Page 59 of Wish You Were Mine
Still, there wasn’t much I could do now except hold my head high and return to dinner like I hadn’t just staged a dramatic chili-oil-related exit.
I opened the bathroom door, ready to make a quiet return to the table, but stopped short when I saw a guy with dark hair and broad shoulders right outside the door.
Owen.
“Hey. Everything okay?” His brow furrowed with quiet concern when he saw me, taking a step closer.
“Oh—yeah.” I blinked at him. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“You looked like you were running out of there pretty fast,” he said, his voice low. “Did your date say something? Or do something?”
My heart gave a strange little stutter. “What? No!” I shook my head quickly, cheeks warming. “Nothing like that. I swear. It was totally my fault.”
Not like I could tell him it was his distracting laugh’s fault.
His eyebrows rose, not convinced.
“I dropped my spoon in my Pho and got some of the broth in my eye,” I explained. “Which, in case you were wondering, burns like lava. So yeah, I was just trying to flush it out.”
Owen blinked, then huffed a quiet laugh and rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh. Okay. Good. I mean, not good that you got broth in your eye but…I’m glad that guy didn’t do anything. He’s your lab partner, right?”
“Yeah. Brody,” I said. “And he was only trying to help.” I paused. “Probably thinks I’m an actual hazard to myself now, but still.”
Owen gave a small smile, and for a second his gaze dipped, like he was checking for visible damage. “So, you’re okay now?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I mean, I’m sure my eye’s a little red and my makeup looks tragic, but I’ll survive.”
I followed his gaze as it flicked briefly over his shoulder toward the dining area. His date was still seated at their table, facing away from us.
“Your date is probably wondering why you ran after me,” I said, not quite able to keep the awkward edge out of my voice.
“It’s fine,” he said easily. “I told her you’re my friend’s little sister and I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“You didn’t tell her I’m your student?” I tilted my head.
“Not exactly...”
“Right.” I nodded knowingly. “Because there are justsomany students, it’s hard to remember everyone.” Okay, I’d tried to say it as a joke…but it came out more like I was butthurt over what he’d told my dad after my meet.
Great.
“Would you rather I told your dad I kissed you in the Hamptons, then?” he asked. “And that I can’t stop picturing it every time I see you in class?”
My heart stopped.
I froze, completely stunned.
Had I just heard him right? Was that a Freudian slip?
Or had that spicy broth gotten to my brain somehow and was causing it to short-circuit?
Owen’s eyes widened like he just realized what he’d said. “Wow. Sorry.” He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “That sounded…really bad. I didn’t mean it like—” He broke off, clearly scrambling. “That was inappropriate. I shouldn’t have said that.”
But despite the sudden awkwardness, something in my chest fluttered.
Because as shocking and probably inappropriate as that comment was…it felt nice to hear it.
Especially after seeing him sit across from his beautiful date tonight.
