Her warm smile instantly told me that she had the answer. “Be at reception at four, and I’ll take you to visit my mother’s friend.”
Even though I had no idea what she meant, she was so self-assured that I was positive she’d have the answer.
&nbs
p; 13
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Brynn
By Friday afternoon, I thought that I should extend an olive branch and send Owen a text. Yet I simply had no idea what to say. Should I apologize for being skittish? For not asking for his side of the story?
After spending a few hours going through prices for an old-fashioned candy store that was co-sponsoring the sweet sixteen extravaganza I was planning, I checked my email and nearly fell out of my chair.
Jonathon had sent a note saying that Owen should now be dealt with directly, and no longer through Teal Dot Media since he was no longer affiliated with them. He said that he had already spoken with Joe, and we were free to hire Owen for any jobs we liked.
Owen had left the company he was with. A rather significant life change. Especially since it was a family company, run by his brother.
Was there any chance at all that he was doing it because of me?
Oh my god.
I didn’t want to be like his other girlfriends – someone he chased. I wanted to be his already, and permanently.
That was totally insane, but the second the thought snuck into my mind, I knew it was right. Games and stress and wondering what would happen next wasn’t my style. I just wanted to know that things were steady.
I wanted Owen.
But I didn’t want him to change anything in his life. It was clear that his brother didn’t think much of me, and thought that I was just passing through like the other girls, but I honestly didn’t give a darn about his opinion.
Did Owen think that he needed to quit his job because I’d be upset if he stayed? My head was spinning.
There were so many questions, but I wasn’t ready to speak with him yet. Even though I missed him terribly.
Every morning I wished that I was waking up in his arms. He made me feel so safe, so loved. Like I truly belonged to him. I didn’t even know that such a feeling was possible, and now I was swimming in it.
Yet my fists kept clenching in anger. I rarely became furious at people, so the brand new feeling was filling me with strange sensations.
I left the office at five-thirty with a plan. Go home, make some dinner, then sort out my feelings and text Owen. I would ask about getting together for a coffee on Monday, when I could politely inquire if he’d lost his freaking mind and quit his job because of me.
Waving goodbye to our receptionist, I walked into the elevator and nearly straight into Owen’s chest. Instantly his arm slid around me, pulling me inside as he hit the button for the lobby.
“What–”
“Shh, just let me hold you for a second.”
I should have pushed him away, but was instantly overcome by his warmth, his strength, the way his arms held me so snugly. Every serious question I had for him melted away.
For once, I was irritated that the elevator ran so quickly, wanting to breathe him in forever. As the doors slid open, he took my hand and led me outside to his car.
My feet planted themselves into the gravel. “I have to go home,” I said quickly, turning toward the bus stop, then pausing.
I didn’t know why, but I knew that if I got into that car, he’d say sweet things to me, and I wouldn’t get a chance to process everything. Since I’d never been this upset with someone before, it didn’t feel right to just turn it off before I had a chance to say anything.
It was always so hard for me to speak up when it was something negative. With Owen’s gorgeous eyes staring at me, I didn’t know if I had the strength.
“Would you like to go to a coffee shop, or maybe get dinner?” he asked gently. “Or if you want to talk somewhere a little more private, we could go to either of our homes. Whatever you like.”