Page 144 of Breakaway Hearts

Owen’s lasagna is delicious, probably in spite of Colt’s and my contributions. Then the guys go all out for movie night, with three different kinds of popcorn, and pumpkin spice hot chocolates. Which you wouldn’t think works, but over white chocolate, it’s divine. Did I pretend I was super intrigued so I could watch carefully and make my own? Perhaps. But old habits die hard, and Owen was very enthusiastic about teaching me.

I’m pretty sure they choose Legally Blonde for me, but no one complains. Owen and Mike even know more of the lines than I do.

“Hales had us watch it, because it’s a classic,” Owen explains when I smile in his arms as they quote the iconic, ‘What, like it’s hard?’ line. “She says it’s not what made her want to become a lawyer…”

“Or go to Harvard Law,” Donovan adds.

“But come on,” Mike finishes.

If I had any doubts, the way not only Mike, but Colt, Dave, and even Donovan know all Owen’s relatives tells me how important family is to him.

I fall asleep at some point before Elle gets her happily ever after and Warner gets way better than he deserves, but this time, when Owen carries me up to his bedroom, I don’t wake up in a panic, I nuzzle closer to his chest and breathe him in.

I’m less happy when I wake up and he’s not beside me.

There’s no note, no text, so I make my way downstairs and find him on the couch.

Because I wasn’t awake to say he could share the bed?

He doesn’t look comfortable, but also doesn’t seem to want to leave when I try to wake him, so instead of fleeing into the night, I cuddle up next to him on the couch, and let him hold me all night.

Chapter Sixty-Four

Madison

All I need is you

On Saturday night, pretty much the entire team, including Jason, goes to a frat party, but Owen insists he isn’t feeling it, so we stay at Ivy House and watch a movie.

“She was my first crush,” Owen shares when the villain comes on the screen.

“Really?” I fail to hide my judgment, which only makes him laugh.

“My dad filmed with her in Hawai’i, and she spent most of her days off at our place, playing video games in a bikini. It was paradise,” he teases.

“Are you sad I don’t play video games?” I move so I’m straddling him, and he instinctively puts his hands on my waist. I lean in to kiss him, slowly, and feel his hard length press against me.

We’ve been spending a lot of time together, but most of it has been with his roommates, and I need this.

His hands move up to my ass, pulling me closer to him, and I lift his t-shirt as far as it’ll go without breaking the kiss.

“Let’s watch the movie,” he says suddenly, breathing hard.

“I don’t really care about the movie right now,” I argue.

My eyes and nose are prickling. I don’t want to cry at something this silly, that might just be in my head…but we also haven’t had sex since I told him about Trevor. As much as I tell myself we haven’t had the opportunity…he literally just pushed me off his throbbing dick when we’re in his house, alone.

“Did you want to watch something else? Or we could⁠—”

“I want you,” I stop him, but pity flashes in his eyes, and I can’t. “Actually, I want to go home,” I decide.

“I’ll drive you,” he says automatically.

“I’ll walk.”

“Madison.”

“Get the fuck out of my way, Owen.” I hate the ugliness in my voice, but I hate even more that I’m seconds away from breaking down into tears I don’t want him to see.