The Best Mate He Trusted Wanted Me More Chapter 12

The Best Mate He Trusted Wanted Me More Chapter 12

Rowan’s lashes fluttered.

The sea breeze lifted my dress.

His voice was wrecked.

“My cooking is good. I’m good at other things too.”

I squinted at him, skeptical.

The sunset painted his profile.

The red glow colored his cheeks.

He was good-looking. Sharp. Too tempting for his own good.

He kept pushing, and I decided not to overthink it.

“We’ll see at dinner.”

He swayed on his feet. His breathing turned heavy.

“Okay.”

Rowan had clearly oversold himself.

Watching him panic, sweating, pulling out an absurd number of condoms like he was preparing for a natural disaster, I felt a headache forming.

“If you can’t do it, just say so.”

In the dark, his eyes went red with frustration, more obvious than the mark under his eye.

“I’ve never done it before. I’ll learn. I’ll figure it out fast.”

He did not, in fact, need much time.

Rowan’s face went completely dark.

He was too embarrassed to look at me.

“Because you kept saying my name…”

I was done.

“You were the one losing control, and I was supposed to stay quiet?”

But watching him sulk, I softened.

“First time’s like that. Julian wasn’t much better.”

I regretted being a nice person.

Because after I said that, my back was destroyed for the rest of the night.

The reader feed was flying.

“Less insecurity, more rookie determination.”

“Rowan’s whole strategy is apparently cook, panic, overperform.”

“I still don’t like him. Mouthy, dramatic, and somehow effective. Annoying.”

“Rich, hot, cooks well, and now this. Unfortunately, the résumé is strong.”

“You’re awake?”

Rowan’s huge smile was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes.

He was beaming, so bright it gave me chills.

“Breakfast is ready. Get up.”

He crouched to grab my slippers, practically buzzing.

The reader feed couldn’t even.

“One good night and he turned into a morning-show host.”

“He promoted himself from private chef to boyfriend overnight. Bold.”

I twitched.

They were brutal.

Rowan had a way of taking care of people.

I barely had to move through the whole meal.

Then the second uninvited guest showed up.

Julian walked in as Rowan was wiping my mouth.

I was annoyed.

“That’s the fifth time. Go for a run or something.”

The reader feed was cackling.

“He’s wiping her mouth like it’s part of the boyfriend package.”

“That copied beauty mark is getting funnier every time he acts smug.”

“What are you doing?”

Julian’s eyes were dark.

The joy on his face shattered when he saw Rowan.

“I thought you left the country. What are you doing here?”

Rowan didn’t look up.

“None of your business.”

I saw the fight coming and decided to make myself scarce.

But Julian saw me moving and came after me.

He pointed at the mark under his left eye, desperate.

“Clara. Look. I didn’t get rid of mine…”

I stopped.

Rowan’s voice shot up.

“Doesn’t matter if you kept it. You’re already broken up.”

Julian locked eyes with me.

“I was angry that night. Angry you didn’t love me enough. Angry you loved me because of a mark. But this whole month, I’ve thought it through.”

His eyes reddened.

“I’ve been going crazy missing you. I finally found you. Let’s get back together…”

Rowan stepped in front of me.

“Get in line. I was here first. And I’ve got a mark too.”

That was the last straw.

Julian saw the marks on Rowan’s neck, clearly left there on purpose, and lunged.

I listened to them tussle behind me and yawned, heading toward Brighton Beach.

Perfect weather for the beach, seagulls, and fries.