“That’s... good.”
“She forgave me. I don’t know why, but she did.” He paused. “I’ve been an asshole. I owe you more than some half-assed excuse.” His thumb traced a pattern on my lower back, and I tried not to shiver. “I’m sorry, Harlow. For all of it. For tellingyou that Cam and I were over when I hadn’t officially ended it. For making you carry guilt that should’ve been mine.”
“Owen…”
“I’m sorry for everything.” He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry for hurting you.”
“You know what I’ve noticed?” My voice came out harsh. “You only seem to want me when you’ve been drinking.”
He went still. The swaying stopped.
“At the bar, the night of Jax’s bachelor party. You were drunk. On the beach, when you told me we could only be friends… sober. And now tonight, you’ve got whiskey on your breath, and suddenly you’re looking at me like...” I couldn’t finish.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m worth looking at.”
“That’s not…” Owen’s hand left my back and came up to my face, his palm warm against my cheek. “That’s not what’s happening.”
“Then what is?”
“The drinking doesn’t make me feel things for you.” He slurred his words a little. “Sober, I can talk myself out of it. I can tell myself all the reasons we are a bad idea. But when I drink...” His thumb brushed my cheekbone. “I stop caring about the reasons.”
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
He shook his head. “No, but I’m trying to be honest.”
My hand flattened against him, feeling his heartbeat beneath my fingers.
The music shifted again, and Owen’s hand dropped from my face to my waist, tugging me closer, and even though I knew I shouldn’t, I let him. My head rested on his shoulder.
“Stay with me tonight.” He murmured it against my hair, so soft I thought I imagined it.
“What?” My head lifted from his shoulder, my gaze meeting his.
“After the reception.” His hand tightened at my waist. “Come back to my room. No one would have to know.”
I went rigid.
Was he freaking serious?
“No one would have to know,” I repeated slowly.
“I meant…”
“I know what you meant.” I pulled back, putting distance between us. His hands fell away. After everything we had been through, how could he ask me that? “You want me to sneak into your room like some dirty little secret. Like something you’re ashamed of.”
“Harlow, that’s not…”
“Isn’t it?” A mixture of anger and hurt wrapped around me, squeezing so hard I could barely breathe. “You want me to… what? Be your booty call? Slip out before breakfast so no one asks questions?”
“That’s not what I…” He reached for me, but I stepped back. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Then how did you mean it?” The tears were threatening now, hot and angry behind my eyes. “Because from where I’m standing, it sounds like you want all the benefits without actually having a girlfriend. You want me when it’s convenient for you. When you’re drunk, and no one is watching.”
“Harlow…”
“I’m not going to be your secret.” My entire body vibrated with anger. “I’m not going to be the thing you’re ashamed of in the morning.”
