Honor stood there, staring at him, beyond stunned.
“Game’s ready,” Nick yelled from the living room. “Coming?”
“Yep.” Owen’s gaze lingered a moment longer, then he left—taking all the air in the kitchen with him.
“Oh my God,” Aunt Charity said. “Honor, honey. Wow.”
“You see?” her mother whispered. “How can I not worry?”
“Oh, no, you should totally be worried,” Aunt Charity agreed.
Honor stared blindly at the door, heart echoing in her ears. What had just happened? If he’d been trying to cement their cover for Nick’s recklessness, he’d taken things a little too far. He didn’t need to say he was head over heels in love with her. And the other stuff? He remembered the shirt she’d been wearing? The first time she’d smiled at him? He didn’t need to say any of that—he shouldn’t have. So why had he?
…
Felicity pulled the bag of popcorn from the microwave and dumped it into a brightly painted bowl. Honor, who’d been red-faced and nervous since Owen Nelson had made his heart-stopping public declaration, stood distracted and shifting from foot to foot.
“Think that’s enough?” she asked her daughter.
Honor stared into the bowl.
“Honor?” she asked.
Honor picked it up. “It’s great. It’s good. Thanks.” She headed slowly toward the door, hesitated, straightened her shoulders, and walked out.
“That was impressive. He totally rocked her world. Hell, he totally rocked my world.” Charity sighed. “How are you holding up?”
“Honestly?” Felicity asked, sitting in the chair opposite her sister.
“I’m thinking that having a boy be that into Honor might be freaking you out?” Charity shrugged. “I could be wrong, not being a mom.”
“No, no, you totally nailed it on the head.” She sighed. But… Maybe if Owen weren’t so manlike, it’d be easier. Her little girl was still her little girl. “You get it, though, right?”
Charity nodded. “He’s super intense. If we’re being honest—if I were Honor, I would totally jump him. Totally.”
She glared at her sister.
“Come on, Filly.” Charity rolled her eyes. “Did you see the way he looked at her? Do you remember being young and in love? All the passion and heat.” She grinned. “Having a guy more fascinated with you and your body than his own wants and needs.” She sighed, rubbing her arms. “Let’s not forget the all-important endurance.”
“Charity,” she groaned, resting her head on the table. Yes, she remembered. She and Matt had always been crazy about each other. In the beginning, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. One kiss was all it took to get them naked. Which was why Felicity had walked the graduation stage barely able to conceal her pregnancy—with Honor. She and Matt married that summer, right before they left for college.
“How do you think Doc Murphy’s going to stack up?” Charity asked. “Something tells me he’s going to be good with his hands.”
“Do not go there,” she said.
“Why not?” Charity asked. “How long has it been?”
Felicity peeked up at her sister. “For what?”
“Since you had sex?” Charity asked, bobbing her eyebrows.
“Since before the divorce.” Matt was her one and only.
“But that’s like…years.” Charity shook her head. “That’s depressing.”
She sat up. “I guess so. But he was all I know. It’s not like I can hop into bed with someone just for sex. That would be…weird.”
Charity snorted. “Or super hot and exciting.”