we entered, following him in awe as he pulled out a chair for me and we settled into our seats.

“Meredith West?” I turned away from Rowan and some players when I heard my name. It was Cassidy, the student programs director I connected with for my work. “I wondered if the rumors were true.” She grinned, pointing to my date. “May I sit?”

She didn’t let me answer, instead she quickly sat on my other side and asked me about work. When she began with the disclaimer that she didn’t want to stir a pot and asked me why we weren’t expanding our programs and why we hadn’t posted our spring calendar yet. Neglecting to tell her the reason I was even at the dinner with her was because my fake boyfriend and I were trying to save my job so there would even be a spring calendar, I smiled and told her we were flexible and working on it.

After the school’s coach gave a speech thanking the Emeralds for joining them, praising his team’s efforts, they served dinner. I could feel the competition staring at us every once in a while, when they’d walk by or if I turned in their direction. Whatever connection Rowan and I had seemed so natural to the outside world, making the fake appear perfectly genuine. Unlike Levi and Erica, whose affection was quite appalling to watch.

Rowan promised he’d take me home after talking to some of the team, so I took the time to wander outside. The warm summer air smelled sweet as I stepped onto the patio overlooking the Willamette River, canopied by rhododendrons and blooming roses. A breeze tickled my shoulders, a cautious reminder that fall was near. So was October.

“I played like shit last week.” Rowan stated, crossing his arms as he leaned against the railing. “You know why, too.”

“I have no clue what goes on in that head of yours, Ellis.”

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