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“What do you mean, you think?”
“He wants more, and before you ask, he claims he wants to date me. That I’m the ‘magic’ he’s been missing in his life. Crazy, right?” I ask her. When she doesn’t answer, I finally turn to face her. “Linda?”
“Not so crazy.” She smiles. “Look, Layla, life is full of hard decisions. You don’t need me to tell you that. You’ve had to make more of them than most at your age. However, you can’t let fear hold you back.”
“I barely know him. He said I could live with him, but if I didn’t want to that his future sister-in-law has an apartment that she hasn’t let go yet. It’s all too easy,” I say, exasperated.
“Layla, sweetheart, not everything about life is hard. There are just as many good moments. Most of the time more than the bad. You were dealt a bad hand in life, and my heart breaks for you that you don’t see the good. You deserve the good.”
“I don’t want to leave you and Ronnie.”
“You know where we live. You’re welcome in our home anytime.”
“The two of you are all that I have,” I say, my voice cracking.
“You have me.”
My head pops up to see Owen standing before me. He’s in worn jeans and a T-shirt, and those blue eyes of his are dark and intense as they stare at me. “Hi,” I say, wiping the lone tear that cascades down my cheek.
In a few long strides, he’s around the counter and has my face cradled in the palm of his hands. “You have me. You have my crazy family, and we’ll come back as much as you want to visit. Ronnie and Linda can come and visit and stay with us, or me, or whatever. I promise you, you will not be alone. I won’t ever let you be alone again.” The look in his eyes tells me he means every word he’s saying.
“Oh my,” Linda says breathily, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“There she is.” Owen smiles down at me. “No more tears, baby. Only smiles for you from here on out.”
“There are going to be tears, Owen,” I say, taking a step back, putting some space between us.
“I don’t like to see you cry.”
“That’s a part of life. Tears. Pain.”
He nods. “You’re right. I’ll just have to hold you through them.”
“If you don’t go with him, I will,” Linda says, not bothering to lower her voice.
“Linda! What about Ronnie?”
“Phew,” she says, smiling and fanning her face with a menu. I burst out in laughter, which is exactly what she was going for.
“My life is in pieces, Owen. I’m a mess, and barely holding it together.”
“Let me put you back together. Piece by piece, I won’t stop until you feel whole.”
I don’t tell him that when I’m with him, I feel whole. I feel alive. My breath hitches when I realize that Linda is right. It’s my fear, but I didn’t let fear stop me before, and now I have Linda and Ronnie to come back to. Never again will I be alone. Reaching for the cordless phone that’s lying behind the counter, I dial the number he gave me for Sawyer. I memorized it, because well, I just did.
“Hello.”
“Sawyer, hi, this is Layla.” Owen’s eyes widen.
“Layla! Hi, it’s so good to hear from you. What’s up? You keeping Owen in line?”
“Is that even possible?” I ask, making her laugh.
“He is a Riggins, but I’ll let you in on a secret, they’re just a bunch of big softies. Sexy, infuriating softies.” She laughs.
My eyes find Owen’s. “I’m going to need some pointers.”
“You got it. So, what’s up?”
“I was wondering if the job was still open, and Owen mentioned you had an apartment for rent?”
“Yes, and yes. Both are yours if you want them.”
“I do.” The words are past my lips, and I can’t take them back. Not that I want to. I want this adventure he’s giving me. I’ll have a job, and my own place, and maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll get more of Owen too. It’s risky to take this leap, and I’m scared to death. However, I’m the only one who can change my future. I’m the only one who can reach for the stars as I try and hang the moon.
“Thank God. I wasn’t ready to deal with a sad, brooding Owen. I had enough of that with Royce.”
“Sounds like a story.” I don’t comment on the sad and brooding Owen part. I’m sure she’s exaggerating.
“Yes, one I’ll fill you in on once we meet in person. I’ll get the ball rolling on my end. You coming home with Owen?”
“Yes.” I’m going home with Owen. Those five words elicit fear and happiness and hope for what’s yet to come.
“Awesome. I can’t wait to meet you. We’re on our way to balancing all the testosterone in the family.” She laughs.
