Page 161 of Wish You Were Mine
“That’s good to hear.” Dad nodded, clearly pleased by the answer.
“Oh, I’m sure you’re staying busy,” Mom said. “But have you had time to date at all? I know Theo mentioned you two were thinking of going on a double date at some point?”
Owen’s expression froze for a heartbeat. Then he glanced at me.
I gave a helpless shrug. I had no idea if now was the moment or not.
“Yeah,” Owen said slowly, setting his fork down. “Dating has been…interesting.”
Mom chuckled. “That’s what Theo keeps saying about his love life, too. But I’m sure there’s a sweet girl out there who would love to date a handsome, young college professor like yourself. In fact, I have a few friends with daughters about your age. Maybe I could set you up.”
Theo choked on his water before saying, “Playing matchmaker for me isn’t enough, Mom?”
She waved a hand, smiling. “Not when you’re as picky as you are.”
“Picky?” Theo scoffed. “Pretty sure it’s more the fact that it’s actually quite difficult to find a woman who wants meandthe responsibility of being an instant mom right off the bat.”
“I know,” Mom said with a sympathetic glance. Then she turned back to Owen, oblivious. “So, is there a type of woman you’re looking for? Age? A certain look? Interests? Personality?”
Owen hesitated, eyes darting from her to Theo to me, clearly unsure of how to escape the interrogation.
I swallowed and set my napkin down.
“Actually, Mom,” I said, voice a little shakier than I wanted, “Owen’s already seeing someone.”
“Oh?” She blinked. “Really?”
“Yeah…um…” I reached over and covered Owen’s hand with mine, heart beating in my ears. “We just started seeing each other.”
For a full second, the room went dead silent.
All eyes turned to us.
Then my dad’s face went rigid—his jaw clenched, browspulled tight as he looked at Owen like he’d just watched him commit a felony.
“You?” he barked, pushing out of his chair with a sharp scrape. “You’ve been sneaking around with my daughter? While she’s your student?” His voice dropped. Low and lethal. “You have sat at her meets like a supportive friend of Theo’s, and as a professor at our school, but all this time you’ve been preying on her?”
50
OWEN
“It’s not like that, Dad,”Lucy said, standing so fast her chair scraped against the hardwood. “Just let me explain. Please.”
She seemed ready to take this on herself, but every instinct in me still wanted to absorb her dad’s fury instead. I looked to Theo for guidance. He gave me a subtle nod. Lucy needed to do this.
So, I stayed quiet.
But I was ready to step in if she needed me.
“I know how this looks,” Lucy continued, her eyes locked on her dad’s angry eyes. “But it’s not what you’re imagining. It’s nothing like those stories. Owen never pressured me. We met before the semester started. At a New Year’s Eve party in the Hamptons. I didn’t know he was a professor. He didn’t know I was a student. I let him believe I was older.” Her voice trembled slightly, but she didn’t look away. “When we figured it out, we tried to back off. I even looked into switching classes, but nothing else worked with my schedule. And I know youprobably think he used his position to manipulate me, but that’s not what happened. He’s not like that.” She swallowed. “He’s a good man. You even said so yourself just a few weeks ago.”
“Yeah, well…” Her dad barked a bitter, humorless laugh. “That was before I realized he was buttering me up so he could get in your pants.”
“Richard!” Mrs. Archibald gasped, reaching for his arm. “That’s enough?—”
“No.” He pulled away, fury radiating off him. “You’re defending this? A grown man sleeping with our daughter while she’s still in his class?”
“We never said we were sleeping together, Dad.” Lucy’s voice cracked, but she stood her ground. “And even if we were, I’m not a child. That would still be my choice.”
