Page 103 of Ten Rules for Faking It
She wasn’t running. Owen was a good man. Good-looking, successful, sweet, and funny.We have a good foundation.
“Hey,” he said from behind her.
Everly whirled to face him, her breath catching when shesaw the single pink rose in his hand. Her eyes locked on it, then wandered up to meet his gaze.
He shrugged, a charming half smile curving his mouth. “It seemed fitting. You know, like thatBachelorshow?”
She laughed, nodding. “It’s beautiful.”
“So are you,” he said. When he handed her the rose, he leaned down, brushing his lips across her cheek. Just a whisper of a touch.
Everly’s lips trembled.
“Your table is ready,” the host said.
Owen put a hand to her back as they wove their way behind the host. They slid into the booth on opposite sides of each other. Everly reminded herself to breathe.Open mind. Look at him. He’s so cute. Easy to read. Easy to be with.He wore a dark gray golf shirt and a pair of Levi’s. Who didn’t love a man in Levi’s?No one. That’s who.
She set the rose down on the table. “I thought I’d be more nervous. I don’t want to be at all, but I am. Just a bit.”Here comes the babble.
Owen laughed, the sound light and fun yet still masculine. Little lines gathered at the corners of his eyes when his smile was at full blast. It was a good smile. “It’s okay to be nervous. We can’t control everything.” He reached across the table and took her hand. She didn’t pull back. Her hand fit inside of his. It was… comforting. Comfortable.
“No kidding. I’m not a big fan of what I can’t control,” she admitted.
A waiter came to their table and told them the specials.
“I’ll take the Santa Fe chicken salad,” Everly said, passing over her menu.
“That’s my favorite,” the waiter said. He turned to Owen. “For you?”
Everly saw Owen’s lips move as he ordered his own meal and tried to imagine sitting across from him every night for a very long time. The waiter took the menus and walked away,but Everly was lost in trying to figure out how she’d feel if he was the one. Would she know already?You can’t know. You choose someone, they become the one through hard work, commitment, and promises you keep.
“You okay?”
She blinked. “Hmm? Yeah. I was just thinking.”
Owen folded his hands on the table. “About?”
“Whether we’re a good long-term match,” she said before realizing she hadn’t meant to actually say it out loud.
Owen laughed. “Wow. Okay. No pressure. How’s it looking so far?”
Her cheeks went hot, and she picked up her water, took a sip. “You have a sense of humor and aren’t put out by my habit of blurting out random things.”
“I asked what you were thinking. It’s okay to tell me and be honest.”
Was it? She folded her hands so she wouldn’t move her fingers and leaned in. Okay. Fine. “You’re with someone for a long time, but things aren’t what you’d hoped. The excitement is gone, you fight all the time. You want different things. Do you do whatever it takes to get back to where you started, or do you cut your losses, decide not to waste your time trying to find what you lost?”
Owen blinked, took a deep breath. His lips formed anoas he let it out. “Life is rarely that cut-and-dried. It depends on so many different things. Should two people give up without trying? No. But what if they do try, what if they fight like hell to get back to where they were, but that road is closed? I think if you love someone, hell, even if you just care deeply for them, their happiness comes first. So does your own. Life is long enough to make the effort but too short not to let go if it’s just not there. You can’t force something you don’t feel. That’s not fair to anyone.”
She wasn’t sure why his words made her chest heavy with emotion.
He shrugged. “This is heavier than I’d expected. Really, I think two people have to build a foundation. You pick a person who checks all the boxes for you in the beginning. Then, if you can, you keep choosing them time after time.”
Her heart fluttered. “Yes. You do. You keep choosing them. That’s exactly right.” If she’d scripted his words, he couldn’t have given her a better answer.
“I’m glad you wanted to go out again. I’m glad you chose me.”
“Bookends.” First and last. She smiled. “A perfect fit.”
