Page 43 of Uniquely in Love

She was always the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

“You know, I can get you tickets for the home opener if you want to come,” I said, watching as she bit her lip.

“I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

I shook my head, not sure how to communicate the sincerity of my actions. “You’re not asking. I’m offering. Besides, I get free tickets.” And I wanted her there.

“Your family should use those, Owen.”

You are my family,I wanted to say.

But I couldn’t. That wasn’t something friends said, right? And I was trying to keep this strictly platonic. Even if she was the only woman I’d ever loved, and all I wanted was to hold her in my arms and know she was mine.

“I already got tickets for the games they’re coming up for,” I said instead. “So it’s fine. Please come? I want you there. ”

Her eyes connected with mine. “Okay.”

Ellie being there was important to me. It was like my graduation ceremony and having her at my junior hockey games—something about knowing she was in the crowd for me made me warm inside. After all this time, that hadn’t changed.

Having her at the game last week had been one of my best games in a long time. Brooks and Mav had made fun of me for playing better after I got back from Portland this summer, but maybe itwasjust her. Her light in my life.

“Great. Since that’s settled, are you ready?” I pulled off the road, heading down the one that would take us towards the park.

“Oh.” Her breath caught as part of it came into view. “Owen. It’s beautiful here.”

“Wait until you see the lake.” I said, turning my eyes away from her and back to the road. “It’s even prettier in the spring, too, when all the flowers are blooming.”

“I don’t think I could ever leave the Pacific Northwest,” she said with a sigh of wonder. “I love how green everything is. Sure, it’s gray and rainy eight months out of the year, but it’s nature’s wonderland.”

We’d always loved places like this. Maybe that was why I’d fallen in love with it when I’d first come here.

Parking the car, I got out first, rounding the car to open Ellie’s door and hold out my hand for her. She took it, sliding her palm in mine, andfuck, I shouldn’t have touched her. I’d been resisting the entire time she was sitting next to me, myhand itching to rest on her thigh. But I’d been good. I was being her friend, just like I’d promised.

Our skin touching felt like a shockwave to my system. And I felt the absence when she let go, walking over to the trailhead with excitement in her eyes. This place wasn’t the most beautiful park in the Seattle area—not by a long shot—but it was peaceful, since it wasn’t one of the busy touristy destinations. I liked the calm.

“It reminds me of Forest Park,” I whispered, shoving my hands in my pockets as we walked down towards the water. “The trees and the quiet.”

“It’s perfect.” She did a little twirl, like she was taking in a full view of the place. “I can see why you like it.”

I nodded. “Come on, there’s a bench up ahead. You’ll love the view.”

Ellie followed behind me, and with every step, it felt like we were taking another one away from our past—and towards our future. Whatever that looked like.

FIFTEEN

Owen

THEN

Summer

Owen,” Ellie’s adorable voice groaned behind me. “How much further?”

I grinned, looking at the trailhead. At the arrow that pointed towards the waterfall we’d been hiking to. “We’re almost there.”

Pulling her water bottle out of my bag—a yellow one covered in white daisies—I handed it to her as we reached a bench.

She plopped down, guzzling her water. “How is it I’m on the ice every day and I’m struggling, but you have barely broken a sweat?” She wore a racerback tank and athletic capri leggings, and they hugged every curve of her lithe body. Something I was trying hardnotto notice, especially since I was definitely a horny teenager who was currently alone with his girlfriend.

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