Rose's POV
Rick had offered to take Jackson to the hospital to get the bullet removed and stitched up. Andy and Violet had taken off to get Violet away from the situation that she had accidentally caused. I don't know why Jackson is so upset, it was clearly an accident and he was being a dick about it making Violet feel worse about the whole thing. I sat in the passenger seat of the black SUV that was only filled with Stephen and I. I kind of found the whole situation quite funny because only this crazy shit would happen to Violet the first time she touches a gun. I giggled quietly to myself thinking of the whole situation happening.
"What's so funny?" Stephen asked sending a crooked smile in my direction.
"Oh nothing, just thinking about the whole situation happening. This is why Violet has never touched a gun before," I laughed looking out the window watching the trees fly by.
"You're twisted you know that?" He chuckled pulling into a Friendly's. My eyebrow raised in surprise, "I thought you might want ice cream,"
"Always!" I clapped excitedly leaning over and kissing his cheek before hopping out of the car and racing inside. Stephen made his way over to my bouncing figure rolling his eyes playfully at my excitement. His strong arms wrapped around my waist resting his head on my shoulder as we waited to be seated. There were mostly families surrounding us, making me smile they all looked so happy. I wanted kids at some point but not anytime soon as my career was only beginning and I had so much more to do before then. The older lady sat us down at a booth in the middle of the restaurant, I looked at the menu already knowing what I was going to get.
"Stephen, what are you going to get?" I asked taking a sip of my water, closing my menu thinking about the delicious peanut butter ice cream I was going to devour soon.
"Mmmh, torn between cookies and cream or mint chocolate chip," gazing into my eyes placing the menu down next to mine. His hand reached across the table grabbing mine lacing our fingers together.
"I think you should get mint chocolate chip," I suggested moving my hand so that we could thumb wrestle. Stephen laughed at my childish game but nonetheless was more than willing to challenge me.
"You just want me to get mint chocolate chip so that you can steal some of it," Clearly he knew me better than I thought because I loved mint chocolate chip and that was my plan so I could have the best of both worlds. "Princess," I hummed in response "You shouldn't challenge someone to something you can't win" My mouth opened in shock, I was the best at thumb wrestling and I was now determined to beat him no matter what it took.
"You're on," I glared before staring down at our hands interlocked. He quickly won the first round pinning my thumb down within seconds but granted he had cheated by distracting me by rubbing his foot up and down my leg. "Cheater! You can't do that"
"Do what?" He asked playing innocent batting his eyelashes at me but smirking at the end. I squinted my eyes at him.
"Best 2 out of 3," I said getting ready for the next round, Stephen nodded agreeing to the challenge. I bit my lip knowing that it would distract him I could hear him suck in a breath and tense up. I peered at him through my eyelashes only to see him staring back at me, he didn't look happy. I took this opportunity to pin his thumb down allowing me to get the win.
"I won!" I cheered taking a bite of the ice cream that the waiter had brought in the middle of the match. Stephen's scowl didn't leave his face while he took a bite of his mint chocolate chip ice cream. "Aww babe, don't be a sore loser. We still have one more match to see who the real winner is." He put his ice cream down on the table getting ready for the last match. I was prepared to win.
"One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war," We said in unison before the match began. I was now just biting my lip in concentration and grabbed my ice cream licking it seductively to mess with Stephen letting out a moan in pleasure.
"Rose, you're not playing fair," He mumbled in a gruff voice while shifting uncomfortably in his seat. I shrugged still concentrating on the match between us, he had gotten my thumb down a few times but I escape quickly. I managed to get his thumb down for 3 seconds after many failed attempts.
"WINNER!!!" I yelled doing a little dance in the booth while Stephen pouted about losing. "Cheer up, there's always next time," I took a scoop of my ice cream and plopped it into my mouth, victory tastes sweet. Stephen sat there grimly eating small bites of his ice cream. The waiter came over to give us the bill.
"Here you two go," He smiled sweetly at us placing it in between us
"Thank you," I smiled back at him, he was a smaller man around 5'10 and was slightly muscular. He was cute, to say the least. Stephen seemed less than impressed.
"Anytime sweet cheeks," He winked before walking away, a low growl came from across the table from my very jealous boyfriend. He was holding on to the sundae bowl very so tight I thought he might shatter it. So I threw down a 20 hoping to get out of here before Stephen caused a scene.
"Stephen lets just go," I sighed kind of annoyed that he got like this anytime someone looked at me. He knows that I only have eyes for him and that I don't want anyone else or I at least try to make that clear to him. He stood up after finishing his ice cream, securely grabbing my waist pulling me close as he smashed his lips to mine. It was like electricity shot through me every time our lips touched, although I knew this time it was to make a point. I didn't want to make a scene in front of all of these families, I just wanted to go back to the house. Eventually, he pulled away smirking as he lead me towards the exit.
"I don't appreciate you making scenes in front of people like that," I said buckling myself in. Stephen wheeled out of the parking lot clearly still upset about what happened inside.
"I don't appreciate people flirting with you while I'm right there or even if I am not there," He shot back taking a sharp turn at the lights.
"How many times am I going to have to tell you that I only want you? You and your hot-headedness." I groaned in frustration, I loved him dearly but I wish that he would have some faith in me.
"Princess, I know but you are just so perfect and I just don't understand why someone like you would want to be with someone like me. I'm no good. I'm in a gang for Christ's sake. I kill people and do illegal things for a living. You're in the CIA and wouldn't hurt a fly unless you were told to do so. You're so sweet and I'm the opposite. What if one day you find someone who isn't a criminal and treats you better? I'm just trying to keep you for as long as I can, I just got you back I can't lose you again." He sighed pulling into the house, I didn't know that he felt like this he doesn't think that he is good enough for me.
"Stephen, I don't think that I could find anyone who treats me better than you. You are always looking out for my safety and for me in general. You never let me out of your sight, you make sure that I am happy and have everything that I could possibly want no matter what. You know the little things about me and what makes me smile when I am sad and how to cheer me up. Even today, you brought me to get ice cream and I didn't have to ask you. You know me so well. I wouldn't want anyone else. You protect me as if your life depended on it. I don't know anyone else who would put their life before my own. You still love me for all of my flaws and even though I'm in the CIA and tried to take your gang down. You still never failed to love me. Why would I want anyone else, when you're the best for me" I gushed looking into his green eyes, wiping away a few of the tears that had filled up during my rant. I realized how loved I truly am and I am thankful that someone could care this much about me.
"You really believe that? Rose, I pushed you away when you needed me to forgive you the most. I even hurt you physically and emotionally and somehow you still want me. Nobody has ever stuck around this long," He barely whispered the last part, yes he had hurt me but he kind of had every right to be upset and hurt. I tried to take down his family although that didn't give him an excuse to hurt me physically. He had apologized again and again for that. I had forgiven him because I knew that he wouldn't do that again and if he did I would cut his balls off.
"Yes, I do believe that. I believe that I make you a better person and you do the same for me," I smiled at the broken boy in front of me who believed he wasn't deserving of love. I climbed over the console legs placed on either side of his waist so I was straddling his lap. My fingers traced over the light stubble that was coming in on his cheek. "Stephen, I love you." A small smile came across his face before placing a soft kiss on my lips.
"And I love you"