Page 97 of Wish You Were Mine
“Did you already set something up with him?”
“Not yet,” he said. “It’s just over two weeks away. Ifigured that might be a little too early—didn’t want to make him suspicious.”
“Right,” I agreed. “If we make it too official, he’ll smell a surprise coming.”
“But I also don’t want him to make other plans or go out of town,” Owen added. “So I’ll probably text him tomorrow. Just need to figure out what we’re doing.”
“Are you the type of friends who go to dinner together?”
“Uh, we haven’t done that yet.” He gave a little shrug. “Mostly just see each other at parties, chat at The Garden…and then there was an attempted double date at your gymnastics meet.”
“Oh.” My stomach twisted. “That was originally supposed to be a double date?”
“It was…” he said, and I caught the discomfort flash across his face. “Had to take a raincheck on that, though.”
Well, at least I didn’t have to witness that. That would’ve beenfun.
“I guess you could always suggest another double date that night,” I said, even though I actually hated the idea. “Then you could both bring your dates to the party.”
He chuckled. “Somehow, I’m not sure that’s something I really want to do at this point.”
Did that mean he didn’t want to date? Or just didn’t want to date in front of me?
Doing my best to sound casual, I asked, “Okay, so if I’m figuring out the guest list, should I just put you down for one? No plus-one needed?”
He gave me a small smile. “Just me.”
I swallowed and nodded. “Okay. Perfect.” A beat passed before I added, “Though, of course, if that changes…just let me know.”
He held my gaze for a second longer, then said, “I don’treally see that changing anytime soon. I’ve been just a little…distracted lately.”
And the look he gave me made a whole flock of birds come alive in my stomach.
“Well…good.” I looked down, hiding a smile.
He tapped his screen again. “Do you have a plus-one?” he asked. “You know…for curiosity’s sake. And catering purposes, obviously.”
“No,” I said, looking into his eyes and hoping he was on the same wavelength as I was. “Just Charlotte.”
29
OWEN
“I should probably takeyou home now, shouldn’t I?” I said to Lucy when we were finished with the party plans.
Did I want to take her home?
No. Absolutely not.
If I could have frozen time right there, just kept her curled up on my couch beside me, still smelling like vanilla and whatever heaven her shampoo was made of, I would have. I could’ve stayed like that for hours—talking about nothing, or everything.
But it was almost eight thirty, and the longer she stayed, the harder it became to remember who she was.
My student.
President Archibald’s daughter.
The girl I had absolutely no business entertaining feelings for.
