The Weekend
1503 Words
Rhea’s POV
That wasn’t Rowan’s voice.
I stepped back, squinting into the darkness. Then the light clicked on.
When my eyes adjusted, there stood a stranger. Bare-chested, cute as f**k, and staring at me with a look I didn’t dare try to interpret.
“Oh, you must be Rowan’s little wife.” He grinned, breaking the awkward silence.
The tension in my body slowly began to ease. “Yeah, I am,” I said slowly.
“Where are my manners?” He held out a hand. “I’m Lucas.”
I hesitated, then took it. “Rhea.”
“You’re very beautiful, Rhea.” He said it so easily, as if it were a fact. “No wonder that rascal has been hiding you.”
I couldn’t help but blush. At least someone knows how to appreciate good things.
We ended up in the kitchen for the next hour, laughing over nothing and everything. Lucas was the kind of person who made a room lighter just by being in it—nothing like Rowan. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt, and for a while, I completely forgot about my little mission.
The next morning, I caught Rowan heading to the gym. I had worn my tightest shorts. He walked past me without blinking.
Two days later, I wore that fitted white dress Lyra swore was a weapon. He looked up from his laptop, and said “You’re going out dressed like that?” and went back to typing.
I wanted to scream.
“I’m telling you, Rowan does not like me.” I dropped my head into Lyra’s lap dramatically.
“His loss.” She stroked my hair. “Bestie, he is a fool. A certified, fine-looking fool.”
I groaned in disappointment.
“Okay, new plan.” She sat up, forcing me with her. “We take your mind off him. Dates. Actual dates, with actual men who will appreciate you.”
I stared at the ceiling. “Dating apps?”
“Dating apps.” She nodded firmly. “Give the guys here a chance. Who knows, you might start to forget him.” Then just as I was about to get into my car, she grabbed my hand. “Also, get rid of that vibrator with his name on it.” She gave me that warning look.
I nodded and drove off.
Well, Lyra did exactly what she promised. She registered me on three different dating apps and made sure to share my number with every single colleague she could reach.
But every chat fizzled after a day or two and I’d find myself back at my window, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Rowan. I stared at the window all day. I daydreamed all day. I couldn’t get him out of my head no matter how hard I tried.
After a night of staring at the ceiling and barely managing to fall asleep, I heard a soft knock at the door.
I groaned. It had to be Zoe.
The knock came again.
I was already cursing under my breath as I dragged myself out of bed and shuffled toward the door, ready to give her a proper piece of my mind.
Then I caught a glimpse of who was standing there.
Rowan.
He stood there like he had stepped straight out of a magazine. His bathrobe loosely tied, his chest tattoos peeking through, his hair looking like it had never met a bad day in its life.
I snapped upright immediately, one hand flying to check for drool. “Good morning,” I said, my voice coming out more nervous than I intended.
“Good morning to you too, Rhea.” He paused, his eyes lingered on my face for a second. “Someone seems to be sleeping late.”
My heart dropped. Had he noticed me watching from my window?
“Just school work.” I blurted.
He nodded, his face holding no expression as usual. “Noona invited us home for a weekend gathering. I thought I should let you know so you could get ready.”
I nodded.
He turned to leave, and I was genuinely grateful because I felt like I was two seconds away from collapsing from the tension. Then he paused and glanced back. “I will send a stylist to help you pick outfits.” He said and walked away without looking at me again.
I shut the door.
When I passed the mirror, I stopped dead.
My hair was everywhere. The bags under my eyes had bags of their own. And there was dried drool on my cheeks.
“Argh!!” I pressed my palms to my face.
Wonderful. Every single time I made an effort to look good, he was nowhere near me. But the one morning I looked like something dragged in from the street, he was standing right at my door.
When I was done punishing myself, reality came back in full force.
I was going to spend an entire weekend with Rowan. And his weird family. And that wicked stepmother of his.
The thought alone gave me the creeps.
I grabbed my phone and called Lyra immediately.
She picked up on the first ring.
I narrated the whole ordeal to her, seeking a coping mechanism.
“Finally, our prayers have been answered.” That was the first thing out of her mouth.
“What?” I said, confused.
“This is your chance to get laid, bestie. In front of his Noona, he cannot stay away from you even if he wants to. So you need to take charge of this situation.” She said.
That had genuinely never crossed my mind.
“Eww, Lyra. It’s his parents’ house.”
“Why are you acting like a saint? You are not my love, so take your man wherever and whenever you get the chance. I am coming over right now. I have a lot to teach you.” She hung up before I could say another word.
In less than an hour, Lyra was seated on my bed, pouring advice like she was being paid for it. How to seduce him subtly. What to do, what not to do. God knows I soaked up every single word.
Even when I went shopping with the stylist, Lyra came along and made sure to pick out the sexiest nighties and lingerie she could find.
The stylist, on the other hand, had her own agenda. Every piece she pulled out came with the same verdict. “Oh, Mr. Langston wouldn’t like this.” That was her chorus all evening, until Lyra had finally had enough and stepped in.
- - - -
Finally, the weekend arrived.
I didn’t sleep the night before. I wasn’t sure if it was nerves or excitement or both, but I was up early, going through my bag twice to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything.
He had texted the day before that we would leave early.
I kept it simple. A light touch of makeup, my hair in a neat ponytail, my neck intentionally left bare just as Lyra had instructed. A plain black dress. Simple sandals.
Zoe came in a few minutes later and helped carry my luggage.
Soon we were seated in his car. Absolute silence. Zoe and the driver up front. Me beside Rowan, scrolling through my phone just to have something to do with my hands.
The drive felt long. My stomach was already doing things by the time the car came to a stop.
I didn’t even notice my door had opened until I looked up.
Rowan was standing there like an absolute gentleman, hand extended.
I took it nervously, and he pulled me up gently.
Just as I steadied myself, he leaned in and my breath caught instantly. His hand lifted from his side to my collar, gently straightening my dress, slow and deliberate. Then he lowered his voice to a quiet whisper.
“Don’t worry. I will be with you the whole time. You don’t have to be nervous.” Then his fingers brushed my jaw playfully.
I was almost gone.
Then I turned and saw his Noona and stepmother standing not far away, watching.
The warmth drained from my face instantly.
What an actor.
Fine then. Two could play that game. I was just about to slide my hand into his when I heard quick, excited footsteps behind me.
A girl came rushing toward us. She stopped right in front of Rowan, barely sparing me a glance before she rolled her eyes in my direction. Then she reached out and locked her hand around his arm like she owned it, her eyes carrying the exact same look mine had every time I stared at Rowan.
She smiled up at him. “I’ve missed you. You haven’t come to see me in a while.”
I stood completely still, my hand still hung in mid-air.
With a lot of questions filling my head.
Who the hell was she?
- Writer
