“Football.” This was bad. This was very bad. How was she supposed to act? How was he going to act? It wasn’t like they were in the confines of her home. No. They were out. In public. With his friends watching. There was no way he was going to pretend—
“Hey.” He pulled out the chair next to hers, dark hair spiked up, hazel eyes fixed on her, and his hand reaching out to take hers. “Hope you don’t mind me crashing. Nick said you guys were out shopping.”
She stared at him. Like, stared. Hard. Confused. “What are you doing here?”
“Nick said you’d be here?” he repeated, his fingers threading with hers. “I had to do some paperwork on base this morning, so I figured I’d try to meet up with you guys.”
On base. A hard, jagged knot stuck in her throat. “What about your friends?” she asked. “Aren’t you here with…people?”
“I told them I wanted to spend time with you.” He shrugged. “They get it.”
They got it, but she didn’t. As amazing and mind-blowing as his declaration in the kitchen had been, it just didn’t make sense. She was… And he was… And they just didn’t make sense. So why was he here, smiling at her, holding her hand, making her insides tighten with pure anticipation?
“You guys are too cute.” Charity stood. “I’m grabbing your mother for some old-lady shopping. I’ll text you in a bit. If you think you guys can occupy yourselves…?”
There was no reason to panic. They were less alone than they were at her house most of the time. B
ut his sudden appearance had thrown her for a loop. Because… Owen.
Now Aunt Charity was gone, and she was still staring like an idiot.
“Your teeth are purple.”
She covered her mouth, horrified.
“Grape slushee?” He peered into her cup. “My favorite.” He took a long sip, then smiled.
She laughed.
“We match?” he asked, taking another long drink from her straw.
She was staring at him again. This time it was because he was without a doubt one of the most beautiful man-boys she’d ever seen. He was. He knocked her heart around and made her all light-headed and flustered. Whether or not it was a good thing had yet to be determined.
“You’re mad?” he asked, staring at their hands.
Was she? Mad? That he’d surprised her. Had he seriously come here for her? Like, seriously? “I’m not sure I understand why you’re here. I mean, it’s weird, isn’t it?”
His eyes locked with hers. “That I want to be with you?”
She swallowed hard, searching for a coherent response. He had a way of saying things that prevented her from forming meaningful sentences. “But my mom and aunt Charity aren’t here.”
He smiled, his free hand toying with one of her curls. “That morning…” He broke off. “Your mom catching us was the best thing that ever happened to me. If she hadn’t turned on that light, you’d still be ignoring my texts and phone calls. All I want is a chance here.” His gaze swept over her face. “For you to give us a chance.”
Us. The two-letter word had her reeling. “Owen.” What? Her mind went blank. Say something. This wasn’t happening. He wasn’t serious. And she was absolutely not falling…absolutely not in love with him. No way.
“Honor.” He was smiling that grin that made her insides melt.
“I—I’m not mad.” Her words were breathless and wavering, and she was holding on to his hand, leaning into him.
“I’m glad.” He nodded, his fingers tracing along her jaw. Unsteady fingers. He was shaking. Because of her? One look at his face, the warmth in his eyes, and her heart gave up the fight.
“Okay,” she whispered.
He shook his head. “Okay?”
“I’ll give you a chance, Owen Nel—”
Then he was kissing her, and finishing her sentence wasn’t important. He was kissing her, and nothing else mattered.