The idea of her mom in pain, dragging herself across the floor, brought tears to Bree’s eyes. “I’m still not sure why you didn’t call me. I could have at least gotten you a robe or something.” The paramedics had wrapped her in a sheet and hauled her naked self off to the emergency room. Bree had to gather underwear and pajamas to take to the hospital so Mom could have something to wear home.
“You were out with Owen. I didn’t want to impose.”
At the mention of Owen, breathing became difficult. “Shoot. I forgot a napkin. I’ll be right back.”
Bree hurried into the kitchen, gulping air. Owen hadn’t shown up at the hospital like she thought he might despite her telling him to head home. She’d given him an out in case he still wasn’t comfortable around her mom. He took it, and she wasn’t happy that he had. He should have been there for her no matter how awkward the situation. She could have used a strong arm to lean on.
On top of that, he hadn’t answered her calls or texts. It had been two days. Two long and lonely days as she carried the burden of caring full-time for her mom, planning the big summer party that was less than a week away, and running her mom’s clothing company.
Because she’d started late, the party consumed spare minutes like they were Oreos. She’d packaged more of the hiking skirts than she cared to see in her lifetime and was painfully close to all three of Schulenburg’s mail carriers.
As busy as her life was, there was a gaping hole that ate at her heart and threatened to pull it into the darkness like a big black hole of love.
She decided to try him again.Hey, just hanging out at Mom’s. Call me when you get a minute.
She stared at the screen, praying the three little dots would jump or wave or something that indicated he was texting her back. They sat there, dead. Kind of like her heart when she thought of not talking to Owen for twenty-four hours more. There had to be an explanation for his silence. Maybehe’dbeen in an accident. The thought sent ice through her veins. No, Kyle would have called her. Bree managed to get along with Owen’s best friend; why couldn’t he try harder with her mom?
Standing around in the kitchen wasn’t helping her work through all these emotions. “Mom, I’m going to run a couple errands. Can I get you anything?”
“No thanks. I’m going to take a nap.”
Bree snagged her keys off the hook and ran out the door to jump into her car. She barely saw the road signs and traffic lights on the way to Owen’s house. As she came around the last bend and the view opened up before her, she sighed. His house was beautiful, inside and out. She was so proud of all the work he’d put into it, the time and effort he’d applied to make the home a place of welcome and comfort.
The steps were easy to hop up and she pressed the doorbell. Her knees bounced in anticipation. No matter why he hadn’t answered her, anticipation at seeing him again thrummed through her veins.
After what seemed like an eternity, the door opened and there he was. “Owen.” She grinned up at him, feeling all that much better just to see that he was all right. She went to step forward, expecting him to step aside and let her in or open his arms to her, but he stood like a sentry in the doorway. Rebuffed, she inched her shoes backward. “Hi.”
“Bree? What are you doing here?”
“I came to make sure you were okay. I was worried when I didn’t hear back from you.”
He folded his arms. “It took you three days to notice?”
His judgmental frown didn’t sit well with her. “I’ve texted and called. In case you forgot, my mom was in the hospital. She’s in bad shape.”
“I’m sure she is.”
His disbelief was baffling. “Really, she fell down and broke her leg.”
He scratched at his beard, which had grown longer than she’d seen it before. His hair was longer too. And his eyes were drawn.
“Are you okay?”
He leaned against the doorframe, his hands in his pockets and his chin down. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”
Bree turned slightly to the side, like she was deflecting a blow. Owen had never lashed out at her, but there was an instinct that told her whatever he was going to say would hurt.
“I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”
“But—” She cut off, unsure what she was going to say after that. What did one say to such a declaration? “Why?”
“Why?”
“Yes, Owen. Why?” He’d said several times how much he cared for her, how right she felt in his life. He’d looked at her like he loved her for some time now.
“I can’t be second-string in a relationship. I’ve been there before. Waited while the girl I loved catered to her family’s every need, and when I thought she loved me, they yanked her away.” He finally looked at her, looked hard and long and piercing. “I can’t be second-string. I won’t.”
“Is this because I left the restaurant?” She’d debated getting that cab, but it was sitting right there on the curb like an answer to a prayer. She’d been so wrapped up in what the nurse had said about her mom arriving naked and in pain that she didn’t stop to think she might hurt Owen’s feelings by taking off. Then again, her mom was in the hospital. Was he being selfish?
