The afternoon sun filters through the curtains as I scrub the kitchen counter, my mind desperately trying to focus on anything but Keenan. His intense demeanor, the intimidating woman, the tension that crackled between us at dinner. I shake my head, trying to dispel the thought as I attack a particularly stubborn stain.
Suddenly, the front door burst open with a bang, making me jump. Riya waltzs in with her usual exuberance, a mischievous glint in her eye that I know all too well.
"We're going out tonight!" She declares, tossing her purse on the couch and spinning to face me.
I groan, already knowing where this is heading, "Riya, you know i hate clubs. Can't we just have a quiet night in."
"Absolutely not," she insists, waving off my protest. "After dealing with the confusion from yesterday, you need to let loose"
"But-" I start, only to be cut off by Riya's determined stare.
"No buts! Go get ready. We're leaving in an hour." she states firmly.
Knowing it's pointless to argue, I sigh and trudge upstairs to shower. As the warm water cascades over me, I can't help but wonder what Keenan is doing. Is he thinking about me too? When I emerge from the bathroom wrapped in a towel, Riya is already rummaging through my closet.
"Oh no," I muttere, seeing the pile of revealing clothes on my bed. "Riya i can't wear any of that."
She turns, holding up a skimpy black dress that she bought me a few years back. "You can and you will. Come on, live a little!"
After much coaxing and a near-wrestling match over a particularly short skirt, we compromise on an outfit that is more daring than my usual style but not quite as revealing as Riya had initially planned.
As we got ready, applying makeup and styling our hair, I cant help but glance out the window. To my surprise, Keenan is sitting on his porch, his gaze occasionally drifting towards my house. My heart skips a beat, and i quickly duck away from the window before I'm seen.
Again.
"Looks like someone's keeping an eye out," Riya teases, having caught my peeking.
"Shut up," I mumble, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.
Finally ready, we step outside into the warm evening air. Keenan's eyes widen as he takes in my appearance, his gaze trailing from my heeled boots up to my face. I fiddle with the hem of the leather skirt, immediately self-conscious.
"Well well," he draws, a smirk playing on his lips as he walks towards us. "Where are you two headed looking like that?"
I feel my blush deepen just as Riya answers for me. "We're going clubbing. Don't worry, you can have her afterward," she teases, grabbing my arm and dragging me towards her car.
"Riya!" I hiss, mortified. Keenan's expression shifts, a hint of concern in his eyes.
"Be careful," he called out, his tone filled with protectiveness. "And Daisy? You look beautiful."
His words send a shiver down my spine, and I barely manage a weak wave before Riya shoves me into the passenger seat.
The drive to the club is filled with Riya's excited chatter and the pulsing beat of pop music from the radio. As we pull up to the neon-lit building, my stomach churns with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.
Inside, the club is a sensory overload. Pulsing music vibrates through my body, strobe lights flash in dizzying patterns, and the air is thick with the scent of perfume and sweat. Riya immediately drags me to the bar, ordering a round of shots.
"To new beginnings!" she shouts over the music, clinking her glass with mine.
I hesitate for a moment before downing the shot, wincing at the burn of alcohol. Riya cheers, quickly ordering another round.
As the night wore on, I find myself loosening up, the alcohol dulling my inhibitions. We dance, laugh, and drink more than I can keep track of. At one point, a tall, handsome stranger approaches me on the dance floor, but all i can think about is how his eyes aren't as green as Keenan's.
"You okay?" Riya yells in my ear, noticing my distraction.
I nod, forcing a smile. "Just need another shot!"
We stumble out of the club hours later, the cool night air a welcome relief after the stuffy interior. Riya, slightly more sober and capable than me, helps me into her car.
"That was fun right?" she asks as we drove, the streetlights blurring into the streaks of color.
"Mmhmm," I mumble, my head rolling against the window. "Soo much fun.."
When we finally pulled up to my house, I could barely stand, let alone walk. To my surprise, Keenan is still on his porch, as if he has been waiting for me all this time. As I stumble out of the car, he quickly makes his way over, relieving Riya of her duty to help me inside.
"I've got her from here," Keenan says to Riya, his arm wrapping securely around my waist. "Get home safely."
Riya nods, a knowing smirk on her face as she drives away, leaving me alone with Keenan.
"You shouldn't have drunk so much," he chides gently, helping me up the porch steps. His hand slips from my lower back to my waist, guiding me with a light touch that feels incredibly intimate.
I fake pout, turning my head to gaze up at him, my inhibitions almost non-existent. "Why? Worried about me?" I tease, my words slurring slightly, but my tone playful.
Keenan's arm tightens around my waist, pulling me closer as he guides me inside. "Always," he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear.
I roll my eyes, softly giggling as I poke his arm, feeling a sense of freedom that I'd never experienced before. "Always... Mr. responsible."
He chuckles, shaking his head in clear amusement. The closeness of his body and the gentle touch of his fingers send my mind racing with risque thoughts, my imagination running wild with all the possibilities. The way his warm breath brushes against my skin sends a jolt directly between my legs.
As we reach the top of the stairs, he helps me into bed, his hands brushing against my body as he pulls the blanket back. Before I lay down, he kneels before me, carefully taking off my shoes and putting them to the side. The gentle gesture makes my stomach twist.
He stands up, slowly leaning in close so he is inches from my face, his eyes dark with an emotion I couldn't quite place.
"You're lucky you're not sober," he whispers, his voice low and husky. "You look tantalizing right now."
My heart skips a beat at his words, my breath catching in my throat as I feel a tingling sensation buzz in between my legs. I feel a sense of boldness wash over me, and I surprise myself by speaking up, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Are you gonna do something about it?" I breathlessly say, my eyes locked on his, lips parting slightly as I wait for his response.
Keenan's eyes flash, and for a moment, I thought he might do something. But much to my dismay, he shakes his head, a rueful smile on his lips.
"Not like this, troublemaker," his voice low and gentle. "Get some sleep."
As I lay down, he pulls the blanket over me, and I feel a sense of frustration at my aroused state, but also a sense of hope. I have a feeling that this is not the end and as I drift off to sleep, I could have sworn I feel the ghost of his lips on my forehead.
"Sweet dreams, Petal. We'll talk in the morning."