Page 41 of Rescue

“Well?” Owen asks, his curiosity piqued.

I hold it up, a grin spreading across my face. “Will’s getting married.”

“To his ex?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

I nod, warmth blooming in my chest. “Yep. To Katie.”

Owen whistles. “Good for him. Are we going?”

“Of course we are,” I say, already imagining seeing Jon and Will again in happier circumstances.

It strikes me how much has changed since the incident. We weren’t close before—not really—but in the aftermath, something shifted. Shared trauma does that, I guess. Now, the three of us are in a WhatsApp group where we send each other updates, random memes, and check in with each other more than I ever thought we would. It’sstrange, this connection we’ve built, but it’s also comforting.

“Perfect,” Owen says, pulling me back into his arms. “But for now, I vote we finish this movie, eat too much popcorn, and talk about that wedding later.”

I let him envelop me in the blankets, the invitation still clutched in my hand. As I lean into his warmth, I realise how far I’ve come since that day. Life isn’t perfect, but it’s moving forward. And tonight, it feels like everything is exactly where it’s meant to be.

Owen’s hand hovers over the remote, and before I can react, the movie freezes mid-scene. I blink at the TV, then at him.

“What are you doing?” I ask, half-laughing, half-annoyed.

He turns to face me, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. “Just thinking.”

“That sounds dangerous,” I tease, but there’s something in his expression that makes me pause. “What’s on your mind?”

He fiddles with the remote, tapping it lightly against his knee. “Do you think... we’ll ever get married?”

My stomach does an unexpected flip, and for a moment, I just stare at him. My brain feels like it’s short-circuiting, trying to process the words.

“I... what?” I finally manage, my voice more breathless than I’d like.

Owen’s grin turns a little crooked, a bit more self-conscious. “You heard me. I’m not saying we rush off to Vegas tomorrow or anything. Just... you know. Someday.”

I narrow my eyes at him, feeling my cheeks warm. “Are you proposing right now? Because if this is how you propose, I’m going to need to coach you.”

He laughs, his head falling back against the sofa cushion. “Not proposing, no. I’d at least need a ring, right? And maybe a better setting than surrounded by popcorn crumbs and fairy lights.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” I quip, though my voice wobbles slightly. “Because if you were proposing, I’d have to say no. It’s too soon.”

“Agreed,” he says quickly, holding up his hands. “Way too soon. We’ve been dating for what, a few months? I’m not an idiot.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Debatable.”

“Harsh,” he shoots back, pretending to clutch his heart. “But fair.”

There’s a beat of silence, and then his voice softens.

“I’m just saying... I wouldn’t mind it. You and me, someday. Doesn’t sound half bad, does it?”

Something catches in my chest, but I keep my tone light, teasing. “You’re lucky I like you.”

“Very lucky,” he says, his eyes warm and steady on mine. "But you know what? I might actually love you. Love you like mad."

"If that's the case, I think I am ready to upgrade my like to a love," I giggle.

"Say it, Mel," he pleads.

"I love you, Owen. I love you more than I thought I would ever be able to love anyone. You're everything to me. You're the love of my life," I blurt out. Owen studies me for a second before kissing me deeply.

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