Rogue drove smoothly as if the road was built for him. The radio was on but kept at a very low volume; although, I hummed under my breath at the song playing on the radio, looking at the flowers in my hand.

"If you like the flowers so much, I'm giving them to you." Rogue broke his gaze on the road and gave me a brief glance; his lips curved slightly. "As a present."

I spared him a glance. "Do you always have to give me flowers that came from other women?" I challenged with arched brows. "I'm not sure what to do with that, but this will definitely be in the list of tips on how to spot the wrong man."

He chuckled. "I don't give out flowers because I don't like them," he maintained, a fire in his eyes. "They're too delicate. Too beautiful. Easy to break. More easily to get ruined."

"I thought you said you liked delicate things. Is that another one of your lies?" I watched as his fingers tightened around the wheel, yanking me back to the damage my words had done. Before I could apologize for bringing this up, I got a text from my sister.

"Oh, shit. I forgot," I mumbled to myself, reading Stephanie's text. She was here in New York, waiting for me back at home. Excitement coursed through me at the thought of seeing her but also felt guilty that it slipped my mind that she was coming today and I forgot to pick her up. God knows how long she had waited for me.

Rogue tilted his head in my direction. "What is it?"

"I forgot I was picking up my sister today. She just texted and said that she's at home. Fallon has a spare key so she let her in. I don't have to worry about her waiting for me outside."

"Great. I can't wait to see if she's like you."

My head shot to him, a little panicked. "No, you're not meeting her." It was one thing about being together, but it was a whole other thing letting him meet my family. Stephanie had a leaky mouth. Telling her about me and Rogue without sorting out our relationship first would be a bad idea. I didn't want her running off to tell people.

"Worried if I see her, I might change my mind about you?" he teased, but he was so tensed that I could tell he was angry about this.

I fumbled with my hands. "I...just don't want her to know about you yet," I said, letting out slow breaths.

The stare Rogue gave me had my stomach flipping and then tightened. I had forgotten how easy it was to fall into his fear. "We're still going to hide this, aren't we? Cool." His eyes pierced me, darkening as his breathing grew shallow.

"Just for a little while, until I'm comfortable with telling people about us. You have to understand where I'm coming from."

"I do, Beth. I understand."

"Are you mad?" I questioned, convinced of the non-existent tension in the car that existed between us. He wasn't looking at me, and even if he were, I couldn't read anything on his face.

"Of course not."

"You kinda sound mad."

"You're delusional," he threw back, and I heard the angry breaths he was releasing.

After dropping me off, I couldn't get out of the car yet unless I was sure we were okay with each other. I sat there for five minutes and he sat there with me without saying anything or asking me to get out. Finally realizing that he wasn't going to say anything and I would just be wasting both our times, my hand went for the handle.

Rogue grabbed my arm to get my attention, and when I turned around to face him, he darted out, catching my bottom lip between his teeth, the heat of his mouth sending shivers down my spine. I groaned as I tilted my head to the right to deepen the kiss and his tongue brushed mine softly, making my stomach tight. Finally, he broke the kiss and tilted my head back to plant a soft kiss on my neck before he pulled back.

He let go of me and kept his eyes straight while I panted and breathed heavily from the kiss. Still a little dazed, I muttered to him 'bye' and opened the door, getting out of the car. The next thing I knew, he was rushing out of there.

———-

The last time I had seen my sister face to face was a while ago, so when I walked into my flat and saw her watching tv, I gasped and threw my bag on the floor. I tackled her on the couch and hugged her, breathing in her flowery scent mixed in with a scent that was only Stephanie.

"I can't believe you're here," I exclaimed, pulling back a little to give her space to sit up. Stephanie was inches taller than me, and her hair was chestnut now, shorter than the last time I had seen it. We were a bit different, she and I. She was serious and practical. She liked guys who treated her with flowers and shower her with love. I liked men who were hard and full of secrets.

"Do you always work late?" she asked as she settled on the couch, her right leg resting on my thigh. Leftover mac and cheese were on the coffee table, halfway eaten. The tv was on the HBO channel.

"Sometimes." I didn't tell her that I wasn't working today or where I had been. Who I had been with.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared in my direction. "You're lying to me right now. You were with someone. Your eyes are shades lighter and you can't stop smiling. Signs that you've been with a man."

"Or maybe it's because my sister is here and I'm happy."

"You weren't excited the last time I was here," she pointed out as if it was the best argument against me. "But while you're sitting there lying to me, I was going to save you the embarrassment and not tell you that I peeked through the window. I saw him. Well, kinda? I didn't see it very well." She raised both brows now and looked at me accusingly. "Why don't you want me to know you have a boyfriend? I won't tattle to mum about this, you know."

"Oh, god." I threw my head back and groaned. "If she knows I'm seeing someone, do you have any idea how frustrating that would be?"

Stephanie sat up straighter. "So, you are seeing someone. Who is he? What is his name? What does he do?" she probed excitedly, not giving me time to respond. "Where did you guys meet? How long have you been dating?"

"One question at a time, Steph."

She clapped her hands together. "I just never thought you'd settle with one guy," she admitted, her voice swoony. "I thought you were going to die a spinster. Lauren said you will settle down when you're fifty."

I snorted. The fact that they thought like that or even wager on it made me want to smack them. Sure, the relationships I had were fun and some lasted a bit longer than I had imagined, I just never saw them as long game, but now with Rogue, I was seeing the possibility of a long game.

"Hold on, hold on." I raised my hand to stop her. "It's a new thing and you're already talking about settling down. There's still time for me to die alone." The future was an endless possibility. Although I wanted to have a family like my best friend, I was still quite unsure about the future. Sure, Rogue and I had an understanding, but this was a new relationship. We had only made it official last night. Everything else had been strictly pleasure with no emotions involved, but now, emotions were involved.

Stephanie pulled her knees under her on the couch. "Does he love you at least?" She peered at me for answers.

"Well, not there yet, but everything hints at it. Ah, actually, I know he feels it. He's just yet to say the words–maybe he doesn't believe he does or is trying not to feel it?" I cocked my head, now talking to myself.

"Sounds like a complicated man that comes with a complicated relationship."

"You have no bloody idea." Then I glanced at her. "What about you?"

She looked away. "I'm actually here to hide from him."

My jaw dropped. "What the fuck?" I practically shouted. "Are you in some trouble? Is someone bothering you?"

"Beth, you're so dramatic." She rolled her eyes. "It's nothing like that. I'm just getting away because I needed it, or else I was going to make some dumb decision. Look at me, walking in your footsteps."

"Hey." I kicked her, earning a laugh from her. "I'm serious. Who is he and why do you need to get away from him?" I thought to that guy that Rogue had gotten beaten up, but then I remembered they had broken up. I wondered who she was trying to run away from. My sister could be soft. She was a people's pleaser. She didn't like to hurt people so she always ended up hurting herself in the process.

She grimaced before saying, "He's twenty years older than me and in the process of a divorce."

"What?!"

"It doesn't sound that bad, god. Stop screaming or your neighbor is going to barge in here thinking we're getting murdered."

I stared at her incredulously. "Are you mental? He's almost old enough to be your father, and he's married?"

"Technically, they're separated and he's getting a divorce." She shifted so her legs were out in front of her. "I'm not going to marry the guy. I don't know, we've just kissed once and—"

"He kissed you?!"

"No, I kissed him first," she corrected.

"You kissed him?!" I stared wide-eyed at her. Shocked. I knew she was making it sound as if it wasn't a big deal, but my sister wasn't like me. She attached emotion into every kiss. She didn't do one night stands like I used to. If she received a little attention from a guy, she would instantly be infatuated with the man, so I was a little worried.

Stephanie sank further into the couch beside me. "Don't worry, I got away before any major damage was done. Relax before you give yourself a heart attack." She nudged me with her shoulder. "Can you at least tell me his name? I promise I won't pry again."

"It's his name first, then his address, his workplace, his age, his phone number, and then his picture. I see what you're doing and I won't fall for it. Nope." I shook my head.

She laughed. "You're implying that I will manipulate you into telling me these details, big sis?" She poked me in the stomach. "Tell me what he looks like, though. Or let me hear his voice. I can make out if he's hot by the sound of his voice."

"He's..." I threw my feet up on the coffee table in front of us, thinking of Rogue with a smile on my face. "all-powerful and commanding, a little hard and dangerous."

"What's with you and Lauren snagging men like that?" she groaned inwardly. "Like, did you two make a wish when you were kids?" She shook her head while I remained deep in thought, then she poked me to get my attention. "When do I get to meet him?"

"When it's time," I shut down.

"Beth, I'm only going to be here for three days and I don't know when I will have time to come back to the states. Make my visit memorable, you bitch."

I grinned. "I will give you a tour of New York, not my boyfriend." With my tongue out, I rose. "I'm going to hit the shower. I've changed the password of my phone, by the way, so you can't poke around it."

She hurled curses at me as I headed into my bedroom.

*

Fallon came over to meet Stephanie, and I had already warned her not to say anything about Rogue to my sister. I didn't want too many eyes on our relationship. Relationships were supposed to be about two people, and I felt like inviting others into it would only push us away from each other. I didn't want the pressure. I didn't want anything to change how I felt about Rogue.

So, I was going to keep it quiet for now. The only person who knew about him was Fallon, and I knew she wasn't going to say anything about him.

I had texted Hanna all day, and when she finally returned my texts, she said she was busy and was going to call me back. She never did call back. I didn't want to worry, but I also knew what happened the last time. However, I didn't want to be paranoid every time she doesn't reply to any of my texts or calls. Sometimes, people needed space.

While my sister and Fallon busied themselves with their newfound interest, I started missing Rogue so much that I ended up calling him. This was so new to me—these feelings, the way it made me want to act and express myself in a way I hadn't done before. It was scary, but I found that I liked it.

"Hello," he answered after the fifth ring, his voice smooth as ever.

"H...hey." I cleared my throat, gripping my sheet. "I was wondering if....if you had seen my jacket in your car. I must have left it. That's why I'm calling. To find my jacket. It's cold, so I need it." I laughed softly.

Ugh. That was so bad. I wanted to hit myself. Why would I even say that? Why couldn't I just be normal and tell him that I missed him?

"You don't have another jacket at home or warm clothes, for that matter?" he asked, almost amusingly as if he knew it was a shitty excuse to say. He and I both knew I didn't wear a jacket today. The embarrassment was starting to eat me up.

"Y..yeah, I do but that one is my favorite jacket and you know how important it is." Why do I have to keep going on? Stop.

Rogue laughed. My chest felt warm and fluttery. "You won't come out and tell me exactly why you called me, Bethany?" There was a smile in his tone.

"What...what other reasons do I have for calling you? Don't be ridiculous."

"You miss me. Say it."

"I don't."

"Is that so hard to admit? It's not a crime to miss someone, Ms. Wallace. In fact, it would delight me so." I knew that because I could hear it in his voice.

"And you?" I decided to ask. "Do you miss me?"

There wasn't a single beat in his voice as he shot back, "Do I have to miss you for you to miss me?"

"Yes."

I could practically see him pinching the bridge of his nose as he retorted, "My girlfriend is indeed a difficult woman. The fortune-teller did imply that my love life would be a hectic one. Well, right after saying that I was destined for unrequited love." He chuckled.

My eyes widened. "Girlfriend?" I choked out, wrapping the fingers of my free hand tightly into the covers. Hearing him call me his girlfriend shouldn't be odd considering we were together, but I didn't know it would make me feel weird.

"Yes, girlfriend. Unless you don't want to be?"

"No, I just.....I'm just—" I broke off, breathing through my nostrils. I didn't know how to answer. If I tell him I found it strange, he might get offended again. Rubbing my brow, I breathed out, "Why would you say this to me over a phone?"

He took a few seconds off. Then he replied, "I plan to say it face to face, but I figured you should get used to hearing it over the phone. Are you happy?"

"Why do I have to be the one to be happy in this case? Shouldn't you also be happy?"

"It's not a fight, Beth." His laugh was cutting. "But yes, I've been happy ever since I met you. You weren't, so it was necessary to ask you if you're happy now."

"Oh." He had a point. My cheeks flamed. "Well, you should've phrased it like that."

"Do you have to win in every argument?"

"Yes," I answered immediately, chin tilted up and chest puffed out as if ready to fight. "I don't like losing, and if I do lose, I'd have to find a way to make myself feel like a winner. You should know what that feels like."

"I don't," he answered without hesitation, his voice ringing with a smile. "To lose would require that the other person is better than me, so I don't think I'm ever going to lose and that gets me to win all the time. Because there's no one better than me."

A snort found its way out of me. "Is that your source of happiness? Winning?"

"Of course, who doesn't like winning?"

"I feel sad for you that you think that. Most people, if not all, believe that happiness is found in everything, even losing."

He was quiet for a few seconds, then added, "I guess you're right. There's you, after all."

However, I sat there quiet, contemplating on whether he was happy because he had successfully won me over to him, or whether it was genuine happiness that didn't have to do anything with winning and losing.

"It's not like that," Rogue defended, as though he already knew the question circulating in my head and he had to assure me before I could let it ruin my mood. I didn't like how he was always two steps ahead of me.

I took a deep breath. "Yeah, I know." I didn't before, which was why I let the smile slip onto my face.

Without missing a beat, he moved on to another subject. "How is your sister? Stephanie, right?"

"She's fine. She's hanging out with Fallon right now. They're watching a movie."

"Okay." There was a rustle like he was shifting the phone to the other ear. "How does she feel about eating dinner alone tonight?"

"What do you mean?"

"Veronica invited us over for dinner tonight. I said I'd have to see if you're up for it first. I know how overwhelming things still are." I could hear the tension in his voice. "I don't want to push you to do things you don't want to do."

Admittedly, I didn't want to go. I still wasn't comfortable being around any one of them, especially Veronica. We may have cleared things, but I still didn't like her. I remembered everything she did and everything she had said to me. However, these people were Rogue's family, his loyal friends. I couldn't just ignore them like that. If I wanted to be in his life, I needed to suck it up and be in theirs. I didn't have to be friends with them. I only needed to be okay with being around them. I knew it was important for Rogue that we were all cool with each other.

I pulled my knees to my chest. "Um—"

"No," he cut in before I could finish. "Don't worry about it. I will give them an excuse. Your sister is here, so they will understand." His breath came so clearly through the phone. I wished it were his thoughts that I could hear. "You might not reach me tomorrow, so don't fret. I have three meetings that will take up all my day. I will—"

"Rogue." I rubbed my hand across my forehead. "What time do you need me to come over tonight?" I chewed on my bottom lip, awaiting his reply.

"You're coming?" And he sounded damn happy about it. More like relieved. I was right about this. He wanted me to like his friends and for them to like me back. I wasn't sure about Veronica—unless she properly apologized to me, but I was sure about Pete. Not because he had the same face as Rogue. They were quite different, but he just seemed like someone who would offer his ears for you to unload all your stress and worries on, and he would just listen to you without getting tired of it.

I took a deep breath, and then more calmly repeated, "Yes, so what time do you think I should come?"

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. I didn't say I wasn't going to bash Veronica's head in—well, not unless she says something I don't like."

He chuckled but didn't say anything about it. "Dinner is at seven. You know where they live. I will be a bit busy so I can't pick you up."

"I will see you then." I put down my phone and snuggled into bed, wondering what I should bring along, but also beyond nervous that I was going to meet them. This time, in different circumstances.