Page 107 of The Best I Never Had

Addy’s arms are wrapped around Harrison as she beams up at him. Owen seems content as he weaves our fingers together, pressing his lips to the back of my hand. They’re all happy. Untroubled. But I can’t help but wonder how long the happiness will last with what’s waiting for us at the inn.

Chapter 33

OWEN

Relief doesn’t cover it. Elation. Euphoria. Ecstasy.

My family’s waiting on the pickup platform for Jourdan to bring the bus around, and we have just enough time for a moment away from their prying eyes. I catch Harrison’s gaze and jerk my head to the side. He rolls his eyes, but nods and taps his watch. I give him a little salute, then use the hand twined through Thea’s to tug her to the side before the sliding glass doors, backing her against the stretch of wall.

Thea smiles up at me, a bit teasingly but still so soft. “Mr. Hayes, someone could see us.”

“Let them watch,” I murmur, bringing my mouth down to hers.

She’s delectable, far surpassing every recipe I’ve obsessed over until I considered it perfect. I want to drag her away, lock her in a tower only I can access, like a princess in a fairy tale. The second we get on that bus, everyone’s going to pull her away from me. I’m not ready to share her when I just got her back.

I pull away, planting a soft kiss on her nose. “You never said yes.”

“You never asked a question,” she says. “Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”

She bats her lashes. It’s over the top and ridiculous and so perfect I could cry. “Boyfriend and girlfriend” feels so flippant, so small compared to the size of my feelings for her. But even I can recognize that saying I want to call her my future wife after only seven days is absurd, so I smile.

“Will you be my girlfriend, Thea Simone Pappas?”

She kisses me again, smiling against my lips, but I refuse to be distracted.

“Answer the question,” I practically growl.

She hesitates, and I’m instantly flooded with adrenaline.

“I want to,” she whispers.

“Then say yes.”

“But what does this look like? What happens with your mom? Is each interaction with her going to be a fight, or are you planning on cutting her out? And if you do that, how long before you come to resent me?”

I place a finger over her lips to stop the flow of questions. “I get why you’re worried. Mom and I had a blowup before we came to get you, and I don’t know what it’s going to look like. But I told her everything, including how miserable I’ve been at my job. Even if she doesn’t accept it, it’s all out there now.”

“And you won’t regret that?”

“Regret living for myself?” I scoff. “Absolutely not. I’ve never felt so free. I did it for us, but I did it for myself, too.”

She blinks away tears and nods, leaning up to kiss me. “Then yes.”

I pull away before her lips can distract me again. “There’s something else. I’m leaving the company.”

She blinks up at me with her wide brown eyes, surprised at having her kiss thwarted, but her face breaks into a smile. “Owen! That’s amazing!”

I rub the back of my neck, feeling sheepish about it now. “Yeah, on the bus ride here, Harrison brought up buying me out. He loves the work, and he said if we could set up a payment plan, he’d give me the out. It’ll take a while for me to get him ready, but we’ve set a schedule. Six months of intensive training, and then he’ll take over, with me on speed dial if any issues come up.”

She runs a hand up my chest. “How do you feel about that? You’ve always felt trapped there. Are you worried you’re doing the same thing to Harrison?”

“There are those questions I love.” I press a quick peck to her lips, a small thrill shooting through me every time I say the word “love” to her. “No, I don’t feel that way. He’s explored other options, interned with different companies while he was in school, and he’s going in with clear eyes. I love it for him, and knowing that someone else will carry on my dad’s passion takes some of the pressure off.”

My stomach flips as I prepare to say the next thing, and I’m not sure if it’s nerves or excitement.

“But there’s one more thing. If I’m not tied to Hayes, I’m free to do whatever I want. And wherever I want.”

Her eyes go wider. “Are you saying…”