“And we’re all moving into the apartment above the shop together,” Ollie adds.
There’s a long pause. Then Owen mutters, “I don’t know why you two are acting like this isn’t real.”
“What?” I blurt, caught off guard. “I mean… I don’t know how to think about it all yet. It’s just… a lot. But we wanted to be straight with you. You deserve to know the truth.”
He shrugs. “Yeah, okay. The truth is you make eyes at each other all the time when you think the other one isn’t looking. It’s gross. Also, very obvious to everyone besides you two bozos that you’re obsessed with each other. Grown-ups are weird.”
I press my lips together, so I don’t laugh. Ollie snorts next to me and covers his mouth, leaning on his elbow as he watches me, waiting for me to respond.
“So, I just have to go along with this?” Owen asks.
“Yeah,” Ollie says.
Owen thinks about it, then nods. “Okay. But don’t lie to me. Tell me if you two are going to break up or whatever so I can prepare for it.”
And there it is. That’s why I’m scared shitless about doing this with Ollie for real. Because it’s not just my heart at stake here, it’s Owen’s, too. He doesn’t deserve heartbreak, and I can’t do that to him. Or to me.
I reach over giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I’ll always be honest with you.”
Ollie nods. “Same.”
His eyes lift, serious now.
“No matter what happens with me and your sister,” Olliesays quietly, steady and sure, “nothing changes between you and me. Ever.”
He blinks. “Even if?—”
“Even if,” Ollie cuts in gently. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m still here. Still showing up. Still on your team.”
Something in his shoulders loosens, like he’s been holding that question in for a while.
“You don’t lose me,” Ollie adds. “Not now. Not ever.”
He nods again, smaller this time, but it’s solid.
“Okay,” he says.
And I know he believes him.
“Good,” Owen says. “Because if you break up and make things weird, I’m moving in with Jack and Cami.”
“Hey,” Ollie says with a laugh. “Rude. You want to be closer to the horses.”
“Well, duh.” Owen grins. “I love the horses.”
That night, we walk into The Black Dog hand in hand, and my heart is beating way too fast for someone who’s supposedly pretending. Owen’s with his friend at the movies. Hopefully, having a fun time like a normal kid, without thinking about where we’re going to live or his fake family, basically things he shouldn’t have to worry about.
It’s early, and Cami, Jack, and Maggie are sitting at the bar, waiting. Walker and Violet are behind the bar, standing next to each other. I sent out a group text asking everyone to meet us at the bar for an announcement. They all took it seriously because they all showed up. My stomach is a mess with nerves about what we’re about to tell them.
Walker looks at our hands and says something first. “What’d I miss?”
All eyes in the bar swivel and stare at us and down at our hands. I take a deep breath.
“This is going to be fun,” I murmur.
“Tell me about it.” Ollie grins and mutters, “They’re going to give us so much shit. Get ready.”
I squeeze Ollie’s hand. “We’ve got something to tell everyone.”
