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“What are we? This is all crazy, Owen.”
“We’re dating. Seeing where things go.”
“But I work for you.”
“There are no rules against that. Trust me, Royce and Sawyer went through this, and he tried to use that as an excuse to push her away. I’m learning from my big brother’s mistakes. I don’t give a fuck who you work for, and I’m not letting you go.”
“So we tell them that we’re dating? Are they going to give you a hard time? We’ve only known each other a small amount of time.”
“No. Royce met Sawyer on a plane, and he knew then that she was it for him, but he fought it. I’m not fighting it. There are no rules or timelines we have to follow. We just have to do what’s best for us. What’s best for me, is you.” He leans in and presses his lips to mine. Just a soft, quick peck, but it does wonders at calming my nerves.
“Okay.”
“Just like that?” He grins.
“Yeah, I have no examples to go on here. My life wasn’t filled with dates or watching a healthy relationship. I’m learning as I go, and I trust you, Owen.”
“Good.” He gives me another kiss before turning in his seat and pulling back out on the road.
“Wow. Do all of you own huge houses?” I ask as we pull into Royce’s driveway.
He laughs. “Just me, Royce, and Grant. Conrad and Marshall, who are the youngest, still live in apartments. They actually live in the same building. It makes it nice when I have to pick their asses up after a night of drinking and drive them home. I only have to make one stop.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“They’re my brothers.”
He says it so simply, like there is no other option for him. I wish I knew what that felt like. I’ve never felt that kind of connection with anyone.
Ronnie and Linda are the closest I’ve come to having someone to depend on, and even then, I fought it. I didn’t want to get used to having them for the fear they might not stick around. That fear is there when it comes to Owen as well, but he doesn’t let me hide behind it. We talk about it, and he assures me he’s not going anywhere.
For the first time in my life, I’m trusting someone, leaning on them, depending on them to hold me up and catch me when I fall. I want more than anything for that person to always be Owen. No matter what happens between us, he will always have a piece of me for all the kindness he has shown me. Not just kindness, but he’s proved to me that there are good men out there. The kind who is happy to just hold you close as they lie in bed next to you. The kind that asks before taking, not just assume that the world is theirs.
Owen is my unicorn. I never thought I’d ever meet a man like him.
“You ready?” he asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“As I’ll ever be.”
He nods, and we both climb out of his car. His hand finds its way to the small of my back as he leads me up the steps of the porch and to the front door. Owen knocks, and the door swings open. Before me stands a man and a woman, both smiling wide. I recognize them from the video call.
“Glad to have you back, brother.” Royce leans in and gives Owen one of those man hugs. You know, it’s kind of a mix between a handshake and a slap on the back kind of thing. “You must be Layla,” he says, pulling back. He surprises me when he tugs me into a hug.
“Royce,” Owen says, his voice sounding very similar to a growl.
“Oh, boy, here we go,” Sawyer says, standing next to Royce. “We had enough of that with this guy.” She points to her fiancé. “Layla, I’m Sawyer. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you. Both of you. You have a beautiful home.”
“Come on in.” Sawyer reaches out and grabs my hand, pulling me inside. I trail along behind her as she leads us to the living room and takes a seat on the couch, offering for me to do the same. It’s not until I’m sitting that I notice she’s dressed just like me. Cutoff jean shorts and a tank top, and her feet are bare. “How was the drive up from Florida?” she asks.
“Not too bad. Owen drove the entire time. I offered to take a turn, but he refused.”
“Get used to that. If he’s anything like his older brother, he thinks he has to spoil you. Not that it’s a bad thing. It could be worse, but sometimes a girl just wants to drive herself to the damn mall,” she says, exasperated, making me laugh.
