Page 18 of Sweet Surrender
Niamh legitimately gasped in horror, and Rowyn laughed.
“How do you google your every thought without theinternet?”
“I don’t. That’s the point. It became an obsession, and you know I’m all or nothing, so I had to cut it out. I googled my last clients, the content creators, before I started the job. I found the explicit content they create, and I figured enough was enough. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for couples making money however they choose, but I didn’t need to have that in my head seeing them every day and taking care of their kids. I think we’ve gotten to a point where the internet means we all knowwaytoo much about each other.”
Niamh laughed loudly at that. Rowyn had missed the sound. She needed to make more of an effort to hear it more often.
“Fair point. But you don’t access the internet at all? That seems a bit excessive.”
“No, I do. I have a laptop, and I can use it with Wi-Fi. But it takes more time and effort to get that out, log in to everything, and search for stuff, so it means I’m more mindful about how and when I use it. It’s too easy with a smartphone to not even think about it. Plus, I’m run ragged with the kids most of the day, I barely have time to pee, never mind post on social media.”
“Kids go to school. Anyway, what’s it like, the new job?”
Rowyn spent the next few minutes filling Niamh in on the job, the kids, and Eliza.
“She sounds like an asshole. Don’t take any shit, Row,” Niamh said with a huff.
Rowyn frowned, and she had an urge to jump to Eliza’s defence.
“I think she wants what’s best for the kids, and she’s still figuring out if I’m that. It’s not easy seeing a stranger take over, so I’m trying to give some grace. Plus, she promised me pizza and ice cream for dinner to make up for it. Actually, she should be here any minute,” Rowyn said as she glanced up to the large clock hanging over the double doors.
Eliza had texted her about an hour ago with an ETA of an hour, and Rowyn had a feeling she would be punctual.
“Well, fine, but don’t let her push you around. You’re good at what you do, and you deserve to be respected for it.”
Rowyn’s chest swelled with happiness at the pride evident in her sister’s voice.
“I really did miss you. Call me soon, because we both know I’ll forget, okay?”
Niamh chuckled and agreed. They were signing off the call when the sound of Eliza’s car coming up the driveway met Rowyn’s ears. A strange feeling of nervousness overcame her, and she pushed it down. This was silly. There was absolutely nothing to be nervous about. They would eat pizza, talk and clear the air. That was all. There would not be any flirting, no way.
Eliza strode through the doors as Rowyn met her in the kitchen. She was wearing a navy-blue pantsuit that looked like it was tailor-made for her body and held pizza in one hand with a heavy looking bag in the other.
“I didn’t have much to go on withnot vanilla, so I got one of pretty much everything. Help me get them in the freezer before they melt.”
Rowyn’s mouth dropped open at the number of ice cream tubs coming out of the bag, and she shook her head in shock.
“Anything but vanilla meantanything,” Rowyn said with a laugh.
“Oh, I know what it meant,” Eliza said while handing her another tub.
The pointed look in her eyes said she understoodexactlywhat Rowyn had meant with her innuendo this morning, and Rowyn’s heart picked up pace.
No flirting. No flirting. No flirting.
“Good. I wouldn’t want any miscommunication where ice cream is concerned,” Rowyn said lightly.
There was a beat of silence before Eliza spoke again.
“Speaking of miscommunication…”
Rowyn stood after the last tub of ice cream was put away, and they faced each other.
“Let’s get settled with this pizza first and then you can apologize for being an ass to me.”
Rowyn smiled at Eliza’s look of disbelief and grabbed the plates she had had ready for Eliza’s return.
“That’s not exactly how I was going to put it,” Eliza said as they set everything on the dining table.
