Rivals Redemption

chapter 22 : Jealousy

Tina Diaz

I could still feel Rowan’s lips on mine as we made our way back into the party, the warmth of his touch lingering on my skin. The intensity of what had just happened still buzzed in my chest, a feeling that hadn’t settled yet but was impossible to ignore. I stole a glance at him, noticing how his posture had shifted, how he seemed as unsettled by the kiss as I was.

What did it mean, though? Where did we go from here?

The questions swirled in my head as the thumping music brought me back into the present. I spotted Aiden and Lemi near the speakers, looking disheveled but satisfied, as if they’d come back from their own little adventure. My gaze drifted across the room, falling on Nash and Grace—Grace laughing as Nash strummed a few chords on his guitar. They seemed so solid, so sure of each other. That kind of certainty was a distant concept for me and Rowan, and maybe that was the problem.

I took a deep breath, the air heavy with the smell of alcohol, perfume, and sweat, as I tried to regain my composure. We had come here to unwind, to escape the pressures of law school, NASA projects, and the ever-present stress of internships. But this—whatever this was between us—had complicated everything.

Rowan was still beside me, close enough that our arms brushed every now and then, the casual touch setting off little sparks under my skin. I felt drawn to him in a way that scared me. How could we go back to being just friends after that kiss? Did I even want to go back?

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of my name, a familiar voice cutting through the noise.

“Tina! Hey!”

I turned to see Jack, one of my colleagues from the law firm, weaving through the crowd toward me. He was smiling, his eyes lighting up as he took in the scene around him.

"Didn't expect to see you here!" Jack said, his voice loud enough to be heard over the music. He was tall, confident, with an easy charm that made him popular both at the office and in social settings.

I smiled back, trying to push away the whirlwind of thoughts still clouding my mind. "Yeah, figured I could use a break from work. What about you?"

Jack laughed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Same here. Been drowning in briefs all week. Nice to blow off some steam, right?" His eyes flicked over me, lingering for just a second too long on the hem of my dress, and I felt a slight unease creep in.

Rowan shifted beside me, and I could sense the tension radiating off him. I glanced his way, catching the hard set of his jaw, the way his eyes darkened as he watched Jack.

I forced a laugh, trying to keep the conversation light. "Yeah, definitely needed a break. How’s everything at the firm?"

Jack launched into a story about one of the partners, his voice carrying that familiar blend of arrogance and charm. I nodded along, but my mind kept drifting back to Rowan. I could feel his gaze on me, sharp and intense, like he was holding something back. The tension between the three of us hung heavy in the air, and I wasn’t sure how long it would last before something snapped.

Jack’s hand brushed mine as he made some animated gesture, and that was when I saw Rowan step closer, his presence towering behind me. His hand rested on the small of my back, possessive but gentle, and I could feel the heat of his body against mine. It sent a thrill through me, and I knew Jack had noticed the shift in the atmosphere too.

Jack’s smile faltered for a second, his gaze flicking between Rowan and me. "Well, it was good seeing you, Tina," he said, a touch of awkwardness creeping into his voice. "I’ll catch up with you later, yeah?"

I nodded, offering him a polite smile as he melted back into the crowd. As soon as he was gone, I turned to Rowan, my heart pounding, wondering what was going through his mind.

"You okay?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

Rowan’s eyes softened as they met mine, the tension easing slightly. "I’m fine," he said, though the tightness in his voice told me otherwise.

I raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? You looked like you were about to knock Jack out."

He smirked, but there was no humor in it. "He was staring at you."

I sighed, stepping closer to him. "Rowan, it’s not a big deal. He’s just a colleague."

He didn’t respond immediately, his gaze still intense, searching my face as if trying to figure out what I was thinking. I could feel the energy between us shifting again, the same charged tension from earlier creeping back in.

"You don’t get it, do you?" he said finally, his voice low and rough. "I don’t care about him. I care about you."

His words hit me harder than I expected. I wasn’t sure how to respond, wasn’t sure what he was trying to say. Was this about more than just Jack?

"Rowan," I started, but he cut me off, his hand sliding up my arm, sending a shiver through me.

"Tina," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, "I can’t stand seeing other guys looking at you like that. It’s driving me crazy."

I blinked, my breath catching in my throat. His words sent a thrill through me, but they also scared me. What did this mean for us? We had always danced around the edges of something more, but now it felt like we were teetering on the edge of a cliff, one wrong move away from falling.

I swallowed hard, meeting his gaze head-on. "And what are we supposed to do about that?"

For a moment, neither of us said anything. The music, the party, the people around us—it all faded away, leaving just the two of us standing there in the middle of Aiden’s chaotic apartment, on the verge of something we couldn’t take back.

Rowan’s hand slid down to mine, his fingers threading through mine as he pulled me closer, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, "We stop pretending. Stop holding back."

I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of his words sink in. I wanted this—wanted him—but I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what came next.

But as I stood there, pressed against him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against mine, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I was ready to find out.