Page 100 of A Thousand Second Chances

Unable to look at Chris for fear of the disappointment I might see, I clear my throat and catch Owen’s eye. “It’s all right. And for what it’s worth, I know your mom pretty well after all these years. I don’t think you have anything to worry about if you decide to come out to her. But that’s your choice to make, no one else’s.”

He blushes and nods, keeping his gaze downcast. “I’ve made such a mess of things, haven’t I?” he whispers. “Fuck, I…I can’t believe I was seriously going to…”

“But you didn’t.” Chris steps over to Owen and offers his free hand. After a moment’s hesitation, Owen takes it, and Chris hauls him to his feet. “That’s what matters, at least right now.” His eyes narrow, his voice gaining an edge. “But youwilltalk to your mom about all this, right? You won’t let things get so bad again. And youdefinitelywon’t be mishandling any more firearms.Right?”

Owen swallows. “Right.”

Chris raises an eyebrow. “And why’s that?”

Owen hesitates before his face lights up with a small grin. “Because I’m not in this alone?”

Chris claps him on the back. “Damn straight! Whatever else happens, you’ve got your mom, Percy, and me in your corner now. And if I have to come back here and beat up some high school twerps, I will.”

Somehow, I completely believe him.

After a quick detour to grab Owen’s bag from Sunset Rock, we walk with him down the road, following Lake Shore Drive back toward the Royal Lilac. Chris hangs onto the pistol, safely secured in its case until either we can return it to Carol ourselves or the day resets and renders the issue moot. By unspoken agreement, we take up position on either side of Owen like bodyguards escorting him to safety. The trip passes in silence, all of us lost in our own thoughts.

I knowIcertainly have a lot to think about.

Once we reach the garden, Owen’s steps slow. He hesitates, eyeing the Royal Lilac like it’s a bomb about to detonate…or a gun about to go off.

“Your mom’s probably still waiting downstairs for you,” Chris comments gently.

Owen gulps. “I know. I guess we have a lot to talk about, huh?”

I nod. “It’s okay if you can’t discuss it all at once—if you need some time to work through things. But after what happened tonight…”

“I’ve obviously kept everything bottled up too long already,” he agrees. He flexes his jaw, his eyes still fixed on the inn.

“Want us to go in with you?” I ask when he doesn’t move. “Provide some moral support?”

He shakes his head. “I think this is a conversation I’d rather have alone.” He glances at us, furrowing his brow. “If, um, if that’s okay?”

“Whatever would make you more comfortable,” Chris replies. He narrows his eyes and holds up a finger in warning. “But we’ll be having our own talk with your mother before we leave, so whatever else you decide to discuss tonight, no more refusing to ask for help. Deal?”

His face grows even paler than usual, but he gives a shaky nod. “Deal.” Chris and I watch, waiting, until at last he sighs and squares his shoulders. “Here goes nothing.”

I expect him to march forward, but to my surprise, he hurls himself at us, tugging us each into a firm embrace.

“Thank you,” he whispers.

Chris swallows roughly, patting him on the back. “All we did was talk some sense into you,” he replies, his voice coming out hoarse.

My chest constricts, and before I can muster my own reply, Owen breaks away, a faint blush coloring his cheeks as he gives us each a parting smile. He heads for the Royal Lilac’s entrance and vanishes inside, leaving Chris and me standing together near the barren lilac bushes.

I avoid Chris’ eyes, afraid of the judgment or condemnation I’ll find there. “Well, I guess we should head in ourselves,” I manage. “It’s getting late. Not that it matters since our exhaustion tomorrow will be based on Friday night, not what we did today. Although, it’s already past one-fifteen AM, so maybe saving Owen really did end the loop. I suppose we won’t know for sure until the morning. Maybe we should wait up and—”

“Percy,” Chris says softly, interrupting my rambling.

Unable to avoid it any longer, I finally meet his eyes, and all I see is sympathy. Sympathy…and so much love.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before about everything I was going through.” He crosses his arms, and I realize he must be talking about the confession he’d made to Owen. “That was a long timeago now. Despite my impromptu suggestion that one loop, it’s not something I’ve seriously considered for quite a while.”

Staring into Chris’ luminous hazel eyes, his brow wrinkled with concern and his muscles tensed, the dams within me suddenly burst. I surge forward, clutching him tightly and sobbing against his chest.

“Shh, it’s okay,” he murmurs, rubbing my back. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. And neither is Owen. Not anymore.”

Minutes pass before my sobs calm and I can muster the breath to reply. “I love you,” I say, forcing myself to meet his eyes.