"I swear, if I'm dying tonight because of you, I'm gonna haunt your ass so hard, Harrington!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah! I'm gonna go full Poltergeist and shit!"
"Then bring it, Graveswood."
"Challenge accepted."
***
In which after years of suppressing their...
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Chapter One-Hundred-And-Forty-Four: The Creel House
(The Nina Project, Pt. 2)
***
Rowan's nails dug into the denim of her jeans, hard enough it felt like she was leaving dents in her skin underneath. From where she was sitting in the back of Nancy's car—the exact same position she was in last summer—she was jostled with every bump and turn, but she barely felt it.
Because only minutes away was the Creel house, and their chance for answers about how to find Vecna so they could stop him. Maybe even what was his connection to the Creels beyond the murders and an answer for why he even murdered them.
It seemed a lot to hope for, but Rowan was clinging to that hope with a death grip if it meant finding a way to actually break the curse outside of music on Max and Alistair, prove Eddie's innocence and avenge Chrissy.
A hand slid on top of hers and Rowan looked across from her to Steve, sitting in the back with her, his legs slotted between hers. His thumb stroked the back of her hand, the movement easing some of the tension coiled up inside Rowan. She relaxed a fraction, sending a grateful smile to Steve as she knocked her knee against his. He knocked hers back.
Right after he did, a particularly large bump came and Rowan found herself keeling forward and right onto Steve, knocking him against the side of the car. They stared at each other, and despite the context of the situation, Rowan found herself letting out a snort of laughter as she said, "Sorry, Steve."
Steve stared at her, eyes wide and cheeks flushed, before he replied, "It's fine."
He then grinned and said, "Though, this, uh... this isn't how I thought you'd be on top of me."
Rowan's eyebrows raised, before she let out another snort and punched Steve in the chest and sat back, Steve still having that grin before he grabbed her and pulled her forward so her back was against his chest, Rowan letting out a shriek as he did.
Looking up at him, Rowan asked dryly, "Was this what you were thinking, Harrington?"
"Maybe," Steve said.
Rowan elbowed him and Steve huffed out a laugh, his breath tickling her neck.
From the back seat, Dustin's annoyed voice chimed in.
"Come on, can you guys stop being all couple-y and gross?"
"Says the one who also has a girlfriend," Max shot back as Rowan flipped Dustin the bird.
"Yeah, Dusty-Bun, so fuck off," Rowan agreed, smiling sweetly.
"I'm just saying!"
"Weren't you the one constantly trying to get us together, Henderson?" Steve asked pointedly.
