Chapter 5
I was elbow deep in a motorcycle engine when I heard the familiar sound of a car pulling into the lot. I didn’t even have to look up to know it was Evan. The guy had been stopping by the garage more and more lately. Sometimes it was just to hang out, sometimes to watch me work, but mostly just to be around. I wasn’t complaining. Honestly, the company was welcome.
“Hey, Bartemius Crouch Jr, what’s up?”
I finally glanced up, wiping my hands on the rag I always kept nearby. Evan was standing there, holding a picnic basket like it was the holy grail. He was grinning like an idiot, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“Picnic basket?” I raised an eyebrow, leaning against the workbench. “You planning on turning me into a softie or something?”
His grin only widened as he stepped closer. “Well, I figured you could use a break from your greasy dungeon of a garage. A picnic by the lake. I think you might actually enjoy it.”
“Picnic, huh?” I crossed my arms and leaned back against the counter, pretending to be skeptical. “What, are you gonna bring me flowers and a blanket next?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Not quite, but there’s a blanket. So you can’t back out now.”
I considered it for a second, I really didn’t want to leave the garage. I was so used to being here, with all my work I had to get done. But I couldn’t deny it, the idea of getting away from it all, even for a little while, wasn’t the worst thing.
“Alright, fine,” I said with a sigh. “But no funny business, Rosie. No sappy picnic romance bullshit, okay?”
Evan smirked. “No promises, Barty. Let’s go.”
The drive to the park wasn’t long, but it was enough to make me feel like I was leaving the grind behind for a little bit. The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, casting everything in this golden, perfect light. It almost felt like a movie scene, and that thought made me roll my eyes. But then again, I’d gotten used to being with Evan, and he had this way of making everything feel easy. Even if I still couldn’t quite figure out why I liked hanging out with him so much.
When we finally pulled into the park, I couldn’t help but notice how empty it was. The quiet stretched out around us, and I instantly liked it. No screaming kids, no loud music, just nature and peace.
“How do you know about this place?” I asked as I got out of the car, stretching my legs.
Evan shrugged casually, his eyes on the lake. “I found it by accident once. Been coming back ever since. Helps me think.”
“Yeah? I could use some of that thinking, but I’m not sure I’m built for a peaceful park.” I chuckled, but I felt that familiar pull in my chest. Something about this place felt right.
We set up near the water, the blanket feeling softer than I expected under me as Evan unpacked the basket with a seriousness that made me laugh. Like it was some sacred picnic ritual or something. I was half tempted to make fun of him for it, but I kind of liked how much effort he was putting into it. Most people wouldn’t do that for someone like me. But Evan, for some reason, had a way of making me feel like I mattered.
“So,” I said, pulling out a sandwich and eyeing it suspiciously, “What exactly is this? If this is some organic nonsense, I swear to God, I’m out.”
He raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Oh,don’t be such a prick, Barty. I swear, you’ll like it.”
I bit into the sandwich, and despite myself, I had to admit it was pretty damn good. “Not bad,” I muttered, trying not to smile. “But I’m still keeping my candy bars, thanks.”
“Fair enough,” Evan laughed, sitting back on the blanket next to me. He pulled out a joint from his jacket pocket, lighting it with ease. “Here. Couldn’t have a proper picnic without this.”
I took it from him without saying a word, taking a slow hit. The smoke curled in the air, and as I exhaled, I felt the tension in my shoulders ease a little. I wasn’t used to this calm. I wasn’t used to being around anyone who didn’t expect something from me.
We sat there in a comfortable silence, the kind where words weren’t necessary. But, eventually, the quiet stretched too long, and I found myself talking, telling him things I hadn’t planned on sharing.
“I didn’t have it easy when I was growing up,” I said, my voice quieter than I meant it to be. I was high, but this wasn’t the kind of thing I’d usually say out loud. “My dad’s a big shot politician, but at home? He was just a monster. Always beating me, controlling me.”
Evan was quiet for a second, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he passed the joint back to me, his expression unreadable. “I figured something like that was going on.” he said, his voice low.
I nodded, taking another hit. “I don’t know. When I got older, it was like I wasn’t scared anymore. I just hated him. Hated everything he stood for. So I started rebelling. Tattoos, piercings, fights. I joined gangs, did whatever I could to piss him off. But it only made it worse. He hated me more, and he used that hate to try to control me.”
There was a long silence, and for a second, I thought maybe I’d said too much. But then Evan spoke again, his voice quieter than usual.
“My twin sister and I, we grew up in a similar way. Parents were never around. They were too busy with their own shit to pay attention to us. But my sister, she was always there. She kept me safe.”
I looked over at him, seeing something different in his eyes. Something vulnerable. It made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t as alone in this as I thought.
We smoked for a little longer, just taking it all in. The way the sun hit the water, the sound of birds calling from the trees, the soft rustle of the leaves in the wind, it felt like everything slowed down. And before I knew it, the words were out of my mouth.
“Let’s jump in,” I said, standing up and shaking the grass from my jeans. The thought of the cold water was enough to clear my head.
Evan looked up at me, smirking. “You serious?”
“Yeah, come on. We’ve been sitting here too long.”
It didn’t take much convincing. We stripped down to our shorts and ran for the water. As I splashed in, I couldn’t help but notice how fucking good Evan looked. His body was lean, muscles defined and sculpted, his skin dark and glistening in the sun. He had tattoos. Meaningful ones, from what I could tell, mostly around his arms and torso. They were the kind of tattoos that meant something, like memories or milestones, or maybe some kind of personal story.
I wasn’t sure how we ended up in the lake, splashing around like idiots, but the moment felt right. The sun was starting to dip lower, the golden light casting everything in a warm haze. The cool water splashed around us, splashing my face as Evan and I traded playful jabs, shoving each other, laughing as the cold waves rolled against our legs. My heart was pounding in my chest, though, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the fun or something else, something that had been building up in me for weeks.
The rhythmic sound of our breathing mixed with the occasional splash as we playfully pushed each other around in the water. My heart was still racing, but it wasn't from the physical exertion anymore. It was from something else entirely, something I couldn’t name but felt deep in my chest.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t focused on making a joke or pretending to be someone else. I wasn’t teasing or acting like the brat I knew I was. No, now all I could think about was how close Evan was. How his body felt against mine, how the intensity in his eyes seemed to mirror my own feelings in some strange way. The air between us was charged with something electric.
I glanced up at him, his face so close now that I could see the flecks of amber in his eyes, the droplets of water clinging to his dark skin, the faint outline of his tattoos catching the dying sunlight. His lips were parted, his breathing shallow, and when he met my gaze, there was a softness in his eyes that I’d never seen before. It wasn’t just his usual relaxed smile or playful glint. No, this was something else. It was like he was waiting for something, waiting for me to make the next move.
My chest tightened. I didn’t know what to do with the way my heart was thudding in my ribcage, the way my body felt like it was drawn to him without any real thought. Without thinking, I took a small step closer. My wet foot slipped slightly against the smooth rocks beneath us, but it didn’t matter. The world felt so distant now, just the two of us.
He didn’t move, didn’t back away. Instead, his gaze dropped to my lips, and then back up to my eyes. That was all it took.
Before I even realized it, I leaned in. My movements were slow, cautious, unsure, but my body knew exactly what it wanted. I felt his breath on my skin, warm and steady, just a breath away from my lips. I wasn’t sure if I should stop, if I should pull back, but the moment felt too important to let go of.
And then our lips met.
It wasn’t rushed or desperate. It was gentle, tentative. A soft press of lips that sent a shockwave through my body, a sharp flutter of something I couldn’t name. My breath caught in my throat as I felt the warmth of him against me. His lips were surprisingly soft, but there was something about them, something that felt familiar, like they belonged there against mine.
I pulled away slightly, not wanting to rush this moment, not wanting to ruin it. His eyes were closed, but I could still see the hint of a smile on his face, a subtle shift in his expression that told me he wasn’t rejecting it. If anything, he seemed just as lost in the kiss as I was.
But then, without warning, his hand reached up to my face, his fingers brushing the wet strands of my hair back from my forehead. That small, intimate touch sent a ripple of warmth through my body, and before I even had a chance to process it, his lips were on mine again, this time with more urgency, more need. The gentleness was gone, replaced by something deeper.
I leaned into the kiss, closing my eyes, letting it consume me. My hands moved instinctively, one finding its way to the back of his neck, fingers curling in the wet hair there. The other slid down to his waist, feeling the defined muscles under the slick surface of his skin. I could feel the heat of his body through the water, the way it responded to my touch. And when his mouth opened slightly, allowing me to deepen the kiss, I didn’t hesitate. I followed.
I had never been kissed like this before. Not with this much intensity, not with this much raw emotion. It felt like the whole world had disappeared, like the only thing left was the press of our bodies together, the rhythm of our breaths syncing in a way that felt so natural, so right.
I could feel his heartbeat against my chest, steady and sure, and it made my own pulse race faster. His hands were everywhere, touching me, pulling me closer. One hand slid to my back, tracing the curve of my spine, making me shiver in the water. I could feel the heat of his fingers even through the coolness of the lake, and it was like I was drowning in the sensation.
We pulled back, just enough to catch our breath, but I couldn’t bring myself to let go. I was mesmerised by the way his eyes were open now, looking at me with a softness I didn’t expect. There was no teasing, no joking. This wasn’t like the usual back-and-forth banter we shared. This was real, tangible.
“Rosie,” I whispered, barely more than a breath, my voice thick with the emotions swirling inside me. “Are you sure?”
He didn’t answer with words. Instead, he closed the distance again, his lips finding mine with a certainty that made my heart leap in my chest. The kiss deepened again, and this time, it was more than just a kiss, it was a promise, a declaration of everything we hadn’t yet said, everything that had been building between us for weeks.
My hands slid up his back, my fingers splayed against his skin as if I needed to memorise every inch of him. His muscles tensed beneath my touch, but it wasn’t discomfort. It was the way he was reacting to me, the way his body responded to mine. Every kiss, every touch felt like it was unlocking something inside of me, something I didn’t even know I had been holding back.
I pulled away again, just long enough to catch my breath, to steady myself. My lips were swollen from the intensity, my pulse still hammering in my ears, and I couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at the corners of my mouth. Evan’s chest was heaving as well, his eyes dark with desire, his hand still holding the back of my neck like he never wanted to let go.
I leaned my forehead against his, both of us standing still in the water, our bodies pressed close, our hearts still racing. The quiet settled around us, but there was no escaping the weight of the moment. The air between us was thick with something unspoken, something that both terrified and exhilarated me all at once.
“I never thought this would happen.” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled then, his lips curving up just slightly. “Neither did I,” he replied, his voice low and soft. “But I’m glad it did.”
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
The water felt cooler now, the gentle current tickling my legs as I waded back toward the shore, my feet brushing the smooth, sandy bottom. My chest was still racing, the echoes of the kiss we shared lingering in every breath I took. I glanced back over at Evan, who was right behind me, his dark eyes watching me with a look I couldn’t quite place, something that was both warm and tender.
We stepped out of the water, the sun drying the droplets on our skin almost instantly. My heart was still pounding in my chest, but not from the cold. There was something about the way Evan was looking at me, like he was seeing me in a way he hadn’t before. It made me feel exposed but in a good way.
The picnic blanket was still waiting for us, nestled on the grass by the lake. I could see the basket next to it, a few bottles of water, and the remnants of our half eaten lunch. We didn’t make it very far before everything just sort of stopped mattering. But now, as I felt the warm sun on my skin, I was starting to realize how perfect this moment was. How everything had felt like it fell into place in a way I never thought could happen.
Evan grabbed the towel we’d left nearby and tossed it over his shoulders, wiping the water from his body with quick, efficient motions. He had a quiet sort of grace to him, his movements smooth, and I found myself watching, my eyes drifting over the lean muscles of his back as the towel dried the glistening skin. When he caught me looking, he smirked, that same teasing expression returning to his face, though it was softer now. I felt a flush crawl up my neck.
"You're staring." he said, his voice playful, and for a second I thought I was going to melt right there on the spot.
I just rolled my eyes and threw myself down onto the blanket, grabbing a cigarette from my pack that I’d stashed in the basket earlier. My body sank into the soft fabric of the blanket, and I stretched out on my back, staring up at the sky, feeling the warmth of the sun on my chest.
Evan followed me down, leaning back with one arm behind his head. His gaze was softer now, not the sharp teasing from before, but something more open. Something more affectionate. He reached for the cigarette I was holding, took it from my fingers, and lit it with a practiced flick of his lighter.
I closed my eyes, letting the smoke swirl around us. The first drag was smooth, filling my lungs with the familiar, calming burn. I felt Evan shift beside me, his hand gently brushing against my hair as he adjusted, lying down next to me. My heart did a little jump, something warm and fuzzy blooming in my chest as his fingers lightly stroked through my damp strands.
It was a gentle touch, nothing forceful, but it still sent a shiver down my spine. The way his fingers moved through my hair, brushing the strands back, was so soft, so comforting. It made the air between us feel heavier, more intimate, in a way that was strange but nice.
I turned my head slightly to look at him, catching him watching me with an unreadable expression. His eyes were half lidded, relaxed, and there was this softness in the way he was looking at me. It was the kind of look that made me feel both seen and safe, like I could breathe easier knowing he was here with me, next to me.
"You're so fucking beautiful." he murmured, his voice low, teasing, but there was no mockery in it. Just something warm and fond.
I laughed softly, a little breathless, and took another drag from my cigarette, letting the smoke drift lazily into the air. "You're not so bad yourself, Rosie." I teased, keeping my tone playful, even though there was something more sincere behind it.
His lips twitched into that smile of his, the one I could never quite read, and then he kissed me, just a quick peck on my cheek, his lips brushing gently against my skin. It wasn’t anything too heavy, just a soft reminder that we were here, together. I couldn’t help but smile at the gesture. He kissed me like it was second nature, like he didn’t need to overthink it, like it was just something that fit.
I leaned into his touch as he kept running his fingers through my hair. He did it slowly, almost reverently, like he was memorizing the way my hair felt under his fingertips. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment, feeling more at ease than I had in a long time. There was something about being with Evan, about being this close, that made me feel like I didn’t need to hold anything back. Like it was okay to just be me.
"I’ve been thinking," Evan said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence between us. "You’d look pretty damn good with some green stripes in your hair."
I opened my eyes and turned my head to look at him, raising an eyebrow. He was staring at me intently, his lips curling up into a smile that looked more mischievous than serious. "Green?" I repeated, taking the cigarette out of my mouth to let the words sink in.
"Yeah," he said, running his fingers through my damp hair again, a little firmer this time, almost like he was imagining it. "I think it’d suit you. You’ve got that vibe like you'd pull off something bold."
I couldn’t help but snort at the thought. "You’re just trying to get me to do something even more ridiculous, aren’t you?" I teased, grinning as I shot him a look.
But Evan just chuckled, the sound low and genuine. "Maybe," he said, shrugging like it wasn’t even a big deal. "But I think you’d look cute with it. Besides, you’re already covered in tattoos. What’s a few more little things?"
I raised my eyebrow again, considering it. “Maybe I’ll think about it.”
The thought of having green in my hair, something different, something wild, didn’t sound half bad, though I wasn’t sure how my usual crowd would take it. Still, there was something oddly appealing about the idea of pushing boundaries, especially with Evan here, telling me that I could pull it off. It made the idea feel less crazy and more like a possibility.
"Yeah, well, don’t go getting any ideas about you doing it," I muttered, a playful smirk tugging at my lips. "I’m not in the mood for matching hair colors."
Evan laughed again, the sound warm and genuine. "I’m not that bold," he said, before pressing another kiss to the top of my head. It was soft, like a promise, like an unspoken thing that didn’t need words.
I felt the warm, comforting weight of his hand on my hair, the way his fingers would occasionally slide to my scalp, massaging lightly. The cigarette was almost gone now, and I flicked the ash away, my gaze drifting back to the lake. Everything felt slow and easy, like we were suspended in this perfect bubble, just lying here in the sun, not needing to say much.
"Thanks for today," I said after a moment, my voice soft. "For everything. This has been the best thing I’ve done in a long time."
He looked down at me then, his face softening, his eyes catching the light. "No problem." he said, his thumb brushing against my temple as he leaned down to kiss me again, this time longer, deeper, like he was saying everything he needed to say without words.
I let him, my heart fluttering in my chest, feeling both grounded and like I was floating all at once. The whole world seemed to narrow down to just us, lying here on the blanket by the lake, the air warm, the sun shining, and Evan kissing me like it was the only thing that mattered.
And for once, it felt like it was.