Page 72 of Owen

“I upset her.” I feel terrible. “I’m so sorry, Jade, I didn’t mean to. I would never?—”

“It’s okay,” Jade consoles me. “I know you wouldn’t. Hey, baby.” Jade swipes the tears off Poppy’s reddened cheeks as she sucks in two quick breaths. “You’re okay, aren’t you? It was just a minor blip. No harm done.” Jade’s voice settles Poppy in an instant.

It’s like watching witchcraft. However, Poppy wouldn’t have been crying in the first place had it not been for me. “I’m angry with myself. I can’t believe I made her cry.” I hate myself.

“Stop stressing. You had a good reason to be upset. I heard everything,” Jade confesses against my pec.

“Everything? With my dad?” My mouth twitches. I didn’t want her to hear that conversation.

“And with your friends,” she confirms.

How long was she listening for? “Oh, yeah?” I ask with a hint of wonder in my voice, then add, “What did you hear?”

“That you’re a stellar guy, like I’ve always believed, because you want to have a DBS check done, even though it’s unnecessary.” She nuzzles into my chest, giving my waist a squeeze. “Wetrust him, eh, Pops?” I look down. Jade’s eyes are sparkling as she nods her head, smiling at Poppy.

“When did you get home?”

“From when you sat down in front of the camera with your friends. I was here when Poppy woke up.” I stop the gentle rocking motion I’ve been doing. “I couldn’t resist listening in.”

Sneaky eavesdropper.

I try to recall our conversation, and then the penny drops.

Oh, my G?—

“So, you love me?”

20

OWEN

“Eh, forget I said that,” I stutter.

I’ve never told anyone I love them before.

I know Jade and I have spoken about falling for one another and catching feelings, but what if she isn’t quite where I am yet? What if she doesn’t love me? Not fully… not yet?

I don’t think I could face the humiliation of telling someone I love them for them to not say it back.

Although it feels like she does.

We connect in a way I have never experienced with any other human being, and being with her feels different.

We feel right.

Perfect together.

We laugh, bicker playfully, and have moments where we never have to speak, but know we don’t need to because we are content together. Everything about us feels aligned.

“Why should I forget what you said?” Her eyes widen in amusement.

“Because it sounds stupid now that I’ve said it.” Plus, having not told anyone I love them before, I was expecting it to be in afar more romantic setting than overhearing a conversation with my friends. Maybe a five-piece string quartet playing something super meaningful in the background while fireworks explode overhead, surrounded by dozens of roses. Isn’t that what they do in the movies?

Only I could fuck up a beautiful moment. Again.

“Your heart is beating faster.” She drums the fingers of her rested hand on my chest.

“It’s not.”

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