“You’re awfully full of yourself for someone who’d only slept with one person at the time.”
He picks up his own glass of wine and takes a drink. “You’re saying I didn’t satisfy you then?”
I exhale heavily, shaking my head. And there’s that magic wine glass appearing in my hands again. “Life is about more than sex, you know.”
“Oh, I do. Sex just makes everything better.”
Rolling my eyes, I focus on my food. Maybe I should sleep with Owen. Get it out of my system. I’m an adult and can hook up with whoever I want. I look across the table at Owen, feeling the wine start to hit me and make me think having sex is a good idea.
And then a weather alert on both our phones go off, warning us about a severe thunderstorm.
“So,” I say and change the subject. “Has Danielle been to the doctor yet?”
“She goes tomorrow.”
“That’s exciting. I hope everything is good.”
“Me too. That’s going to be one good-looking kid at least. Hopefully he’ll look more like his uncle than his father.”
I look up from my food to see him smiling. “You guys share like ninety-nine percent of the same DNA, right?”
“According to science we do.”
“So your kids and Logan’s kids will technically be cousins, but they’ll be as related as siblings?”
“Maybe?” Owen’s shoulders rise and fall in a shrug. “Archer would know, though I suppose it doesn’t matter until I have a kid of my own.”
“Do you want kids?” I ask carefully, twirling a noodle around my fork.
“Yeah, I do,” he replies with no hesitation. “I told myself I didn’t want one, but that was only because the one person didn’t want me anymore. Then I saw you and now things are different.”
“Really?”
“I told you, I’ve changed.”
I let out a shaky breath, feeling my resolve crumble. A loud clap of thunder rattles the windows, and it reverberates deep within my soul.
“Have you changed?” he asks carefully, and I know what he’s asking. He wants to know if I still want to get married and have babies. I haven’t changed much in that aspect. Starting my career was important to me, but I always imagined I’d do both. It wouldn’t be easy, but I’ve never been one to back away from a challenge.
“I have,” I say quietly, right as another boom of thunder sounds above us. My stomach flip flops, both from the storm and the direction our conversation is going. Owen, sensing my discomfort, gets up and brings a cake over to the table.
“You still like red velvet cake, right?”
Swallowing my emotions, I force a smile. “Yeah. I do.”
“Good. Because I do too.”
He serves me a slice once I’ve finished my pasta.
“So tell me,” I say as I stick my fork into the cake. “Has there been any good drama in Eastwood lately?”
“Tons. Owning a bar gives me prime people-watching vantage points. Remember Lizzy Mitchel?”
“Yeah, she was such a stuck-up bitch in high school.”
Owen laughs. “She’s having an affair with a much younger man.”
“Ohhh, that is good drama. And I didn’t even think of that, but you’re right. Bars are the place to be to witness drama and hear gossip.”
“The sad, lonely, and desperate are good for business,” he says with a laugh. “Do you talk with anyone from school anymore?”
I shake my head. “I lost touch with most of them during law school. I’m friends with Annabeth on Facebook, and Cheryl and I follow each other on Instagram. It’s kinda weird when I think about it. We were so close then. What about you?”
“Logan and I still hang out with Jake and Tom.”
“How are they?”
“Pretty much the same as they were in high school. Tom got married two years ago, though.”
“It is weird how you grow up and go your separate ways,” I say.
“That’s one of the good things about having a twin. It’s like a built-in friend I can’t get rid of.”
I laugh and take another bite. He tells me about more drama he’s witnessed over the years as we finish dessert. Once we’re done eating, I help him clean up the dinner dishes. We get along well and being together feels natural. I don’t realize we’ve slowly been washing the dishes for nearly an hour until I look at the clock, surprised to see how late it’s gotten.
“I should get going,” I tell him, drying my hands on a dishtowel. “I have to work in the morning.”
As if right on cue, a huge clap of thunder rings out, making me jump. Lightning flashes and heavy rain falls down. The power flickers twice before the whole house goes black. Silence fills the dark, and I let out a shaky breath.
“Maybe you should stay.” Owen turns on the flashlight on his phone and sets it upside down on the counter. “At least until the storm passes.”