He hisses out a breath as he nods. “I see.”
“Yes, and I know you can’t give me a guarantee. Anything could happen. I could start sucking tomorrow.”
He laughs. “Doubtful.”
I smile at his confidence. “But I’m trying to figure out my next move, and I wanted to see what advice you could give me since my living situation will depend on my future here.”
He looks away, drawing in a deep breath. Silence fills the room, and I get a sickening feeling when he doesn’t look at me or acknowledge the situation for a good minute. Finally, he looks up at me. “Unfortunately, I don’t control hiring. I’ve delegated that to London.”
Fucking hell, I’m fucked.
I swallow back my tears as I nod. “I—”
He holds up his hand. “But I will bring this up to her, and we will discuss it. You have had only great performance reviews and were handpicked by her for this program. You’re an incredible worker, and I will firmly remind her of that. I know living together can cause problems, so I’m glad you two are putting space between yourselves and setting up boundaries, but honestly, Angela, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. I see you in this facility as my researcher.”
I want to get up and bust a move. If I could cry without looking like an idiot, I would. I don’t know how that will play out with London, but I trust the doctor. He’s got my back. I thought London did, but I need to move on from that. She isn’t my friend; she’s my boss. Instead of doing a dance of excitement, I smile widely and politely at him. “Thank you. I appreciate you.”
“Absolutely. Have a great night.”
“You too,” I say as I get up and head out of his office with a lot more jig to my walk. This is fantastic. It means I can get a place for myself like a normal girl does, instead of mooching off my boyfriend. I know good and well Owen wants me there and would never feel as if I am mooching off him, but until I can contribute, I’d feel that way. Plus, this will give us some space so we don’t get burned out on each other.
I’m gonna miss him, though. I really enjoy sleeping with him—in both contexts of the word, but more so waking up in his arms. He’s just so warm and safe. I love the feeling he gives me.
I go to my desk, reaching for my phone to text him the awesome update since he is in some meeting or other this afternoon. We’re supposed to meet up once he’s done, but I can’t wait to tell him the news. Not that he’ll think it’s good news, but he’ll be okay. Maybe in a year, we can discuss us moving in together. I see a text from Jean, but I ignore it for a second to text Owen.
Me: We’ll be roommates only until I find a place. The doctor confirmed that he wants me as his employee.
When he sends me back a sad face and then a smiley face, I laugh. He’s so silly. I know he wants me to stay with him. I hit Jean’s name to find a screenshot and then emoji hearts with YOU HIT THE JACKPOT.
Confused, I hit the screenshot to find it’s Owen’s Instagram with a picture of me. I instantly get in my feelings. What is he thinking? What if my family sees this? But then, I can’t ignore how gorgeous a photo it is of me. I don’t think that often, but oh my God, it’s stunning. I’m looking off to the side—at a plant, probably, plotting how to get it out of there without anyone noticing—with this little smile on my face as I hold a wineglass. Plants are behind me with the fairy lights, and my hair is in curled curtains along my shoulders.
I look so…happy.
But that isn’t what brings me to tears.
Under the picture are Owen’s words.
theBESTadlertwin: Staring at her is my favorite thing to do. I love to do it more than I love to be on the ice. I may have known her my whole life, but I never got to stare at her the way I have for the last fifty-two days. I stare at her like she is mine because she is. Her laughter is music to my ears. Her smile is the sun in my sky. Her body is the stars at night (sorry, Mom). She is smart, funny, and so damn driven. Her obsession with plants may be borderline crazy, but I don’t care. I’ll continue to feed her obsession by buying her all the plants if they make her happy. That is the goal—to make her happy, because she is all my heart ever talks about. I still get nervous when she looks at me, and honestly, I hope that feeling never ever stops. I look forward to hearing her voice, to feeling her lips, and to seeing that little smile on her face. I love her fully, completely, and with my soul. She is perfection in my eyes. My sugar. Xoxoxo
I wipe away the tear and close my eyes. Everything he said is the same thing I’m feeling. I feel my love for him deep in my soul. And like my mom said, I don’t have to explain that or even defend it. It is what it is, and I’m proud of my choice.
Owen.
All of him.
Us.
I go to his text thread and write him quickly.
Me: Ignore last text.
Owen: ??? You okay???
Me: More than okay. I love you.
Owen: I love you, but what text am I ignoring?
Me: I don’t want to live anywhere but with you.
Owen: Really?
Me: Really.
“Good. I wasn’t going to let you go.”
I look up to find him standing only a few short feet from my desk. He has this grin on his face that hits me right in the gut. I get up and head straight for him as he opens his arms for me. He smothers me in them, our lips meeting as my heart soars. I squeeze him hard, and as we part, we start to smile before our lips stop touching.
“I didn’t think you would.”
“I was gonna take the plants hostage,” he admits. “Make you stay.”
I beam up at him. “You know me so well.”
“I do,” he says, kissing my top lip. “Because this is more than I’ve ever felt in my life, and I never want to lose this feeling.”
I kiss his bottom lip. “I don’t either.”
Our lips meet once more. Everything may be up in the air and a mess, but one thing is solid.
My love for Owen Adler.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Angie
* * *
Dart glances around the house, and he looks so confused. “It smells really good in here.”
I laugh to myself as I move around the kitchen, fixing him and Owen dinner. I love to cook and never did it at London’s for the simple fact that I didn’t want to. Here, though, I want to. I turn off the stove, letting the shrimp pad thai sit as I glance over at Dart as he cocks his head curiously.
“Did you clean?”
I nod as I look around. It was my first weekend off from work, and with no papers due and since they had an away game last night, I spent the day cleaning. “I did.”
He makes a face. “You didn’t have to.”
I shrug. “I wanted to repay you for letting me stay here.”
“Angie, this is Owen’s place. He wants you here, and I’m good with it. You don’t have to clean. It’s our mess too,” he says, as if I’m being ridiculous.
“I don’t mind. Plus, I’m about to start moving all my stuff in. Had to ease the blow when all my plants take over.”
He laughs. “I heard about these plants and the shelves I have to help put together.”