“Furniture. My great grandfather opened the first store nearly a hundred years ago. It started in a small town in South Carolina, and grew from there. We've got around twenty stores now, stretching from there to New York. My dad always dreamed of going world wide, but he never got to make it happen.”
“I was expecting something a little more glamorous.” I joked.
“Right, because I look like your average rich kid.” He chuckled.
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“Honestly, my dad's the one with the money. When he, and mom got divorced she didn't want a dime from him. She was determined to make it on her own. I think that's why she was so supportive of me following my dreams. Even when they took me away from her.”
“Your mom sounds a lot like my dad. Don't get me wrong, I love both of my parents... but dad, and I have always had a special bond.”
“Look at us.” He teased. “A couple of cliches. You're a daddy's girl, and I'm a mamma's boy.”
I laughed, and he leaned down to kiss the top of my head.
“I'm glad I met you, Ronnie Locke.”
“I'm glad I met you too, Owen Foster.” I said, before laying my head on his shoulder.
“What do you say we had back to the hotel now?”
“Sounds great.”
We turned around, and began walking back in the direction we'd came. There were a few couples on the beach doing the same, and even more sitting in the sand. We passed by people kissing, hugging, and just simply holding each other. Seeing all the couples in love, only made me wish that I had someone too. Even though I felt Owen's hand in mine, and knew that I'd be spending the night with him, it wasn't the same.
The more I thought about getting to New York, the more I wondered what would happen to Owen, and I once we got there. Would we go our separate ways? Maybe he, and I would be just another memory to each other. Something fond to look back on thirty years from now? I shook the thoughts away. There was no sense in worrying about any of that now. For now, I just wanted to focus on tonight.
WHEN OWEN, AND I GOT back to his hotel room it was nearly ten. We had spent the entire day together, and it felt like no time had passed at all. Talking to him was easy. He was easy to open up to, and the more time we spent together, the more I knew that it would be safe to tell him the things that I worried about. The things that kept me up at night. The things that not even Morgan knew.
I had planned on going back to my room to grab my pajamas, but Owen offered me one of his tee shirts instead. I took it, and after freshening up in the bathroom I put it on. It was black, and hit me just above my knees. I took my bra off, and left my black cotton panties on. I finger combed my hair, and used one of the spare toothbrushes the hotel had left in the bathroom.
When I came out a few minutes later, he was laying on the bed with his hands behind his head casually. I approached him slowly, stopping to look at the glistening unicorn on his chest. He must have just put the salve on that Gia had given him. He patted the space beside him, and I climbed into the bed.
“Are you tired?” He asked.
“Not really.”
“Me either.” He sighed. “Will you tell me about him?”
“Derek?” I asked, as I turned onto my side to face him.
He nodded his head, before doing the same.
“What do you want to know?”
“Did you love him?”
“I thought I did.” I admitted. “Truthfully, I don't think I ever really knew him.”
“Did he love you?”
“He says he did, or does? I'm not even sure anymore.”
“Morgan mentioned that she dated him first.” Owen said, with apprehension.
I nodded. “She did. It's... complicated.”
“Is it though?”
“No.” I sighed. “They weren't right for each other, and she thought that he, and I would be.”
“So... she pimped you out?”
“You know, I've struggled with how Derek, and I got together for a long time. A part of me knew that the only reason I was with him, was to appease Morgan. I wanted to make her happy, because that's what she was doing for me.”
“Do you think you would have gone through with the wedding?”
“Do you want me to answer honestly?”
“That's why I'm asking.”
“Yes.”
“But, you didn't love him.” He stated with confusion.
“I made myself believe that I wasn't worth loving, and that I was lucky to have Derek. He was perfect. The star quarterback. I could do no better than him. I also worried about what Morgan would say. So, I always gave in. To both of them. Every time. I was so afraid of being alone, that I just became compliant.”
“Don't you see how toxic that kind of relationship is?”
“I do. A part of me always did, it was just easier to let her have her way. She's not built the same as you, and I. She needs extra reassurances.”
“What about you?” He asked, reaching over to brush a strand of hair from my face.
“What about me?” I asked, my voice hitching.
He smiled. “You don't need extra reassurances?”
“I think we all do sometimes.”
“You wouldn't have been happy with him.” He said, suddenly steering the conversation back to Derek.
“I know.”
“You need a man who will challenge you.” He moved a little closer to me. “A man who will fight for you.” He moved closer again, and this time the tip of his nose brushed against mine. “I'm glad he cheated on you.” He whispered.
“That's a horrible thing to say.” I whispered back, with a hint of laughter.
“I guess I'm a horrible man.”
“A horribly, sexy man.” I corrected.
“Even so. His loss, is my gain.” He whispered, before placing a soft kiss
