<b>Chapter </b><b>147 </b>
Rex looked intrigued. “Why not this week?”
“Next week,” Rowan replied, dodging the question.
He still owed Bradley a favor over that fountain pen–he had to show
some respect.
“Frank will probably show up too,” Rex reminded him.
“Good,” Rowan said simply.
He listened to the steady, even breathing in his headphones and nced toward his front door. His eyes were dark and unreadable–there was something deeper there.
Now, between him and her, only this door remained.
Rex picked up on the undertone in Rowan’s voice and chuckled. “Aren’t you worried Frank will see right through you?”
Even as he asked, he realized it was a pointless question.
When had Rowan ever cared what others thought?
Sure enough, Rowan didn’t even bother answering. He nced at his
watch and stood up. “That’s all, right? You can see yourself out.”
H “<b>I </b>
Rex clicked his tongue but didn’t budge. “What’s up with you tonight, anyway?”
The more secretive Rowan was, the more suspicious it seemed.
Rowan couldn’t be bothered. He strode off to the bathroom, long legs eating up the distance.
Left alone, Rex ruffled the dog’s head. “Max, be a pal and tell your uncle what your dad’s up to, huh?”
Since when did he and Rowan start keeping secrets from each other?
<b>10:45 </b>
Chapter <b>147 </b>
But Max was fiercely loyal, and wouldn’t let Rex touch his head for long. With a shake, he pulled away and padded over to his bed by the window, sprawling out without a care.
“You little traitor…”
By the time Rowan came out of the shower, dressed and ready, Rex finally figured out what was off.
He stared. “How did you manage to get your little sister to agree to go out with you so quickly?”
Usually, Rowan was all about those tailored three–piece suits, hair perfectly styled, every detail immacte.
But tonight, he was in casual clothes for once, hair artfully tousled, and even his watch was different.
A man in his thirties, but he’d styled himself more like a college kid.
Clearly trying to close the gap between their ages.
Rowan caught Rex’s eye, raising an eyebrow. “Who said it was a date?”
Not a date, technically. But the girl in question was definitely his little
sister.
Rex grinned. “Oh, so what is it, then? Father–daughter bonding?”
“Screw off,” Rowan shot back with augh. “She’s taking me shopping.”
“Shopping? Who’s buying for who?”
Rowan straightened his jacket, his eyes shing with amusement. “Obviously, she’s buying for me.”
Rex looked at him in disbelief. “Weren’t you obsessively germophobic? Since when do you buy clothes out in public?”
Young Master Murphy’s wardrobe had always been custom or designer, everything washed and sanitized before evening near his skin.
“Mind your own business.”
10:45
Rowan grabbed a jacket and, instead of kicking Rex out, tossed him a
task. “I’m heading out. Since you’ve got nothing better <i>to </i>do, take Max for a walk–half an hour, minimum.”
Before Rex could protest, the door mmed shut.
Traitor. Chasing after a girl and leaving your friends behind!
Elissa was half–asleep when the doorbell started ringing nonstop.
She threw the covers over her head and pressed her ears shut.
“Ellie, it’s almost six,” came a deep, clear voice from the hall.
She instinctively grumbled, “I don’t care what time it is, I’m not getting up…”
Mid–sentence, she jolted upright.
Wait. That’s not right.
This wasn’t eight years ago.
Back then, she was terrible about getting up–no rm could budge her, and Rowan was always the one to drag her out of bed. He’d show up
looking half–asleep himself, toothpaste already lining up her toothbrush, cup of water in hand.
She’d be grumpy about it, but there was always a bit of fear mixed in–so she’d scrub her teeth angrily, but obediently.
Every time, Rowan would say, “If you don’t want your teeth, I’ll have them all pulled out for you. That way, you can sleep in for two extra minutes.”
He was always sharp–tongued.
Elissa shook off the memory and grabbed her phone, blinking at the seven–hour call duration on the screen.
She needed a minute to make sense of it. Then she remembered what she’d promised before falling asleep.
10:45
Chapter <b>147 </b>
Clearing her throat, she mumbled, “I–I slept like a rock. Give me a
second.”
She hung up, rushed to wash up and get dressed.
Opening the door, she found Rowan leaningzily against the wall. When he saw her, he straightened, his tone as dry as ever. “I thought you’d skip out just to save a few bucks.”
“…Please. I can afford a suit,” Elissa replied, shrugging on her coat as she stepped out.
“Then let’s go.”
As Rowan pressed the elevator button, Elissa slipped on her jacket and stood beside him, waiting. For a fleeting moment, they looked just like a married couple heading out together.
The elevator arrived quickly. Inside was a young couple–the girl snuggled in the guy’s arms, his hand resting on her waist. When Rowan and Elissa entered, the guy smiled sheepishly but didn’t move.
They looked every bit the newlyweds.
Rowan stepped in first, and as he turned, his eyes briefly lingered on
Elissa’s waist.
The girl, bubbly and outgoing, nced at Elissa. “We just moved in upstairs. Haven’t seen you and your husband before–did you just move
in too?”
A flicker of amusement crossed Rowan’s eyes.
Elissa shook her head vigorously. “Oh, no, he’s just my neighbor. My husband doesn’t live here.”
Rowan, without missing a beat, asked, “So, which mall are you taking me to for my new clothes?”
As soon as Elissa finished rifying, Rowan’s questionnded like a ton of bricks.
10:45
She nced up at him, only to catch the young couple exchanging a meaningful look.
Apparently, in their eyes, her “neighbor” story wasn’t fooling anyone.