Rivals Redemption

chapter 39 : Relationships are messy

Tina Diaz

As Rowan leaned in, I could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on us. The room went quiet, the tension between us thick and impossible to ignore. My heart raced, pounding so loud I was sure everyone could hear it. He was right there, his eyes locked on mine, and suddenly, all the banter, the back-and-forth teasing-it felt like it had led us straight to this moment.

His lips brushed against mine, and the world seemed to fall away. The kiss was different from the one before-more urgent, deeper. It was like neither of us could hold back anymore. The heat between us flared, and I found myself gripping his shirt, pulling him closer, not caring who was watching or what this meant for us.

Rowan's hand slid to the back of my neck, pulling me in even more. His touch sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't help but let out a small gasp as our kiss deepened. I could feel his intensity, the way he held me like he didn't want to let go, and for a second, it felt like I didn't want him to either.

I was vaguely aware of the others-of Aiden probably making some snide remark, of Lemi stifling a giggle, of Nash and Grace exchanging knowing looks-but none of it mattered. It was just me and Rowan, tangled in this moment that had been building up for far too long.

When we finally broke apart, I was breathless, my cheeks flushed. Rowan looked at me with a mixture of surprise and desire, his chest rising and falling like he had just run a marathon. I was right there with him, my mind racing as I tried to process what had just happened. I could still feel the lingering heat from his lips on mine, the way his hands had held me so tightly, like he had been waiting for this as long as I had.

"Well, that was..." Rowan started, his voice rough, but I couldn't tell if it was because of the kiss or the sheer intensity of everything that had just gone down.

I didn't let him finish. "Yeah, don't overthink it," I muttered, more to myself than to him. My brain was still reeling, but I couldn't let him see how much that kiss had affected me. Not yet.

I caught Aiden smirking out of the corner of my eye, clearly ready to make some comment, but I shot him a warning look that shut him up. The last thing I needed was more teasing, especially after that kiss. Lemi was beaming like she had just witnessed the juiciest piece of gossip, and Grace-bless her-just gave me a small, supportive nod as if to say, *I told you so.*

"Okay, I think we all need a break after that," Nash joked, standing up to grab his guitar. "How about a love song to lighten the mood?"

Grace smiled up at him, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders as she leaned into his side. "Of course," she said softly, her voice warm with affection. Nash didn't waste any time, strumming a few chords before launching into a sweet, melodic tune.

I watched them, my mind still swirling with everything that had just happened. Grace was lucky. She had someone who wore his heart on his sleeve, who didn't play games. Nash was always there for her, always so open about his feelings. Watching them together made something stir in me, something I wasn't sure I wanted to face yet.

As Nash sang to Grace, Rowan caught my eye again, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. I could still feel the tension between us, unresolved, heavy, and charged with an energy that made my skin tingle. I wondered if he could feel it too, or if I was just imagining it, but the way he looked at me told me he was just as wrapped up in this as I was.

Louis, who had been unusually quiet after his heartfelt confession, suddenly cleared his throat. All eyes turned to him. He was still looking at Sevia, his expression serious, like he had more to say.

"Sevia, I don't think you really understand how much you mean to me," he said, his voice low but full of emotion. "I've been an idiot, and I know I've hurt you, but I need you to know that I'm willing to fight for us."

Sevia blinked, her eyes wide, clearly caught off guard. "Louis, I-"

"No, let me finish," he interrupted, taking a deep breath. "I love you. I don't think I've said it enough, or maybe I've said it too late, but it's true. I love you, and I can't keep pretending like you don't mean everything to me."

The room was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. Sevia looked like she was on the verge of tears, her hands trembling slightly. She glanced around the room, her gaze landing on me, as if looking for support, before turning back to Louis.

"I don't know what to say," she whispered, her voice shaky.

Louis stood up, crossing the room to stand in front of her. "You don't have to say anything right now. Just know that I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Sevia stared up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I...I need time to think," she finally said, her voice barely audible.

Louis nodded, his expression softening. "Take all the time you need."

As the tension from Louis and Sevia's emotional moment hung in the air, I realized how complicated everything had become. Relationships were messy, and even though I had always thought I could keep things under control, Rowan was proving me wrong with every look, every touch.

And that kiss...that kiss was just the beginning.

As the night wore on and the game fizzled out, I found myself stealing glances at Rowan, my thoughts a jumbled mess. I wasn't sure what we were, or where this was heading, but one thing was clear: whatever this thing was between us, it wasn't going to be simple.