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I smiled shyly at him. "I don't have to be sorry for that to happen."
Owen tentatively reached out and took me into his arms, pulling me gently into his embrace. He held onto me with a light grasp around my waist. My body was burning with sensation where he touched me. He was the most good-looking man I had ever seen. His lip was a little swollen on the side, and I hated that it happened, but it made him even more gorgeous. The combination of regret about my mom and John and my own attraction toward Owen was such an odd mix that I felt like I was in danger of swooning.
"What happened to your phone?"
"My mom took it." I made a regretful face. "It's only because she's scared of you."
"I'm the one who's scared of her."
"I know. It seems weird for me to say. But she doesn't mean any harm. At least I don't think. She's never tried to hurt anyone. We just have the guns for protection. I'm sorry about what John did to your mouth."
"Do you ever want to leave here, Corey? Do you ever want to go away and live somewhere else?"
I smiled. "I want it in the back of my mind, but I never actually think about it. Leaving would be impossible without running away, and I would feel too guilty for that. Plus, I would have nothing. That truck I drive is Stanley's, and I wouldn't take any of my mother's jewelry stuff. I have thought about it," I said vaguely. "What happened to you at the shop? What did they say?"
"Your mom pointed a gun at me and said that I should never come around you again. Then I think I tried to explain that I meant no harm. I don't know what I was saying, but anyway, the guy ended up punching me in the face. I would have fought him. I wanted to. But your mom was looking pretty serious with that gun."
"I'm so sorry. She would never have done anything."
"How do you not have freedom to talk to me? Isn't that too controlling?"
"Yes. It is. I guess I just never noticed it before because I've never had someone trying to get my phone number. Stanley knew I was texting you. That's why she came to get my phone. She's terrified of you. She said she's closing the shop."
"Why is she terrified of me? I haven't done anything. I tried to explain that my intentions were good."
"She's made it her life's work to keep me safe."
"Yeah, but I'm not trying to hurt you."
I felt like he meant those words, and it made me not have the right words to say back.
"Why don't you run away?" he urged quietly while I was thinking.
I gave him a smile. "That is so much easier said than done."
"No, it's not. Come with me."
I smiled. "Don't offer that."
"Why not? I mean it. Are you scared to be here with them?"
"No. Not at all. That whole confrontation at the shop, that was to protect me. I'm not scared."
"Are you okay with them trying to keep us apart?"
His question took me by surprise. "I-I mean, it's realistically only a few more days," I said. "I figured another meeting or two. I can get away from them long enough to make that happen."
"Why are you saying that?" he said in a pleading tone.
My eyes snapped up to meet his—those striking blue eyes that left me breathless. "I'm just being realistic," I said, speaking softly.
"Reality is what you make it," he said. "Why is it unrealistic to think we could be together?"
I leaned into him, letting the side of my face gently rest on his chest. His scent. My goodness. My heart ached and my body ached. He smelled so nice.
"I thought neither of us expected that of this."
"What does that even mean?" he said.
