FALLING
1132 Words
Tessa didn’t plan to see Rowan the next day.
She told herself she needed distance. She needed structure. She needed at least one full day with her rules intact.
But at 3 p.m., she was still thinking about the way he’d looked at her in the tree maze.
At 4 p.m., she kept checking her phone even though he hadn’t texted.
By 5 p.m., she was pacing her living room while Jamie sat on the couch eating popcorn like it was a live show.
“You’re spiraling,” he observed.
“I’m not.”
“You’re walking holes in the floor.”
“I’m thinking.”
“You’re thinking about him.”
She whirled around. “I am thinking about my career, my deadline, the publisher breathing down my neck, the fact that I only have—” she checked her calendar— “ten days left before Christmas Eve. Ten days, Jamie. Ten!”
He tossed popcorn in his mouth. “Then text him.”
“I can’t text him! I’ve broken enough rules.”
He shrugged. “Rules are made to be broken.”
“No, they are not. They are made to protect people like me who over-invest too fast.”
“Oh my God,” Jamie groaned, “you sound like your own audiobook.”
She glared at him.
Her phone buzzed.
Her breath stopped.
Rowan.
Still on for tomorrow? —R
Tessa stared at the message like it was radioactive.
Jamie squealed. “Tessa. Tessa. Answer him. Right now. Don’t think. Don’t breathe. Don’t overanalyze.”
She typed back quickly before she could second-guess herself:
Yes. What time?
He replied instantly.
Whenever you’re free. I’m easy.
Jamie smirked. “Mm. Bet he is.”
“Shut up.”
Then Rowan sent another message.
I can come to you. If that’s okay.
Tessa froze.
Jamie gasped. “Oh.
Oh she’s screwed.
Rule Two: No home dates before the third outing.
Rule Three: No man enters the sacred Netflix sanctuary until he earns the key.”
Tessa threw a cushion at him.
“Stop narrating my downfall!”
But her heart thumped so loud it felt like it shook her ribs.
Rowan.
Here.
In her apartment.
Her tiny, cozy, lived-in space.
Her safe place.
It felt… intimate. Too intimate.
But she typed anyway, almost against her own will:
Yeah. That’s fine.
Jamie clutched his chest like he’d witnessed a miracle. “She did it. She broke Rule Two. We will remember this day forever.”
Tessa cleaned like she was prepping for a royal visit. Candles. Fresh throw blanket. Soft lights. She even made tacos, because everyone likes tacos.
She tried to look casual — jeans, sweater, hair in a low messy bun — but her stomach hadn’t unclenched once
At exactly seven-thirty, her doorbell rang.
Her heart jolted.
She opened the door.
Rowan stood there holding a small box wrapped in red paper.
His jacket dusted with winter chill.
His smile soft as December snow.
“Hey,” he said, warm and boyish. “I, uh… brought you something.”
She blinked. “For me?”
“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck like he wasn’t used to giving gifts. “It’s nothing huge. Just saw it today and thought of you.”
She stepped aside. “Come in.”
He walked in slowly, looking around like he was entering a place he didn’t want to disturb. “Your place feels… peaceful.”
“Thank you.”
“Can I give you the gift now?”
She nodded.
He handed her the little box.
Inside was a tiny snow globe — a miniature winter village with one glowing lamppost in the center.
She swallowed hard. “It’s beautiful.”
“It reminded me of you,” he said quietly. “Warm. Gentle. Kind of magical.”
Her breath hitched.
He didn’t know.
He didn’t know anything.
And somehow that made every word hit harder.
They sat on her couch, eating tacos and laughing about how she dropped half the lettuce on herself.
“Are you always like this?” Rowan asked, amused.
“Graceful? No.”
He leaned back, close enough that her knee brushed his.
Close enough that her pulse grew reckless.
“You’re easy to be around,” he said softly.
Her throat tightened. “I’m really not.”
“You are to me.”
Silence folded around them.
Warm.
Golden.
Fragile.
She could feel him watching her.
Not staring.
Watching.
Like he was memorizing her without trying to.
“Tessa?” he said gently.
“Hm?”
“Can I ask you something? And you don’t have to answer.”
Her heartbeat stuttered.
“Why do I feel like you’re holding something back?”
Her breath caught.
“Is it because I’m moving too fast?” he continued. “If I am, tell me. I don’t want you to feel pressured.”
Guilt hit her so sharply she had to look down.
He wasn’t moving too fast.
She was lying too much.
“No,” she whispered. “You’re not the problem.”
“Then what is?”
She lifted her eyes — and the look on his face nearly unraveled her.
Honest.
Open.
Concerned.
She forced a smile. “I’m just… careful.”
“That’s okay,” he said immediately. “I can be patient.”
He said it like a promise.
And patience from a man like Rowan?
That was dangerous.
Beautiful.
Magnetic.
Rule Five:
Never let the experiment blur with real emotion.
She was failing.
Completely and utterly failing.
Rowan stood to leave around ten, pulling on his jacket.
“Thank you for tonight,” he said at her door. “Really.”
“Thank you for coming.”
He hesitated, looking down at her like he wasn’t sure if he should… or shouldn’t…
Her breath trembled.
He leaned forward slowly—
not touching, not rushing—
just giving her time to stop him.
She didn’t stop him.
He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, fingers barely grazing her cheek.
Electricity shot through her ribs.
“Tessa…” he murmured.
Her eyes drifted closed.
But before he kissed her—
She stepped back.
“I— I can’t,” she whispered.
Rowan paused.
Softened.
Nodded.
“It’s okay,” he said gently. “Goodnight.”
He left.
And Tessa closed the door, slid down to the floor, and buried her face in her hands.
Jamie peeked from the hallway. “Did you kiss?”
“No.”
“Did you almost kiss?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, honey.” Jamie sighed dramatically.
“You’re not just breaking rules anymore.”
He crouched down beside her, with a wide smile
"You are entering a dangerous path"
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- Writer
