Fated to Break | ✓

f o u r t y ~ t w o

Rowan

Looks like our Christmas is going to be filled with rain instead of snow this year. I swallow the thick bubble lodged in my throat and keep hyper focused on the road in front of me.

Yet somehow Ollie's worried overthinking works it's way into the spot of top priority in my brain. She huffs another impatient breath when I don't answer her right away, "I'm freaking the hell out and I need you to promise me that if I embarrass myself in front of your dad even the tiniest bit you'll put me out of my misery. You need to promise me, Rowan!"

"Put you out of your misery how? Because if you're asking me what I think you're asking me then you're crazy for asking me that," I laugh, my chest tightening as I start pressing the brake too far from the stop sign than necessary.

Ollie huffs again and the adorableness of her frustration distracts me from my racing pulse. She taps her forehead to the window, "I want him to like me. No, I need him to like me."

"He will. My dad has the biggest heart, I'm telling you you're worrying for nothing," I turn onto the street I grew up on, the large familiar trees and unique homes with large grass yards pass us slowly and my heart beat lowers it's pace with it.

I turn into the driveway and pull as close to the house as possible, alining my truck with my fathers.

"Leave the presents, I'll come back later when the rain slows so they don't get soaked. Can you grab the umbrella? It's behind your seat."

I turn off the engine and turn towards her, pausing when I see the expression on her face.

"What?" I smile, studying her eyes and noticing her tender worry. Of course she noticed my anxiety. I try to avoid driving in the rain whenever possible. It always makes me remember the night my mother died. It was pouring and a tired driver hydroplaned into her taking both their lives, along with parts of mine and my fathers hearts with her.

"The moment you saw the house your muscles relaxed and the tension in your face eased. By a lot. Are you okay?" Olivia lifts to her knees and leans across the middle console, her soft hand brushing the hair from my forehead.

"I'm fine," I lean into her touch, a teasing smile on my lips, "Using any excuse to touch me before you gotta behave around the parental?"

She roughly grabs my face, squeezing my cheeks together and my eyes widen in surprise when she knocks her forehead to mine, "Don't change the subject. Tell me what's wrong. Your fake smile is only freaking me out more and I'm already close to throwing up from my nerves. Tell me to spare your precious truck from this morning's breakfast."

The intensity of her ice blue irises starts to melt the thin wall I put up to block out my emotions. I instantly break with the gentle encouragement in her eyes with a sigh.

I lift a hand to cup her neck, brushing my thumb through the silky baby hairs, "Driving in the rain brings back horrible memories. My mom, she.."

I swallow thickly as understanding flashes across her complexion.

She meets my eyes, "I'm such a bitch, I should've drove but I was too busy whining about my nerves. Why didn't you say something, I would've drove for you in a heartbeat." The concern and love in her eyes makes me turn to putty, which happens often with all things Olivia Brennan.