He nodded. “Don't worry, I'll make sure to give it some extra attention tonight.”
“Tonight? Does that mean I'm staying with you, again?”
He winked. “I'm sure Morgan won't mind.”
“I'm sure you're right.”
He leaned in to kiss me again, and I smiled against his lips.
“Let's eat.” He nearly growled, sending me into a fit of giggles.
“I like making you laugh, Unicorn.”
“I like laughing.” I answered, before opening my door.
Owen soon followed suit, and the two of us started towards the entrance. When we stepped inside I was instantly impressed. The place was packed, and the interior vibe matched the exterior. It was directly on the board walk, so when Owen asked for an outdoor table we were so close to the water that we could almost feel it when it splashed onto the surf below.
“OK. This place is pretty amazing.” I said, as I took my seat.
There were outdoor booths instead of chairs, and with a little maneuvering you could walk right down to the beach. Most of the menu boasted surf, and turf, but I was more of a burger and fries kinda gal. I ordered the Texas burger with waffle fries, and Owen ordered the New York strip steak. We also ordered a deep eddy vodka lemonade each, since they were one of the bar's specialties.
While we waited for our food we sipped our drinks, and watched the waves as they rolled slowly over the sand. It was a beautiful night. The air was crisp, and the sky was clear, and the smells wafting from the kitchen were absolutely wonderful. I was lost in thought staring out over the ocean, when I found myself needing to ask the question that had been plaguing me.
“Owen?” I asked softly, as I turned to look at him.
“Unicorn?” He asked back, with a smirk on his face.
“I need to know.” I said, seriously. “Why did you get the unicorn tattoo?”
I watched as his smirk faded, and I felt like someone had just punched me in the gut. Maybe it had nothing to do with me at all? Maybe he was trying to decide how to let me down easy? Maybe he lied when he said he could see more with me?
“It's simple.” He started, before taking my hands in his across the table. “Every tattoo means something to me. You mean something to me. I'm not sure what to make of that yet, but I know that I don't want to forget you.”
“Oh.” I said, a bit awkwardly. “I guess, my tattoo will always remind me of you too. Since you were with me when I got it. Thank you for that by the way. For being there. I don't think I would have gone through with it alone.”
“I'm glad I could be there with you.”
“You mean something to me too, Owen.” I added, needing him to know that I'd heard him.
He smiled, and the waitress came by with our food then. He released my hands so that we could eat, and I immediately dug into mine. It had been a long day, and I was starving. The waffle fries were crispy on the outside, and had just the right amount of seasoning. My cheeseburger was enormous, so I was only able to finish half of it, but Owen demolished his plate.
The waitress asked if we'd like dessert, and when we turned her down she came back with our check shortly after. I offered to pay for my share, but Owen wasn't having it. Who was I to turn down chivalry? After paying the bill, we decided to take a walk on the beach. The sun was already setting, and the sky was lit with the most magnificent hues of orange, red, and yellow. There was even a bit of purple attempting to shine through, and I had never seen something so beautiful.
I was wearing sandals, so I stopped to take them off. The feeling of the cool sand beneath my feet reminded me of when I was younger. My parents used to take me to the beach nearly every weekend, and the memory made me smile. With my shoes in one hand, Owen reached for my other, and we began to walk down the beach. The sound, and smell of the ocean was calming, and the company didn't hurt either.
After we'd been walking for a while, he cleared his throat.
“We'll be in New Jersey tomorrow, one step closer to home.”
“Home? Does that mean you're staying there?” I asked, with a little too much hope in my voice.
“I think so. I mean, I can write from anywhere. There's also this girl... she's pretty amazing.”
“Does this girl have a name?” I asked, fighting back a smile.
“She does.”
“Care to share?”
He stopped walking then, and turned to face me. His hand was still in mine, and he bent down towards my lips before whispering.
“Morgan.”
“You asshole!” I laughed, swatting him in the chest.
He laughed back, before sucking in a quick breath.
“Ouch!”
“I'm sorry!” I said around my own laughter, after realizing I'd hit him in the exact spot he'd gotten his tattoo.
“I guess I deserved that.” He said, before returning to my side so that we could continue our walk.
We walked along in silence then. Enjoying the evening air, and each other. A week ago, if a man would have joked about liking Morgan over me I would have felt insecure. Not that my insecurities had suddenly vanished, but when Owen told me something I believed him. He spoke with conviction, and there was never any maliciousness in his tone. Even when he was upset with the way I was letting Morgan treat me. Whether he meant to or not, he was starting to help me see that I was more than just the brains. There was more to me than what I could do for Morgan, and that was a side of myself I hadn't seen in a very long time.
When we were halfway down the beach, I looked up at him before breaking the silence.
“You never
