Chapter 14

She leaned forward slightly, her voice cutting through the noise like it was meant only for me. “Celeste… can I talk to you for a second?”

My throat went dry. But I nodded. “Yeah.”

Simone’s mouth dropped open, her eyes darting between us like she was about to combust. “Wait—are you two—”

Lila slapped a hand over Simone’s arm. “Let them.”

Naomi just sipped her coffee, calm as ever, though I swore I saw the faintest flicker of interest in her eyes.

Rowan stood, setting her coffee on the table. I followed, my legs shaky as I led her down the short hall to my bedroom. The door clicked softly behind us, muffling the sound of Simone’s muffled squeals.

My bedroom wasn’t much cleaner than the living room — blankets tossed, a chair full of clothes I hadn’t put away. I moved to straighten something, anything, but Rowan’s hand brushed my arm, stopping me.

“Don’t,” she said softly. “I didn’t come back here to see how tidy you keep your room.”

Rowan glanced toward the doorway, then back at me. Her voice was low, steady. “Do you mind closing the door? I just want to have a private moment.”

My pulse jumped. I hesitated only a second before reaching back and pressing the door shut. The click echoed louder than it should have.

When I turned, Rowan was already stepping forward.

Not hurried. Not forceful. Just deliberate — one step, then another, until the space between us had thinned to a breath. Her eyes held mine, steady and unflinching, every move deliberate like she was giving me time to stop her.

I didn’t.

Rowan’s eyes searched mine, her voice dropping low, thick with something that went deeper than the banter we’d tossed back and forth.

“I just wish,” she whispered, “that I could kiss you outside of reading a damn script. So I know that what I’m feeling is actually real.”

The words sank straight through me, shattering every defense I had left.

I stared at her, heart racing, my breath shaky. And then I heard myself say it. “Do it.”

Rowan froze, her lips parting in surprise. “Celeste—”

But I didn’t let her finish. I closed the distance in a single, reckless step, my mouth finding hers before she could talk me out of it.

She tensed for half a heartbeat, caught off guard — then melted against me, her lips softening, her breath catching in a way that made my knees weak.

A low sound slipped from her throat, vibrating between us, and it sent a shiver racing down my spine.

I pressed closer, tilting my head, and nipped gently at her bottom lip — a question more than a demand.

Rowan answered with a soft gasp, opening to me, her hands sliding up my arms as she gave in completely.

The kiss deepened, messy and desperate, no stage directions, no lines to fall back on. Just us. Just the fire we’d been circling since the first moment we met.

Before I could think better of it, instinct took over. I hooked my arms under her, lifting her off the floor in one smooth motion. She let out a startled laugh against my mouth, her legs tightening around me as I carried her the few short steps to the bed.

I laid her down gently, our lips never parting, the weight of her body sinking into the mattress as I hovered above her.

The kiss burned hotter, pulling me under. Rowan’s hands slid up my sides, over my back, anchoring me as if she couldn’t get close enough. I pressed closer, desperate for more, tasting her sighs between each breathless kiss.

Then her fingers drifted lower, brushing the edge of my waistband.

I caught her hand, breath breaking as I pulled back just enough to whisper, “Wait.”

Her eyes flicked to mine instantly, steady, searching.

“I need to tell you something,” I said, my voice trembling despite myself. “I’m… I’m intersex.”

For a moment, silence pressed between us. My chest tightened, bracing for the shift — the pause, the hesitation, the weight of it.

But Rowan didn’t flinch. Her lips curved into the faintest smile, her eyes warm and certain. “I already know.”

Shock rippled through me. “You—how?”

Her smile turned sly, teasing but not unkind. “It’s kind of hard not to notice… because of how big it is.”

Heat flooded my face, embarrassment sparking sharp and quick — until Rowan leaned in, her forehead brushing mine, her voice softening. “But thank you for telling me anyways. It means something that you trusted me with it.”

Her thumb brushed across my jaw, grounding me. “You don’t have to hide from me, Celeste. Not any part of you.”

“Rowan…” I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of everything hanging between us.

She gave me a small, knowing smile, her eyes softer now. “I know. I know.”

Then she stepped back, the space between us suddenly wide and unbearable, and just like that the moment broke.

I forced myself to breathe, to move, to open the door and lead the way back down the hall. The sound of Simone’s laughter and Lila’s groaning drifted back into focus, grounding me whether I wanted it to or not.

When we stepped into the living room, all three of them turned at once. Simone’s eyes went wide, practically sparkling with unspoken questions. Lila looked like she was seconds away from an interrogation. Naomi just raised a brow, calm as ever.

Rowan didn’t give them the chance. She strode right to the coffee table, eyed the half-empty bottle of tequila still sitting there, and smirked.

“I’m going to take a shot,” she said smoothly, glancing at the girls. “If you don’t mind.”

Simone shrieked with delight, scrambling upright. “Oh, I live for this.”

Lila groaned, dragging her blanket tighter around her shoulders. “This is a disaster.”

Naomi merely tipped her coffee cup toward Rowan. “Be my guest.”

Rowan poured the shot and downed it clean, setting the glass back on the table with a satisfying clink.

That’s when Simone leaned forward, eyes glittering with pure chaos. “Sooo,” she drawled, “what happened in there?”

Lila’s gaze snapped to me, sharp and accusing. “Yeah. You two disappeared long enough. What did you do?”

Naomi tilted her head, calm but curious. “I’d like to know too.”

I froze, my throat closing up, but Rowan didn’t even blink. She leaned back slightly, her tone smooth, casual.

“We were just making sure that what we were feeling was real,” she said, “and not just a script.”

Simone gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “And?!”

Lila narrowed her eyes. “How exactly do you test that?”

Rowan didn’t answer right away. Instead, she reached for the bottle again, poured herself another shot, and slid one across the table toward me. Her eyes lingered on mine as she lifted hers.

“We kissed,” Rowan said simply, tipping the shot back with smooth ease. She set the glass down, then nodded toward the one she’d given me.

My fingers shook as I lifted it, the heat in my face far stronger than the burn of tequila when I downed it.

Rowan leaned back in her chair, her lips curving into that faint, sure smile. “And lucky for everyone here — especially me — Celeste is stronger than I am. We stopped before we could get carried away.”

The room went dead silent.

Then Simone screamed into a throw pillow, kicking her feet like a teenager. “I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!”

Lila buried her face in her hands with a groan. “This is insane. Absolutely insane.”

Naomi, calm as ever, gave Rowan a slow nod of respect. “Honest.” Her gaze flicked to me. “Smart.”

Rowan’s eyes never left mine. Her smile softened just enough, like a private acknowledgment, even in front of everyone.

The room was already buzzing — Simone squealing, Lila groaning, Naomi watching quietly — when suddenly all three pairs of eyes snapped to me.

“Celeste,” Lila said slowly, suspicion dripping from her tone. “Did you… tell her?”

My stomach tightened. I set my shot glass down carefully, forcing myself to meet their stares. “She already knew. Before I told her.”

The girls froze, then turned as one to look at Rowan.

Simone’s jaw dropped, then she burst into laughter. “Wait—hold on. You knew? Oh my god.”

Rowan didn’t flinch. She leaned back in her chair, lips curving into the faintest smirk, and said smoothly, “Yes. I knew. I mean—her friend down there isn’t exactly small.”

The silence that followed lasted all of two seconds.

Then Simone screamed with laughter, nearly falling off the couch as she clutched her stomach. Lila’s eyes went huge before she slapped both hands over her face, groaning into them, though her shoulders shook with stifled laughter. Naomi actually choked on her coffee, coughing once before setting the cup down and letting the ghost of a smile creep across her face.

My cheeks burned hotter than fire. “Oh my god, Rowan!” I buried my face in my hands, groaning into them while the laughter around me roared.

Rowan just lifted her shot glass again, calm as ever. “What? It’s the truth.”

The laughter was still bouncing off the walls when Rowan, cool as ever, leaned back and said, “Well, I tried to touch…”

The girls froze mid-laugh, eyes snapping to her.

“…but she wouldn’t let me,” Rowan finished with a sly grin, flicking her gaze to me. “She told me if I did, I’d basically get hooked.”

Heat rushed up my neck. “Rowan!”

Simone wheezed into the couch cushion, pounding her fist into it. “STOP. STOP. I’m literally going to die.”

Lila looked at me, then at Rowan, her laughter bubbling up again until she could barely get the words out. “Well… she isn’t lying.”

Rowan tilted her head, intrigued. “Oh?”

Naomi, calm but cutting as ever, set down her coffee and glanced at Rowan. “Why do you think you haven’t heard of any of her exes?”

Rowan blinked, curious. “Why?”

Simone jumped in with a wicked grin. “Because they all had to sign NDAs.”

“And,” Lila added through uncontrollable giggles, “she’s had to file multiple restraining orders.”

I shot upright, mortified. “Lila!”

But it was too late. Simone collapsed onto the rug, howling. Naomi shook her head but there was the faintest ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.

Rowan just sat there, smirk spreading slow and sure, like she’d just been handed the most interesting secret of her life. “Well,” she said softly, eyes locked on mine, “that explains a lot.”

My face burned, and I buried it in my hands again. “I hate you all.”

Rowan set her glass down on the table with a soft clink, the faintest smirk tugging at her lips. Her eyes drifted toward me, then back to the nearly empty bottle of tequila.

“I should probably go,” she said, her voice low, smooth. “I’m starting to feel the liquor, and there’s no telling what I might do if I stay.”

Simone let out a dramatic groan. “Boo! You’re the life of the party.”

Rowan chuckled under her breath. “Trust me — leaving is the safer option.” She stood, slipping into her jacket with casual ease, but her gaze flicked back to me one last time. “Still… it was nice to formally meet you outside of work.”

Naomi inclined her head politely. “Likewise.”

Lila muttered something about this being way too much drama for one weekend, but she gave Rowan a little wave from her blanket cocoon.

Simone, of course, grinned wide. “Don’t be a stranger, movie star.”

Rowan gave a small nod, amused, then turned toward the door.

“I’ll walk you out,” I said quickly, standing before anyone else could comment. My heart was thudding, my hands clammy, but I needed those last seconds alone with her.

Rowan arched a brow, but she didn’t argue. She just waited, calm and steady, as I led her to the door.

The hallway was quiet, the laughter of my friends fading behind us. I reached for the knob, but Rowan’s hand brushed mine, pausing me.

“You know,” she murmured, her voice dropping just enough to feel like a secret, “if that kiss was supposed to convince me to wait until after the movie… it didn’t help your case.”

Heat surged through me, but before I could form a reply, she leaned in just close enough for her breath to tickle my ear.

“Sleep well, Celeste.”

And then she pulled back with that maddeningly calm confidence, opened the door, and slipped into the hallway.