Fire & Ice | Soulmate AU 1 |

chapter ten

Rowan texts me at around nine the next morning. The chime of the message coming in wakes me up and basically drags me out of the best sleep I've had in possibly weeks. It's kind of messed up that it takes a beating to knock me on my ass long enough to get a decent night's sleep, but I'm kind of messed up in general, so it's not like it's surprising.

Coffee?, the text reads.

I smile as I type back.

Sure :) send the address, I send in response.

Rowan meets me at a little coffee place that's only a few blocks away from my apartment. A normal League agent in their right mind would probably be a little uneasy about him knowing where I "live" and sleep, but I'm admittedly biased. Knowing Rowan exists is like a breath of much needed fresh air. I think a part of me was beginning to feel like I'm unlovable.

He's already ordered my favorite coffee by the time I get there. I told him my coffee order on our last date and I'm surprised he even remembered. I sit down opposite to him and he watches as I do, sipping at his drink patiently while I get situated.

The whole coffee shop "date" is comfortably uneventful. We sip at our drinks and talk about the meaningless aspects of life. My interest is peaked, though, when he suggests we pay a visit to a small bookstore down the street. I try to keep it cool and not get too excited when I agree. Atlas tells me I can be a real nerd sometimes and that's not exactly the persona I want to be giving off. Nerds don't deal drugs. Most nerds don't, at least. I'm not sure how many "track stars" do, but the number must be greater than the ones who choose to spend their entire day with their nose stuck in a book.

Rowan tells me all about how much he loved to read when he was growing up once we get inside the store and it makes my heart melt.

"I still do," I say without being able to stop myself, "I actually love books. Like. A lot. I'm a creative writing major."

His eyebrows shoot up but then he nods and a warm smile spreads across his face.

"Oh, yeah?" he replies, turning so he can run a finger across the line of book spines as we walk the length of the aisle. "I never woulda guessed it. You don't seem much like the type, to be honest."

"What's the type?"

"I mean, look at you, you're cut," he says, flashing me a playful smirk, "your favorite pastime is running for longer than the average Olympian and you enjoy it."

"So I don't look like a nerd is what you're trying to say?" I reply, nudging him slightly with my hip.

"Well, no, but—" he stops and groans in frustration. "You know what I mean, Lake."

I smirk.

"I do."

We continue the walk through the bookstore, checking out different books as we go. He points out one with a beautiful cover and holds it up so I can get a look at it. I recognize the author when I catch sight of his name across the bottom. I've read a few of his books before and have been meaning to pick up a copy of this latest one for a while.

"Your face just lit up," Rowan remarks, his lips quirking. "Do you want it?"

"Yeah, I've actually been meaning to buy it," I reply, reaching out to take it from him. He moves the book out of my reach.

"Let me buy it for you."

My stomach flips.

"Nah, c'mon, you don't have to," I reply, shaking my head.