I glance over at him.
“That might be the understatement of the century,” I scoff.
He lets out a low chuckle, taking a sip from his glass before his hand drifts lower down my back… hovering just above my ass.
Chill bumps cover my skin as my core swirls with heat.
A week ago, we would never have been standing like this in public.
Touching each other like this.
So obvious to the world that we can’t keep our hands off each other.
And even though we just kissed for the first time a few days ago, everything about this feels so comfortably familiar.
I feel ridiculous for waiting literal years to tell Owen how I felt about him, but in my defense, he did have a girlfriend until recently.
Ugh,every time I think about his ex, it's like an arrow to the chest.
It’s not his fault. We’ve both dated other people before this week. But her… Just the thought of her makes me feel incredibly insecure. And I hate that I let it.
I’m saved from my thoughts as a man approaches us from across the deck—tall, handsome, and slightly sunburned with a loose tie around his neck and a glass of whiskey sloshing lazily in his hand.
“Owen!” he booms with a smile, almost shouting.
“Drew,” Owen replies with a friendly grin, stepping forward to pull the guy into a quick handshake that turns into a half-hug.
“Good to see you, man,” Owen adds.
Drew’s gaze shifts toward me with curiosity.
“Likewise,” he nods. “It’s been too long. And who’s this?”
Owen’s arm slides protectively around my waist as he pulls me closer to his side.
“This is Meadow.”
Something about the way he says my name—confident and proud—makes my stomach flutter.
“Nice to meet you, Meadow,” Drew smiles warmly, reaching out to shake my hand.
“Nice to meet you too,” I grin and nod, returning the gesture.
He points loosely between us.
“Okay, so you need to catch me up,” he looks toward Owen, “how do you two know each other?”
Owen glances down at me for half a second, his thumb skimming slowly against my ribcage.
“We met at work,” he answers without hesitation.
His arm tightens possessively around my waist, as if he wants it to beveryclear that I’m here with him. A shiver rolls down my spine at his claiming tone.
Drew’s eyebrows lift as he scoffs.
“Oh hell,” he says, letting out a mocking laugh. “Office romances.”
I tilt my head in confusion as he raises his glass toward us.
