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Is this how I’m going to still feel when he moves on?
“Oof.” Levi grunts. “You two are more annoying now than you were before.” His lip curls. “I’m going to check on Mer. She seemed a little tired. Just order me two of whatever you’re getting. Meredith wanted that bread too.” And then he’s gone.
“Wait, are we ordering him two turnovers and two pumpkin breads… or three pumpkin breads, one for Meredith and two for Levi?” I squint, a carefree laugh on the tip of my tongue.
“We better order three just in case.”
We order, sit, and wait. But half our food is gone before Levi returnswithoutMeredith. In fact, I was starting to eye a slice of Levi’s bread. Maybe he only meant two and he’d never notice if I ate the third.
I shove my innocent hands beneath the table—nothing to see here. “Where’s Meredith?” I ask.
Levi’s brow is in a permanent scowl. “Sick. I think she’s got a stomach bug. I’ve called an Uber. I’m taking her back to the B&B.”
“I’ll get a bag,” Owen says, gesturing to Levi’s pastries.
“Don’t bother. You two might as well enjoy the day.”
“Can I help?” I ask, standing. Poor Meredith. She was a little quiet on the ride.
“Nah. I’ve got her.”
Five minutes later, Levi walks a semi-greenish Meredith outside and puts her into a car. They drive off, leaving me alone with Owen. It’s not as if we haven’t been alone. We have—plenty. Before and after we started dating.
But here, in Peaceful Valley, there’s no sisters with expectations, there’s no paper waiting for a story, there’s no horrid dating history to haunt me. There isn’t even Levi and Meredith to watch us.
It’s just me. And Owen.
And something about all that drives me. I press a hand to Owen’s cheek, looking into his eyes without thinking about what a mistake this all might be. I lean toward him, pressing my lips to his. My body warms from head to toe as I tease his lips open. For once, kissing him without the little devil on my shoulder reminding me that this will end one day.
When my lips, swollen and wet, break from his, I let out a shaky breath. Owen leans his forehead to mine.
“What was that for?” he asks.
“Just a thank you.” I owe him thanks. Someone as good as Owen loves me. Even if it can’t last, that he loved me at all is pretty beautiful.
His mouth turns up in a grin, and his blue eyes sparkle like the sun shining on the sea. “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t even buy you that pastry. You beat me to it.”
I lick my lips. “That’s true. I’m going to eat Levi’s bread now, okay?”
55
Owen
We stand on the side of the street in the dark with more people than this little town has in population and wait… For what? I’m not really sure. But Annie’s hand is tucked into mine, and the chill in the air is moving her closer and closer to my side, so I’m willing to wait.
“Do you know what’s happening?” Annie asks in a forced whisper. “I can’t feel my toes.”
“I’m not sure.” I wrap one arm around her and hug her close, though I’m not sure my embrace is doing anything for her feet.
Then, all at once, the street lamps go out, and it’s more than dark. It’s one black night, and I wonder if we’ll be able to find our way back toThe New Forest Bed. I hug Annie a little tighter to my side.
Before either of us can say anything, the entire street turns on—every building and fixture is lined with lights, and this street is twinkling.
Annie bubbles with a laugh, and I can’t help but join her.
“Is this for real?” she says.
I pull out my phone and snap a few photos of the street.
