Chapter 24 XXIV
There was indeed a restaurant right there in the hotel. Rowan had dressed up in a simple T-shirt and jeans. It made me giddy that he was still in casual clothes, and he looked very handsome in them. I could barely keep my eyes off him.
As we sat down to eat, my eyes remained on Rowan, staring at him like he hung the moon in the sky, and perhaps he did.
Flustered at my intense gaze, Rowan picked up the menu and began flipping through the pages. “Why are you looking at me?” he asked in a slight mumble, with his eyes still on the menu.
I smirked, enjoying how shy and flustered my stare made him. Times like this gave me hope that maybe Rowan feels something for me as well. But I still wasn’t sure if he’s even gay. He doesn’t even know I’m gay, so I learnt not to hope too much.
“You look really good in your outfit,” I complimented without shame. I can’t deny that his outfit drove me wild. If only he were mine, I would have a lot of fun peeling those clothes off him.
Rowan looked down at himself with a frown. “Uh, there’s nothing special about my dress-up. I just put on a shirt and jeans.”
“Precisely why I said you look really good. I’ve never really seen you in such casual wear before. It’s always your business suit.”
He nodded to himself in realization. “Oh, I guess you’re right. You’ve always seen me within the office.” He rubbed his neck nervously.
I leaned forward with a smirk. “I have to say, casual Rowan Brooks is really good-looking.”
His cheeks turned red, and I smiled, loving the colour and also knowing I was the reason.
Fuck, the things I want to do to that innocent face.
He cleared his throat to change the topic. “So… uh, have you found what you would like to eat on the menu?”
I picked up the menu, deciding to let him off the hook for now. I know he gets easily flustered by my teasing, but I recall that this is a dinner to make it up to him for being a dick last time. I shouldn’t ruin it.
I looked through the menu. Most of it was written in French, but I did recognise one word. “I think I’ll like some pasta.”
Rowan nodded and waved the waitress over. She approached us with a big smile, majorly directed at me. She was tall and beautiful in her black mini skirt, a button-up, and a bow tie. Maybe if I wasn’t gay and very interested in the man seated across from me, I would go for her.
“Bonsoir, messieurs. Que désirez-vous ?” she spoke in perfect French, and I had no idea what she was saying, but Rowan did.
He replied in that same French language that made my dick hard for him and turned me on to the point that it was almost painful. “Pouvez-vous nous apporter deux assiettes de pâtes et une bouteille de vin, s’il vous plaît ?”
“Tout de suite, monsieur,” she smiled and was gone in a second.
I stared at Rowan in admiration. “I didn’t know you spoke French.”
Rowan shrugged like his French accent wasn’t daring me to leap over this table and tear his clothes off. “I picked it up when I had to spend six months in France for a business project.”
“Woah, you’re really smart. Who just picks up a language?”
He smiled slightly, and my lips twisted. My chest ached with the need to make him smile again. “When you’re surrounded by the right people, it’s possible.”
I nodded and allowed my smirk to widen. “Well, I think it’s sexy.”
His eyes widened, and I watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Excuse me?”
That beautiful colour on his cheeks was back. “I said your French accent is hot. I like it.”
His blush deepened, and he looked down at the table. God, why is he so fucking cute?
The waitress returned with our order and placed it on the table before us. After we thanked her and she left, Rowan and I began a game of cat and mouse, where I stared at him with a warm smile, and he avoided my stare with a blush on his cheeks.
We ate the meal in silence, save for a few words here and there.
After dinner, Rowan and I walked side by side as we returned to our room. On our way, we passed by a hall filled with people ice-skating within.
I paused for a second to be sure I was seeing correctly, and Rowan did the same. I was fascinated by the artificial ice-skating rink and the way people moved about effortlessly.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved skating. It gave me a sense of peace, and it reminded me of my parents. They usually took Alessandra and me skating every Saturday.
“Alessandro, are you okay?”
I stared at Rowan, who was looking at me in concern. “Would you like to skate with me, Rowan?”
His eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights. “Uh… well, I… I don’t think I should, Alessandro. I’ve never skated in my life.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “You’ve never skated?! Do you even know how to spell the word fun?”
He stared at me like I was stupid. “Of course I can. F-U-N?”
I chuckled at his confused yet cute face. “What am I going to do with you, Rowan? You can’t even recognize sarcasm.” I grabbed his shoulder and pushed him gently towards the ice-skating hall. “Let’s go skate.”
“But I don’t know how!” he said in alarm.
“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you,” I assured him and pulled him until we were in the hall.
The attendant gave us both a skating boot, and I was quick to join in the fun. Rowan stood there unsure and frightened as he stumbled upon the ice rink.
I chuckled as I slid next to him. “Here, let me help you.”
He shook his head, looking terrified. “I think I’d rather get off now. This is terrifying.”
“It’s not, Rowan. Don’t be a baby.” I placed his hand on my arm. “Here, hold my arm. I’ll pull you along.”
He hesitated for a second but did as told. At his touch, my heart pounded fast in a gentle beat, and I felt giddy like a schoolboy whose crush was paying attention to him for the first time.
Rowan holding on to me like this is very special to me. A rare moment I fear to see the end. I really don’t want this moment to end.
Suddenly, Rowan cried out. “Wait, hold on a minute, Alessandro. Something got caught in my boot.”
I slid around to face him, which caused him to let go of my arm. Rowan lost his balance and came falling down right into me. I would have caught him, but the slippery boots slid, and Rowan fell right on top of me.
Our faces were so close, and we were staring right into each other’s eyes like we were just seeing ourselves for the first time.
The pull I felt towards Rowan was strong. This was my chance to finally have a taste of those lips. To finally fulfil one of my greatest desires.
I have no idea what Rowan has done to me, but every day, he was in my thoughts. I have tried countless times not to think of him in that way, but I myself knew that Rowan Brooks has poisoned my heart.
I used to be a big-time player. A man who doesn’t care about getting into a relationship. But with Rowan, I wanted all of that. I want to love him and to be loved by him. I can’t even look at guys anymore. Rowan Brooks has completely destroyed me for others.
As if just realising the position we were in, Rowan’s eyes shot up, and he quickly scrambled off me. He tried his best to stand on his skating boots. “I… I’m so sorry, Alessandro. I didn’t mean to fall on you. Something was in my boot and…”
I chuckled, trying to hide the overwhelming feelings that threatened to consume me. “It’s fine, Rowan.” I stood up and dusted my hands. “I think you’re right, we have to go.”
Rowan nodded in agreement. I stretched out my hand to him, and he took it with a moment of hesitation. I supported him until we got to the attendants, who helped us take off our boots.
When we got to our rooms, Rowan looked at me before we could go in, and he said, “Thanks for today, Alessandro. I really had fun, even though it was just for a bit.”
His words warmed my heart, and I found myself grinning like a fool. “It’s my pleasure, Rowan.”
He nodded and hurried into his room, while I stood there like I had just won a lottery.
But I won something better.
I won Rowan’s forgiveness and also spent time with him.
Rowan is my sister’s boyfriend, yet I still hoped that one day he would love me instead.