She claps her hands and smiles at the both of us. “I’m going to go pick up that food.”
“Oh, I can do that,” I tell her. I start to stand, but she pushes my shoulder down. Damn, she’s strong for a Beta.
“You will not. You two can have a minute while I go get the food.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Owen says as his mom leaves the small apartment. As soon as the door is shut, Owen gives me a shy look. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know she was coming. She loves keeping me on my toes.”
“She seems like a good mom.”
“She is, if not overbearing sometimes.” He looks at me questioningly. “Piper, are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I give him a small smile. He looks at me like he doesn’t believe me, but he doesn’t push me.
“I’ve missed seeing you,” he says in a soft voice, and there's a small flutter in my chest.
“I missed seeing you too,” I tell him honestly.
“This season is kicking my ass. I wanted to reach out sooner.”
“You have a grueling job.”
He scoffs and waves his hand at me. “Like you don’t?”
“Right, two people with two very busy jobs,” I say, and I search his blue eyes. I can’t help that I’ve subconsciously moved closer. His mere presence pulls me in closer, like he has my body roped around in string and he’s tugging me toward him.
“Right, no time to get distracted.”
“No, we’re both really busy.”
He licks his lips, and I notice how he looks down at my own. “Right, neither of us can afford to lose focus.”
“We’re friends,” I say, and he nods his head in agreement.
“Friends.”
“Owen?”
“Yeah?” His gaze moves from my lips to my eyes, and I’m leaning closer.
“Why do I want you so bad?”
“Fuck.” I’m leaning in, my lips so close to his when the door slams open. Owen’s mom has her hands full with food, and the moment is broken when we’re pulled apart.
“Fuckin’ cold here. Christ, why couldn’t you get picked up by Florida or something?” Lori complains, not even looking up.
Owen blinks at me, both of us realizing the spell that we were under. Lori clearly knows she interrupted something but puts the food on the table and grabs us plates.
There are far more lingering looks between Owen and I than I would like to admit. I’m about to excuse myself, even though that feels so incredibly rude when they just fed me, when Lori breaks the tension.
“Did you know Owen pissed the bed till he was eight?”
“Mom, fuck’s sake.”
I can’t help the laugh that escapes me, and I have to cover my mouth. Owen glares at me, and Lori is cackling as she goes on with her story.
“Now, I love both my sons. But his older brother Max was a little shit toward Owen when they were little.” Owen gives her a look that reads his brother never stopped being a little shit. “He would tell him stories or show him movies likeJawsbefore bed, and well, poor Owen would have nightmares and piss himself. I’m happy to say he’s grown out of it, at least I hope so.”
“How long are you staying?” Owen asks his mom.
