Page 64 of Ozzie

Ozzie glances at Durango, who already has his phone in his hand. “I’ll see if we can get pizza delivered.” After pacing and searching for a few minutes, he pockets his phone. “No delivery, but there is a place up the road. I’ll go grab us something.”

“I can do that if you want,” Ozzie says.

“No, I need some air. I’ll try to be fast.”

Ozzie and I stare at each other until we hear the car start. Then I’m up and running to him. He picks me up and holds me tight. We stay like that in silence for a while.

“I was so scared of losing you,” he finally says.

“I was worried I’d never see you again, that John would get away with this plan of his.”

He pulls back and presses his forehead to mine. “I can’t lose you again. I don’t know how to make this work, but I will not stop until I find a way.” His eyes are glassy and full of emotion.

I nod, and he bends down and brings his lips to mine. I’ve only kissed this man once, and it was at the office. It had barely started when Coff interrupted us. Probably forthe best, because I must have lost my mind kissing Ozzie with my cousin down the hall.

But this, this is so much more. Other than John, I’ve only kissed a couple of guys, so I’m not experienced, but nothing has felt anything like this. My body is on fire, but it’s more than that. His kiss is tender. It’s pulling all my emotions from me, and tears spring to my eyes. I trust this man with my heart, my everything, and we haven’t even dated.

He steps back and smiles at me. “I probably shouldn’t have done that, but I needed to.”

I nod because I get it. I needed it too.

Ozzie puts sheets and a blanket on the pullout, and I crawl under the blankets of my bed. I suspect I’ll be chilled for a while. I remain curled up until Durango returns.

“I got one large pepperoni, so hopefully, you both are good with that.” He sets it down on the foot of my bed.

I sit up and grab a slice and one of the napkins he brought in, too. “Oh my, this is the best pizza ever!” It really is. I devour it and grab another.

Durango laughs. “It’s pretty good, but I suspect you were really hungry.”

“Yeah, it’s okay. Not as good as a New York pizza, though,” Ozzie says.

I grab a third slice. “Look how thick this crust is! It’s way better.”

Durango stops mid-bite and looks at Ozzie, who is shaking his head. “I’m afraid I failed in properly educating her on pizza.”

Ozzie laughs. “We’ll have to correct that after we get home.”

I ignore them and keep eating.

Once we finish, I pull the covers up, but Durango stays sitting on the edge of his bed.

“Tomorrow morning, we are going to get your parents and John’s family in the same room. It’s about time they know the truth about their son,” Durango says.

I stare at the ceiling. “I doubt it will change their opinions that the two of us should be together. All my parents care about is business.”

CHAPTER 19

Ozzie

We returned from Montana yesterday,and I’m still riled up from everything. When I was alone with Piper in the motel room, so many emotions flooded me. I was worried we wouldn’t find her, and I’d never see her again.

The moment we found her, I knew I could never lose her again. I don’t know how I’m going to make this work with Durango, but I won’t stop until I find a way.

But my longing turns to anger as I remember how her parents reacted to everything. It hits too close to home. All you want from your parents is love and true parenting. Instead, we both have parents who only want us to further their businesses. Although she’s had it much worse. It isn’t simply a career choice they’re forcing on her. It was marriage to a monster.

Durango had arranged for us to sit down to talk withthem. He explained everything John had done. Yet they still said Piper and John could work it out in counseling.

Who thinks that way? On the drive to the airport, Piper had claimed her parents were good to her until high school. As much as I want to believe that it’s hard to.

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