Page 35 of Owen

Still reeling from his words, I watch Owen storm out the front door.

What the hell just happened?

9

OWEN

I slam the front door so hard it makes the windows and shutters of the villa shake in their frames. A reflection of how I feel: rattled.

Heading for the kitchen, I pull open the refrigerator, take out a beer, twist the top off, and take a large gulp.

In anger, I bash it down on the worktop, making it explode like a volcano. Irritated, I curse under my breath before cleaning it up.

“Christ, who bit your ass?”

“No one.” I storm past Gregor into the living area and drop myself onto the sofa.

Speaking in an amused voice from behind me, he asks, “You’re not pissed off, then?”

“No.” Tilting my neck, settling the back of my head against the cushions, I eye the ceiling.

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“Great, glad we cleared that up.”

I twist my head to look at him. “Do you know she’s spending the night with Blake?”

“Who’s spending the night with Blake?” Gregor’s brow lines with confusion.

“Jade.”

“Jade?”

“Yes, Jade.”

“They’re close, so what?”

“What does he look like? Is he big? Could I take him?” I seriously do not know why I care or why I have this unfamiliar ache in my chest when I think about her with him. Or why little Poppy has already slid into my thoughts and heart.

It’s not right. Nothing is right, and it’s making me feel off balance.

I’ve known them for all of thirty hours.

So why does it feel longer?

Gregor raises his pointer finger in the air, then he slyly smiles. “Wait, are you into Jade?”

“No.”Lies, lies, all lies.

“Fucking hell, you’ve no chance.” His words only antagonize me more. “She’s really protective of Poppy, and after Michael, she doesn’t trust easily.”

I mutter words of annoyance under my breath, rolling my head back to the center.

“I didn’t catch that,” Gregor informs me.

I run my hand down my face. “I said, something happened between us last night.”

---