My Shameless Eyes
711 Words
Rhea’s POV
I sighed, he probably still saw me as a kid. I wasn’t experienced at all, just like Mia had said.
I sat on the edge of the bed staring at nothing. His words kept replaying on a loop. Even if I wanted to, I can’t. What did that even mean? I turned it over and over in my head until it stopped making sense. Maybe it meant nothing. Maybe I was the only one reading into it.
I showered, ate the dinner Zoe brought, and climbed into bed. But sleep was not interested in me at all. I tossed to the left, then the right, then stared at the ceiling like it owed me answers.
The bed smelled like him and that wasn’t helping.
I finally gave up. I got up, changed into something comfortable, and slipped out. I prayed I wouldn’t run into Rowan’s step mum or that girl Mia. Liam I could handle, but those two together would finish me tonight.
After a few wrong turns and one very long hallway, I found the garden.
The air outside hit me immediately and I exhaled for what felt like the first time all evening. I walked slowly, letting it wash over me. The compound was something else at night, lights scattered across the hedges, the sky wide and quiet above.
“It’s beautiful,” I said to no one in particular.
I kept walking, hoping the tiredness would catch up with me but it didn’t. My mind was still too loud.
Zoe appeared not long after, jacket in hand like she had been watching me the whole time. She draped it over my shoulders without a word and fell into step beside me.
We walked in comfortable silence for a while before it clicked.
Alcohol. That was what I needed. Something to shut my brain up long enough for sleep to find me.
“Do you know where the bar is?” I asked.
“Of course.” She said, already turning.
She took me through parts of the house I hadn’t seen, wide corridors, dimly lit rooms, and a sitting area that looked untouched. Then she pushed open a door and I walked in and stopped.
The bar was fully set up, shelves lined with bottles, low lighting, soft music playing from somewhere. Just like a normal city bar. There was even a bartender standing behind the counter.
This was luxury for sure.
“Good evening Ma’am.” He greeted me immediately.
“Good evening,” I replied, still looking around.
“What do I offer you?”
I scanned the bottles but nothing was jumping out at me. “Anything that could help me sleep,” I said honestly.
He smiled like he had heard that one before. “Don’t worry, I have the perfect drink for you. This house can be a lot sometimes.”
He got to work, mixing things together with the kind of confidence that made you trust him immediately. Then he slid a glass across to me.
“My special.” He said.
I took a sip and my eyes widened. It hit just right, smooth with a kick underneath, like a chocolate milkshake that had made a few bad decisions. I could taste the alcohol but it didn’t burn. It just settled warmly.
I was on my second glass before I realized it. The music, the low light, the drink, everything was working together and I could feel my shoulders finally drop. My vision started going soft at the edges and sleep came rushing in like it had been waiting outside the whole time.
I thanked him and made my way out.
The walk back was fine until it wasn’t. My steps picked up on their own because the urge to use the bathroom came in strong and sudden. I found the room without any trouble, pushed the door open, and went straight for the bathroom.
I turned the handle and walked in.
And froze.
Rowan stood right there, stark naked, skin still glistening with water. Every single drop trailing down slowly.
My eyes traveled down before my brain could do anything about it.
And what I saw made every thought I had about being inexperienced feel very, very valid.
- Writer
