Rowan's POV:

"I think we have to get up now."

Despite my words, I didn't budge. No bone in my body wanted to move from the comfortable position I was in. Like ever. Part of it was probably because I was still partially in a daze from all that had gone down just a few hours before.

Elijah had kissed me, and I had let him. Heck, I had kissed him back.

While I knew that a relationship could be a rocky road with everything going on, I wanted to believe that it wouldn't be as bad with him. After all, I had even told him about my memory issue and he was still here.

That was the reality that was hitting me the hardest.

He was still here.

Elijah shook his head in response with a husky groan. We had just been sitting in bed talking for the past few hours and I knew I needed to contact Skylar or she would go crazy, wondering where I was.

"The day is passing us by," I laughed.

I smiled, when he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer. "But I don't want to. I am comfortable right here," he said huskily into my neck. I smiled, which turned into a light laugh when I heard his stomach rumble.

"Your stomach says otherwise."

"I'm only craving one thing, though."

My cheeks heated, and I ignored the suggestiveness in his tone. He was a gentleman. That was obvious from the start. But he didn't talk like one.

"Well, I'm hungry," I said, trying to distract myself from his words.

His eyes roamed over my face, and he sighed dramatically. "I can't let my girl starve then can I?"

Warmth bloomed in my chest as I watched him get up and stand, walking around his bed. Even though I had seen him shirtless a few times now, the sight still caused my body to flush in foreign ways. He was in serious shape. My eyes lingered on his toned abdomen before I glanced away and looked at my hands.

Even though the air between us was different, I still wasn't sure how to act. I looked at him again, my eyes trailing up to his sharp jawline and gorgeous eyes.

"I thought you said we had to get up," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. I nodded my face burning and the glint in his eyes heightening.

"Right."

He chuckled and leaned over the bed, grabbing my hand and pulling me up. I stood. "Come on. Let's get some food in you, sweetheart."

I trained my eyes on our interlocked hands, still slightly skeptical that this was real. I blinked, once, then twice, to see if this was all a dream. It wasn't. I was too busy marveling over everything that had happened last night, to notice when Elijah had stopped walking. I crashed into his back, with a wince.

"Ouch," I mumbled, bringing a hand up to rub my nose. I glanced up and then paused, seeing why he had stopped so abruptly. Sitting on the couch was the beautiful Raven-haired girl I had seen at the party a few weeks ago. Next to her sat Cole, who eyed Elijah and me before grinning knowingly.

"Well, what do we have here?"

My face heated at the implication of his tone.

"Shut up," Elijah said as he walked over and shook Cole's hand with a playful eye roll. My hand was still encased in his, so I followed behind him, embarrassment running through me. Nothing else had happened besides the kiss, but I know what it looked like. It didn't help that I was also wearing his clothes.

All of the evidence was stacked against us. I didn't look very innocent.

"Hello, Rowan. Nice of you to keep Elijah here company." Cole smiled at me and I chuckled squashing the embarrassment. A small smile formed on my lips as I tilted my head to the side.

"Anytime," I laughed, letting my voice give away verbal sarcasm.

I knew in a way though, I was dead serious. I looked up at Elijah to find him watching me with a soft smile, and mine grew. I glanced away and shook my head, my face heating when Cole winked at me.

"I don't even want to know where your head is going," I muttered causing his smirk to widen. I stuck my hand out to the girl sitting beside him. "Hi. I am Rowan."

She shook my hand, and I silently hoped that she wasn't someone that I had met before. Then things would get a lot more awkward.

I got a good look at her, seeing that saying she was pretty would be an understatement. Her raven hair accented her crisp deep blue eyes and a fair complexion. While there was no evidence of any makeup on her face, she still looked perfect.

"Hi," she said back, as Cole wrapped an arm around her.

"This is Amelia," he said with a smile. "My partner in crime."

"It's nice to meet you." I smiled with a nod.

My eyes flitted between the two of them, as I tried to figure out what the extent of their relationship was. Elijah had never mentioned that Cole had a girlfriend, although I couldn't believe that either of them was single, considering the amazingly good looks they harbored.

Amelia must have caught the question in my eyes because she shook her head.

"If anything Cole forgets that he is my partner," she said with a smirk, chuckling when he narrowed his eyes playfully." I have been trying to get rid of this guy for weeks," she joked after tearing her gaze away from Cole. But the latter continued to watch her softly, his eyes giving away that there was probably more to the relationship than she was letting on.

"You and I both know that you won't be able to get rid of him," Elijah said with a grin.

Amelia laughed, bumping Cole with her shoulder. "I know, he just keeps coming back." Despite her smile, I picked up on a small hint of another emotion in her tone. It was almost bittersweet.

"Ah come on Lia, that left a serious wound," Cole said, holding his hand to his heart in mock pain. I grinned when she rolled her eyes.

"You are a tough guy, you will live," she replied, giving him a light pat on the leg.

"I would live a happier life if you would just admit your deep admiration for me."

"Admiration? More like an annoyance."

"Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. Maybe one day it will be semi-believable," Cole said with a wink.

Throughout their whole conversation, the smile on his face never left his face, Cole watching her as if she was the only light in the world. Amelia shook her head, her gaze still on his, before she looked at her hands, and Cole grinned.

I raised my eyebrow at them and glanced up at Elijah, who gave me a knowing look. When Cole finally looked away, he seemed as if he was just remembering that Elijah and I were watching the whole ordeal.

"So when did that happen?" he asked, gesturing between the two of us.

"Oh," I closed my mouth, taken off guard, and slightly uneasy. I didn't know what the kiss had meant for the two of us, since we hadn't talked about it.

I glanced up, the expression on his face, causing me to tense.

I glanced up and took a deep breath.

"We are friends."

I flinched as weight crashed down on me, and the air was stolen away from me. Elijah's voice was void of emotion, sending a bullet straight through my heart

There was my answer.

I was an idiot. I should have seen it coming. He was a little too good to be true. But like every perfectly crafted work of art, there was always some flaw. A dull spot hidden between careful words, and happily given favors.

I nodded to myself, silently admonishing myself for everything.

"If that isn't a load of bull," Cole said, causing me to shrink into myself. I just wanted the discussion to be over.

"Enough Cole."

I felt as if someone had punched me in the gut.

Embarrassment washed over me, and I shook my head, plastering a small smile on my face while trying to mask the disappointment that I felt.

"It's okay, Cole. He's right. We're just friends."

Even though I felt as if a rug had just been ripped from underneath me, I wasn't going to give Elijah the satisfaction of knowing it.

I tugged my hand out of Elijah's while keeping my eyes ahead of me. Cole threw an undecipherable at him, but I didn't care. I couldn't believe that I thought I would have been different for him. From the corner of my eye, I saw Elijah turn to look at me but I ignored him and smiled at Amelia.

"Do you guys want something to eat? We were just going to get something...I think." My voice was strained, despite my attempt to sound cheery, and I cleared my throat.

Elijah's hand brushed against the back of mine, and I moved it away feeling as if I had been burned. I wasn't going to play this game with him. I was a grown woman and knew my worth. I hadn't thought that he was one of those guys, but apparently, he was. I had been played. Someone might as well paint my nose red and call me a clown.

"Yea, sure. We could eat." Cole said, looking between the two of us. "Are you hungry?" He asked Amelia. She nodded, and they both moved to get their shoes on. She sent me a small smile, and I knew immediately that she had caught on to what had just happened.

"How about we go down to that Blue Lagoon," Amelia offered. "It has amazing dining options, and I am not just saying that because I work there."

I just nodded my head, not trusting myself to speak. I turned to go retrieve my shoes and my coat, which were unfortunately still in Elijah's room. I entered, finding them both placed neatly near the foot of his bed. I bent down to pick them up just as the ringer on my phone went off. I answered it, seeing it was Skylar.

"Hey, Sky."

"Hey Rowan, is everything okay. You didn't come home after you left the hospital last night, and we didn't get to talk much when we were there."

"Yea, I'm okay." I took a shaky breath.

"Nice try. I can hear it in your voice. What is wrong?"

I sighed. "Elijah and I-"

"Kissed!" She exclaimed, and I was left to wonder how she had known. Well to be honest she had a way of knowing everything.

"Well yes, but-"

She shrieked from across the line and I cringed. "That's great, Rowan. We both knew it was going to happen soon or later, but why do you sound so sad? Didn't you want it to happen?"

I brushed a hand through my hair. "Yea." The worst part was that Skylar warned me about how Elijah was with girls before, but I had completely thrown the warning out. I wasn't even supposed to have fallen for him, yet still, I had.

"Then what's wrong."

"Well, when Cole asked what was going on between us, Elijah said that we were just friends."

"What?" she asked, confused.

"I don't know Sky. He just said that we were friends and didn't say anything else. I guess in a way it's my fault. I never told him about how I felt before. I know you said he didn't like to settle down, so maybe it was just...I don't know," I finished, dejection rolling over me.

There was silence before she spoke.

"Are you sure that he meant it in the way you took it?" She paused. "I-I just can't see how he would say that. You guys are made for each other, besides the fact that you guys understand each other in a way no one else could, you guys have major chemistry. Anyone can see that." I had told her about the conversations Elijah and I had had, so I could see where she was coming from, but even I had been wrong apparently in thinking that we had a connection.

"I mean he said we were just friends. I don't think there is room for much interpretation there."

She sighed. "I'm sorry, Rowan. I was sure that you guys had something more going on. I'm honestly so shocked. Even Hayden had said that Elijah hadn't been seen with another girl since he had met you."

I blinked. "Well, I guess we were wrong." My voice was hoarse. And I wasn't hungry anymore. I desperately just wanted to go home. "We are going to go eat with Cole and Amelia."

"You still are going to hang out with him?"

"I guess I just want to keep everything normal I guess. Not make a big deal out of it."

"But it is a big deal, Rowan. He shouldn't have kissed you without setting his intentions straight if he didn't see you like that."

I agreed but I just shook my head. I wanted to keep things normal. After all, dine and dash dating culture was a norm nowadays. Maybe it was me who should have been more careful. I was just grateful that things hadn't gone any further.

"Do you and Hayden maybe want to join us?"

There was a shuffling sound across the line. "I really would Love to Rowan but Hayden and I are already planning to go see Damon."

Oh, that was right. She had told me that they were going to see her older brother today. And no matter how much I wanted to ask her to postpone it, or for myself to not go to breakfast and just spend the day with her, I couldn't do it. I knew she would probably agree if I asked, but her time with Damon was special to her.

After all, he had raised her.

I let Skylar know that it was okay, and we said a quick goodbye. She made me promise to call her when I got home so that she could plan to be home soon after. When she hung up, I removed my phone from my ear, preparing myself to go back out into the living room.

You got this, Rowan. You are a grown woman and don't need a man for validation.

With a little more confidence, I turned around on my heels. A startled yelp, left my lips when I smacked into a hard surface. I flew back as his hands curved around my mid-section, steadying me.

"You have to watch where you are going, Love," Elijah murmured, amusement in his eyes. I backed out of his grasp wordlessly. And he had the audacity to call me that.

"Sorry about that," I said, before making a move to walk around him, and training my gaze on the floor so that I didn't go all assertive cavewoman on him like I desperately wanted to.

"Is something wrong?"

I tilted my head, assessing his expression and seeing genuine confusion. Was he serious?

"I'm all good."

Without another word, I turned on my heels, heading towards the door. Elijah's hand clasped around mine, however, before I could make it very far. He tugged me to him, and I pulled my hand free and faced him. I glared at him, and his eyes widened.

"Okay, something is wrong." He reached for me, but I stepped back. His eyes narrowed.

I wondered how he could be so oblivious. I mean, he had just kissed me and then said that nothing was going on between us. I wasn't one of those girls who just kissed around for fun, and I wouldn't be treated that way either. I knew my value.

"It is nothing that you have to worry about." I turned and made my way through the door before he could say anything. "But I am not like the other girls that might be willing to do that sort of thing, Elijah."

His eyebrows furrowed.

Must I spell it out for him?

"I am not going to be a random hook-up for you. I have more self-respect than to put up with less than I deserve." With that, I left the room, not waiting to hear what he had to say.

"Okay, I am ready if you are," I said entering the living room. They both looked like they were ready to go as well, and stood up as soon as I spoke.

"Okay, let's go then," Cole said. His eyes flitted curiously behind me, but I kept myself from turning backward, simply walking towards the door.

"Rowan."

I tensed.

"Oh crap, I think you still have my keys. Will you help me find them?" Cole asked. I turned to see that he was talking to see Elijah standing by the doorway, his eyes on me. Cole glanced between the both of us before speaking again. "You guys go ahead, we will catch up with you downstairs when we find them."

I eyed him curiously, doing my best not to look at Elijah. I just nodded, before joining Amelia and leaving the apartment. When we made it to the stairs, I paused, letting out a breath of relief when I spotted a note taped to the elevator. It was fixed. When Amelia and I both got in, I didn't say anything at first, too irritated, but then decided not to let it ruin my day.

"So how did you and Cole meet," I asked, trying to make conversation. "You seem like you guys have a pretty wonderful friendship going on."

"We were friends back in high school and ran into each other a few weeks back. He helped me out of a sticky situation, and is probably making sure that I don't plan to get in another one," she said with a small laugh. I had a feeling that there was more to the story, but I didn't pry because we had just met, and it probably wasn't any of my business.

"What about you and Elijah?"

"Oh," I said, surprised by the question. I hadn't expected her to ask. We walked down the second flight of stairs and out into the parking lot. "It's a funny story. I almost hit him with my car."

Her eyes widened. "Wow. That had to be quite an introduction."

I laughed, but it came out hard and forced. I wrapped my arms around my torso, as the chilly weather sent a shiver through me. "Yea it was," I said, not elaborating because well, I couldn't.

She just nodded. "Well, despite what he said back there I think you guys would go well together. I know we just met, and the opinion of a stranger doesn't matter, but I thought I would tell you." She tilted her head to the side. "Cole and I have known each other for a while, and although I never got to know Elijah that well, I have never seen him look at someone the way he looks at you."

I thought about what she said.

"Oh no, he was right. We are just friends," I said, deciding not to get my hopes up. We both exited the elevator as it opened, and turned into the long hallway.

"Honey, you don't have to explain, but we both know that isn't true. Or at least we know that you don't want to be just friends," Amelia said. "I saw your face when he said you guys were just friends, but I also saw the way he looked at you. I don't think he meant what he had said."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I mean, we never talked about our feelings before. We just weren't on the same page."

"Well, I know that obviously, some things have gone down. I know it's none of my business, but I think you should talk to him."

I glanced at her as she gave me a pointed look. Even though I was just meeting her, I felt like she would make a good friend.

"Besides, Cole tells me that Elijah doesn't stop talking about you when you aren't around."

"I mean we are all friends though. He could just be talking about me because we are close."

I spotted Elijah's car, walking in that direction.

"Trust me, hun, I don't think that what you guys have going on is strictly platonic. I think you guys should talk." She stopped walking, and I turned to look at her. "Cole and I drove there together, so I am driving," she said.

"Okay," I said. "Thank you for the advice," I added.

"You're welcome. I'm going to hustle to get out of this cold weather, but when the boys get down I guess I will see you at the diner?"

I nodded my head.

She flashed a smile and wiggled her fingers as she turned to walk away.

Just then two things dawned on me. Elijah had his keys so I was stuck out in the Cold, and even though Cole had said he didn't know where his key was, Amelia had just gotten in his truck with them. If I was remembering correctly he had handed them to her before we had left.

I just shook my head, brushing my hair back as I walked to Elijah's car, standing next to it awkwardly. In my spare time, I meddled on what Amelia had said.