Seph nodded. “Did she tell you anything you didn’t know?”
“She told me more about Owen and Amber’s relationship. And we talked in general about things, family, work and such.” I sipped the malbec and enjoyed its taste on my tongue.
“Did she say how Owen was?” Seph asked and I knew right then he was enjoying having information that I didn’t.
“No, and I didn’t ask. I know he’s not seeing Amber again or anyone else,” I said. “And I’m not in the playground at school, needing to know what he said.”
My twin flicked on the TV and turned on Netflix. He started to scroll through, looking with feigned interest at the possible options.
“Okay, Seph, tell me how Owen is.”
“No. You said weren’t interested and were pretty much calling me immature, so I’m saying nothing. You could always call Claire or Ava; they saw him this afternoon too,” Seph said, smirking. I vowed revenge.
“For fuck’s sake, tell me.” I elbowed him in the ribs. “In fact, decide on what you’re going to tell me while I get changed and if you’re not going to say anything then go and stay with Callum.”
I left my wine on the coffee table, praying my brother didn’t knock it off with his huge feet, and went to throw on something old and comfy, which happened to be a pair of pyjama bottoms and one of Owen’s Cases T-shirts that he’d left. I’d slept in it most nights since.
Seph pointed and laughed when he saw what I was wearing. “You’re so not going to get over him any time soon.”
“Fuck off,” I told my brother, sitting back down and rescuing my wine, inspecting it for anything he might’ve dropped into it while I was gone. “How’s Owen?”
“He’s okay,” Seph said. “He’s steady and resilient. He hasn’t become a workaholic, although he’s got some interesting business opportunities at the moment. He misses you. I don’t know how else to explain it without losing my man card.”
“Try.” I didn’t want to enjoy Owen’s discomfort, but I was glad to hear he hadn’t moved on. That might make me a bitch in some people’s eyes but it made me feel better.
Seph winced. “Really? How else do I describe it apart from he misses you?” He picked up his phone.
“You’re not messaging him, are you?”
“Give me some credit, Payts. I’m not that emotionally stunted.”
My phone chirped ten seconds later.
Seph:Payts is worried Owen’s forgotten about her.
Claire:No. Anything but. Is she seeing sense yet?
Payton:I am included in this group message.
Ava:Good. I’m in a bar and my date is talking too much to someone else.
Payton:When are we going to meet him?
Ava:Never, unless he remembers shortly that I exist.
Seph:Who’s on Ava duty this week?
Jackson:We stopped taking duties when you started to get your shit together, Joseph. Owen’s game is much better when you’re together, so for the sake of the rugby team can you please sort it out.
Ava:It’s okay. He’s back with food. You’re still not meeting him though.
Claire:These things will be discovered. Payts, Owen misses you. But he’s a man. He doesn’t know how to put these things right and the obvious things like flowers and chocolate don’t seem thoughtful.
Payton:But I’d quite like flowers and chocolate. And I’m not sure he needs to put things right. It’s not that simple.
Killian:For fuck’s sake, Claire.
Seph:Popcorn ready, folks.
