ooohhh, i like..... aaaand then it got out of control and i kept typing and now here we are...i'm sorry
So, it would start when Aelin needs a date to save face at her family's annual holiday party. Because literally everyone she knows is in a relationship, already married, or some variation. And she'd getting a little desperate because if she has to sit through one more event with comments on how she should get married soon-she'll go postal.
Enter Rowan, her sworn enemy and all their friends know it. They've been in the same circle of friends for years, but never quite meshing well. But she'd much rather face repercussions for that then more comments on being single. And Rowan needs a bit of help too--his ex is trying to get back with him and that is the last thing he wants.
So they strike a deal. Just for the holiday season they'll be each other's dates and excuses. No questions, no worries.
And everything goes to plan until this dreaded party at Aelin's parents house. It's the third party they've gone to and they're both ready to murder each other.
When they nearly break into a fight over a comment from Rowan--Alein drags them into the old storage room at the back of the house to have it out with him. OR somehow Rowan's ex shows up and he's desperate for escape.
Either way--they're both done with the situation.
Their standing toe to toe arguing--again. Aelin doesn't get why Rowan can simply do this one last party like a normal person while Rowan doesn't get why she doesn't own up to who she is and be unapologetic. He tells her that she doesn't need to be anyone else.
Short of yelling at him, Aelin decides to storm out of the storage room. She doesn't care if it'll blow their cover. Only to find that the knob won't turn and the lock is stuck.
Aelin tries to blame it on Rowan, Rowan tries to blame it on her.
And their staring at each other fuming when Rowan breaks first and kisses her. It takes her a moment before she responds and they're up against a wall lost in each other.
Until someone on the outside manages to get the door open. After some, ah, exchanged words/innuendos embarrassment because it's Fenrys that finds them...The rest of the night Aelin and Rowan miss exchanged looks and they're over analyzing everything they've said and done.
When they leave, Aelin is the one to break this time. She doesn't kiss him, not at first but she tells him that no one has ever really allowed her to be herself--to be who she is. And then it ends in a soft admission of feelings that have developed over the last few weeks years and everyone is happy.
