Series: The Laws of Opposite Attract Series by Vi Keeland
Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
I had a dozen texts, but the third one from the top made my heart stop.
Owen: I’ll come up at 11:30 to grab you for lunch. The little Italian place you went with Billie recently okay?
Shit! My lunch date with Owen had completely slipped my mind. I looked up at the corner of my phone for the time. 11:10. The last thing I needed was Owen showing up with Robert here. So I quickly texted back.
Devyn: I’m so sorry for the last-minute notice. I need to cancel.
Owen responded almost immediately.
Owen: Everything okay? Are you feeling alright?
I didn’t want to lie. He’d been so honest with me, even when it wasn’t easy. But I hated to make him feel bad, too. I chewed my fingernail, feeling like a horrible person as I tried to figure out what to say. Eventually, I decided he would be more upset with a lie than a truth that hurt.
Devyn: Robert is here. He showed up at my door this morning—to apologize for how he acted and talk things through.
I stared down at my phone, anxiously waiting for a response. After a long couple of minutes, the dots started to jump around, but then they stopped again. Robert returned from the bathroom, but I kept my phone in my hand for the next hour. Sadly, it never buzzed with an incoming text. I even checked my messages twice, to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.
“Are you hungry?” Robert asked. “I have a couple of hours until I have to leave for my flight. You want to grab something to eat?”
The thought of running into Owen, or even one of his buddies, while out and about with Robert took away any appetite I might’ve had. “I’m not really too hungry. But why don’t I order us something? I’ll Uber Eats it.”
“Good with me.” Robert smiled. “With so little time, I’d prefer not to share you with anyone anyway.”
Share me with anyone. I forced a smile and checked my phone once more.
Still nothing…from the man he was sharing me with.
***
I’d just climbed into bed when my phone buzzed from the nightstand. Owen flashed on my screen. My pulse sped up, and I flicked the bedside lamp back on.
Owen: Is he staying the night?
My heart ached. That’s what he’d been thinking all day? That Robert was still here and going to spend the night? God, I sucked. I hadn’t texted him again because I was trying to give him space. But I’d made things worse.
Devyn: No, he’s gone. He went back to Rome. He had to get back to the set.
I waited on pins and needles while Owen typed back. It seemed to take forever, or at least it felt that way.
Owen: Can we talk? I can come up, or you can come down here. But I know the kids are probably sleeping.
I pulled back the blanket, already climbing out of bed.
Devyn: It’s fine. Come up.
Owen: I’ll be there in five.
I’d taken a hot shower earlier, trying to unknot the ball of tension in my neck. But I’d been too lazy to wash my hair, even though it had gotten wet. One glance at the mirror and I regretted not even brushing it out. If my complicated life didn’t scare Owen away, this look might seal the deal. I spent five minutes trying to clean myself up, but I needed more like five hours. Or maybe five days.
Owen knocked lightly. I swung the door open before he had a chance to lower his arm.
“Hey.” I smiled.
Owen’s face was grim. He nodded. “I’m sorry to bother you so late.”
“It’s fine.” I stepped aside. “I’m glad you did. Come in.”
Two steps in the door, he stopped short. I had to follow his line of sight to figure out what was wrong.
The gifts.
Shit. They were piled up on the floor, higher than the coffee table. I still hadn’t opened a single one.
“Sorry,” I said. “Robert brought them. I didn’t feel up to opening any.”
Owen took a deep breath and gestured in the other direction. “Kitchen?”
I forced a smile. “Sure.”
Unfortunately, I’d forgotten about the flowers, too—the dozens that were impossible to miss. Owen’s eyes snagged on them immediately. The face he made could only be described as defeated.
“I’m sorry,” I said. Picking up the wastebasket, I looked around, then opened the cabinet under the sink and tucked them inside.
Owen smiled sadly. “You didn’t have to do that. But thanks.”
“Do you want something to drink? A glass of wine, maybe?”
“No, thank you.”
We sat down at the kitchen table across from each other.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Physically? Fine. Emotionally? A wreck.”
He nodded. “I guess your talk didn’t go well?”
“No, it was fine. But you didn’t text me back, and I’ve been worried you were upset.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”
“There’s no need for you to apologize. I’m sorry Robert showed up unannounced, and that I had to cancel our lunch.”