Sterling blinked in shock. Eden had just said… What?
“…Not so bad after all…”
A grin split his face, and he couldn’t hide it. He had to turn away to make sure she wouldn’t turn around and see it, shaking his head as he chuckled to himself.
“Not so bad,” he mumbled to himself as he made his way to his car. “Not so bad…”
[TIME SKIP:]
Eden had the worst luck ever. She hated it, hated for walking to school and not driving. A peace of mind, she said. She always did this to herself. Always. It would have been easier if she had her car. Heck, it would have been better had Lucas not gone to Ashley’s after his class ended. if it thundered… Eden shut the thought down immediately. She could handle it herself, so she shook her head and stepped out into the intense rain, teeth chattering as the water hit her, wind blowing heavily. Five minutes into the rain and she was already drenched.
It didn’t help with the fact that there was a new bruise forming on her left cheek. But nothing new, right?
Sterling has just made it to his car when he felt raindrops on the back of his neck. He shivered at the cold feeling, quickly unlocking the black Mustang and slipping inside. A few minutes later, it was a full-on downpour outside. Thankfully, he could still see well enough to drive.
And he could see well enough that he spotted a familiar figure walking along in the rain. He slowed down and opened the window as he pulled up beside Eden McArthur.
“Need a ride?” he called, offering her a small smile.
Eden looked up in surprise, wet hair pasted to her face. She pushed it aside and released a shuddering breath.
“I’m good,” she responded, though her voice wobbled a bit. Why was it so damn cold? She sniffled, looking ahead of her again. “My place isn’t far. I can walk.”
Sterling shook his head and glanced forward again. “Eden, it’s pouring rain. I’m pretty sure it’s only going to get harder. And I think there’s going to be thunder and lightning soon. Please, just get in. I’ll drive you back to your place.”
At the mention of thunder and lightning, Eden stiffened. She bit down on her lip, taking another deep breath. “I’m soaked,” she pointed to herself. “Your car will get dirty.”
“I’ll get it cleaned later. It’s in need of vacuuming, anyway,” Sterling said with a shrug. “It’ll be fine, Eden. I just don’t want you getting sick because of this.”
Eden looked at him for a second, but didn’t refuse. She opened the door and hesitantly sat down, cringing when her wet clothes clung to her. She closed the door, sighing when the warmth of his car brought intense relief to her freezing self. She buckled the seatbelt and wrapped her arms around herself.
“Thank you…” she shuddered, cursing herself for showing such weakness.
“No problem,” Sterling murmured, waiting for her to buckle up before almost starting the car again. He stopped himself first and pulled off the gray hoodie he was wearing, handing to her. “Here. You can use this to warm up a little.”
Eden looked at him, eyes wide again. She felt her body heat up, but told herself it wasn’t because of his gesture. It was the warmth of the heater and nothing more.
“I’m oka—“ she cut herself off with a sneeze, covering her nose and mouth as she did so. She sniffled before she sighed, accepting the hoodie he offered her. His own. The one he had been wearing just seconds ago. He offered it to her. She swallowed. “Thank you, Sterling.”
She slipped it on, though it was way too big on her. It felt like she was drowning in it. She breathed it in, eyes closed, relieved that it was covering most of her face due to the fact that her cheeks were definitely warm. It smelled like him.
Cinnamon.
Sterling watched her out of the corner of his eye as he turned the heat up higher. He was a little cold without the hoodie, now, but that was okay. It wouldn’t take long for him to warm up.
“Am I taking you to the same place I did last time?” he asked softly as he started down the road again, driving a little slower due to the limited visibility.
Eden nodded, shivering lightly. Sterling’s hoodie started to soak in the water as well and she felt guilty for accepting it. He’d be cold without it. Plus, it would get wet because of her.
“Yeah,” she breathed, sinking further into the fabric, closing her burning eyes. Why did most males have to smell so good? Her father smelled of mint. Her brother was more sweet-smelling, leaning towards apple. And then there was Sterling with his cinnamon scent. “The same place.”
Sterling nodded and, after a quick glance in her direction, started toward the apartment her walked her to a while ago. She looked cute bundled in his hoodie like that, buried up to her eyes. It was really adorable. If he thought she would take it well, he would tell her what he thought. And he normally would have. Today, though… he just felt like he should drop the flirting and just be quiet.
By the time they reached her apartment, the weather had worsened. Hardly anything could be seen outside. It was a miracle Sterling was able to park his car properly outside her apartment.
Once he did, she realized she needed to say goodbye. She hesitated, peering outside and releasing a breath.
“Come inside,” she murmured, unbuckling her seatbelt. “It’s dangerous outside.”
Sterling raised an eyebrow at her. Another glance outside, and he nodded slowly. “If you’re okay with that, it would be great. I’m not sure if I could drive home in this,” he mused, looking back over at her.
Eden nodded, collecting her composure. She wasn’t okay with it—wasn’t okay letting a male inside her house, but she wasn’t going to let him leave and get hurt.
“Come on, then,” she dug around her bag to find her keys, having to fold the sleeves of the hoodie. She opened the car door and stepped out, clutching her bag tightly in her hands and ran to her apartment. She didn’t wait for Sterling as she fumbled with her keys.
Sterling got out of his car, locked it, and dashed up to the door. He was nearly soaked by the time he reached Eden, and he hadn’t even been in the rain for that long. He glanced up at the sky as he waited for her to unlock the door. Hopefully, it would clear up soon…
Eden unlocked the door and breathed a sigh of relief when the warmth of her apartment hit her. She immediately walked inside, stepping away to give Sterling some space. Her eyes flickered around the living room, her arms crossed tightly. There wasn't anything for him to see except for a few pictures Lucas had kept around the house. One frame on the wall was a picture of her along with her family. They were kids and Eden was in her mother's arms, too big glasses perched on her nose, lips twisted into a frown. Lucas loved that picture. The one on a cabinet was of her and her brother when they were fourteen. She had her arms wrapped around him, a smile on her features. She hated that picture with a passion. Hated seeing that happy look in her past self's eyes.
She tore her eyes away.
"I'll get you a towel," she murmured, slipping out of her shoes and opening a drawer, taking out extra towels and tossing one to Sterling. She wrapped the other around herself and made her way to her brother's room. "And Lucas's clothes. Stay here."
Sterling glanced around the room when they finally stepped inside. It was a nice place, with pictures of their family on the walls. He brought his gaze back to Eden when she spoke, nodding in acknowledgment.
“Thank you, by the way. You didn’t have to do this,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around himself to keep from shivering.
(Psst, Sterling, she tossed one towel to you…)
Eden turned to look at him, hair still stuck to her face. She shrugged nonchalantly, though just the thought of him in her space, especially if there was a threat of her revealing one of her biggest fears, made her feel anxious. A weakness.
“You didn’t have to give me a ride,” she murmured. “Yet here we are. My debt to you, I guess.”
Then she heard a small mewl and looked over to see Razor padding over, as if he was frowning. He didn’t approach her. He hated water. Eden blinked at him. He stared back. Then she shook her head and stepped into Lucas’s room to get a shirt and sweatpants for Sterling.
(Crap, I was distracted, sorry.)
Sterling picked the towel up from the floor and rubbed it over his head to dry his hair out a little. When he was finished with that, he wrapped it around his shoulders and looked around again. Even if she said it was repaying her “debt” to him (which he didn’t think was necessary), it was still a little surprising that she let him into her home.
(It's okay!)
Eden breathed a sigh of relief when she was alone in Lucas's room. Why was Sterling's presence getting heavier? Why was she letting herself make another stupid, easily avoidable mistake? It was only going to end poorly. Why was she letting this continue? And wearing his hoodie, his scent overwhelming her… Eden didn't know what she was doing anymore.
She shook her head, walking over to her brother's closet and taking out a shirt and one of his sweatpants. Hopefully, they would fit Sterling. He was far more built than her brother. Catching her composure again, Eden walked out of the door and back into the living room, ignoring the way water dripped from her clothes.
Sterling’s gaze turned back to Eden when she walked out. He blinked at her and gave her a small smile when he noticed what she held in her hands. “Thanks. Is there a bathroom I can use to change in? You should get out of those wet clothes, too. You’ll get sick.”
"There's a bathroom down the hall," Eden answered softly, walking over to him to hand him the clothes. "But if you want to shower, you can use my bathroom. Or Lucas's. The bathroom in the hall doesn't have a shower."
“Thank you. I think I’ll just dry off and change, so the one down the hall should be fine,” Sterling said, taking the clothes with a grateful nod. “And I expect you to have changed as well by the time I get out.”