Page 115 of Caught in the Axe
“She-Ra,” Finn said in a soothing tone, “you don’t understand. Mom doesn’t date. After what Dad did and all she went through.”
“After all that, she can do whatever the fuck she wants,” Adele protested. “She raised you assholes on her own. The least you can do is stay out of her business. The woman is in her sixties. Let her live.”
“But Charles Huxley?”
“It’s just a dinner. People go out to dinner as friends all the time. You’re all overreacting, and coming from me, that’s serious. Now stop being shitheads and leave your mom in peace. If she wants your input, she’ll ask. Go do something productive and stop acting like Neanderthals. You were raised better than this.”
I growled. God, how had this perfect day gone to shit so quickly? “My phone’s about to die anyway. I’ll text you guys later.”
The moment the call was disconnected, Lila burst into a fit of giggles. “Adele.” She wiped at her eyes. “I love her. I feel like she could teach me so much.”
With a roll of my eyes, I took the exit toward Lovewell and once again got lost in stewing and ruminating on my ruined night.
Chapter 38
Lila
The ride home was tense, and that was my fault. The farther we got from the restaurant, the sillier I felt about the way I’d behaved.
The panic had felt so real at the time. I hadn’t thought about Owen’s feelings at all; only my own embarrassment.
And what did I have to be embarrassed about really? Being in a consensual relationship with a man I cared deeply for? That was hardly a criminal offense, even in small-minded Lovewell.
“Do you want me to drop you off at your mom’s house?” he asked, his focus still fixed on the road ahead of us.
My stomach sank. The plan had been for me to stay at his cabin tonight. I had an overnight bag in the back of the car and everything.
I’d told my mom about the sleepovers, knowing there would be no judgment there. She did dive into a lecture about safe sex, but that was to be expected. I’d been getting the same one pretty regularly since the day I turnedthirteen.
“I thought I’d spend the night,” I said softly, fixing my attention on my hands in my lap.
Clearly distracted, he let out a hum and continued on.
I didn’t want to be that needy girl, but he’d gone so distant, and I could have really used a little reassurance. Not that he owed it to me. I’d created this problem. God, I was such an idiot. Would it have been so bad to smile and keep my chin held high while the town gossiped about how I was dating my ex’s brother? My tips at the diner were already shitty, and everyone thought my mom and I were trash. Would this really make things any worse?
Back at the cabin, Owen lit the wood stove and I went to the kitchen and put on the kettle for tea. I would make a cup, steel myself, and talk to him. He was too important to me. I needed to put on my big girl panties and have the adult conversation.
My heart ached in my chest. I wasn’t sure I could let him go. I wasn’t sure I could walk away from what we had. But I also wasn’t sure I had a choice in the matter.
I wandered back to where he was fiddling with the wood stove. It was better to just tell him. Flat out. I was falling in love with him and panicking and acting like an immature fool. I’d own my shit and be honest.
Yup. Solid plan.
He straightened and wiped his hands. “Why are you giving me your pageant smile?”
I deflated. Dammit. I hadn’t realized I was doing it. The moment things got tense, it was like I reverted back to my factory settings.
Be pleasant. Be quiet. Don’t say anything.
“I’m sorry I’m in a mood. But you don’t have to do that.”Frowning, he gestured at my face. “That’s the smile you give nasty customers at the diner.” He stepped in closer and tipped my chin up. “I only want your real smiles, Lila. If you’re mad at me, tell me. Yell at me. I’ll do better. But don’t pretend everything is fine. Trust your feelings.”
God, I loved this man. And I needed to say it out loud.
With tears pricking at the backs of my eyes and my heart threatening to crack in two, I put my arms around him and buried my face in his chest.
“I’m just…” I trailed off and pulled back so I could look into his deep blue eyes. Shit, this was hard. Why was it so impossible to just say what I wanted out loud? “I’m ashamed of how I acted tonight. I can’t believe I hid in the bathroom.”
“It’s fine.” His tone disagreed.
