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“People can always change plans and make time for the things that matter to them.”
“Exactly. Which is why I’d hoped you’d come out here—for even a day.” He let out a long breath. “Look, youdomatter to me, Devyn. I know I have a strange way of showing it sometimes. But you’re one of the rare people I trust. You knew the real me before I blew up. Why do you think I haven’t been able to let you go, no matter how much has changed? The one constant in my life is that I want you in it.”
My body tightened as I fought against being manipulated. “You only want me on your terms, Robert. That will never work.Wewon’t ever work.”
“You say that, and yet you always come back to me, even if I only get you for a week of amazing sex… Youalwayscome back, Devyn. What does that say?”
“That I’m not very smart and perhaps need to work on myself to avoid such bad decisions.” I ran a hand through my hair. “That’s clearly gotten me nowhere.”
He was silent for a moment. “I’ll let you go. You don’t sound too happy to hear from me anyway. Good luck trying to find your mother. I mean that. I hope you locate her so you come back before I have to leave. That would be amazing.”
Always about him.“Thank you. Have a good night.” I hung up and threw my phone aside.
As always, talking to Robert put me in a pissy mood. But that was overshadowed by the realization that Owen should have been back a long time ago. He’d been gone for well over an hour. I assumed he hadn’t gone to Timbuktu for the food. Even stranger, when I texted him, he didn’t respond. That was certainly not like him.
A half hour later, I heard him enter his room next door. I jumped off my bed and went over to find him looking frazzled, holding a large paper bag and…a pie?
I covered my mouth. “Oh my God. What did you do?”
“Well, unfortunately our food might be cold. When I went to pick it up, I walked by this bakery. I decided to go in to see if they had Key lime pie. They did, but when the woman took the pie from the display, it slipped out of her hands and fell on the floor. I told her not to worry about it, but she insisted that the chef could whip me up a new one. It took forty-five minutes, and my phone died in the midst of it, so I couldn’t even tell you why I was late. I felt bad leaving once he’d started making it. She didn’t even charge me.” He sighed. “Anyway, it needs to chill for an hour in the fridge.”
“I was getting so worried.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
A piece of his dark hair was out of place. I lifted my hand and ran my fingers through the strands to straighten it. Owen closed his eyes momentarily.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” I told him. “Thank you for going out of your way to make me happy. I’m not used to that.”
“You deserve to be happy,” he whispered. Then he clapped his hands together. “Let’s eat this food, shall we? Before it gets even colder than it already is.”
He placed the pie in his fridge and brought the paper bag of takeout over to the small table in my room. Owen had gotten two entrees for us to split: pasta primavera and chicken parmesan from an Italian place. My stomach growled as the smell of cheese and oregano filled the air. He’d also picked up a bottle of red wine—thankfully with a screw top since we had no opener here.
Owen poured the wine into two water glasses and placed one in front of each of us. He lifted his. “Cheers.”
The glasses clinked together.
“Did you have a nice shower while I was gone?” he asked as we ate. “You look cozy.”
“I did. It was divine.”
“I can’t wait to take one myself after dinner.”
“You probably need one.” I took a sip.
He cocked a brow. “Are you saying I stink?”
“No, actually, you smell great. But after all the running around you did tonight, you must feel like you need one.”
“Nice save.” He winked. “Anyway, I was so worried, wondering what the hell you were thinking the entire time I was gone.”
I cut into my chicken. “Normally, I would’ve thought I’d been ghosted or something, but I didn’t think you’d do that.”
Owen put his fork down and narrowed his eyes. “Why would you ever think that, though?”
“I guess because of my childhood, having been left alone so much. I’m used to seeing people leave—walk out of my life, rather than stay.” I took a bite.
Owen shook his head. “I’m sorry. I hadn’t thought of it like that. I hope I didn’t worry you.”
