“Hi, Sadie. Good to see you.”
“Owen.” I don’t move to let him in. “Whatever you’re trying to do, don’t. Just leave, okay?”
“I wanted to check on you.” He steps forward, and I instinctively step back. He takes it as an invitation, crossing my threshold before I can stop him. “I’ve been worried. All this harassment you’ve been dealing with is getting out of hand.”
“I didn’t invite you in.”
“We need to talk.” He closes the door behind him. Not slamming it, just... closing it. Like he has every right to be here. “This whole situation is spiraling, Sadie. You need help managing it.”
“I don’t need or want your help, Owen. I need you to leave.”
“Sadie—“ Jess’s voice comes through the phone, sharp with alarm. “Is that Owen? Is he there?”
Owen’s eyes flick to my phone. “Hang up, Sadie. This is between us.”
“You need to go. Now.” I move toward the door to open it, but he steps in front of me.
“I’m trying to help you.” His voice is so reasonable. So calm. Like I’m the one being irrational. It’s a tactic he used throughout our relationship. He rarely yelled, but he always made sure I felt like I was wrong, like I was crazy for my feelings. At least I can recognize it now. “The Facebook posts, the vandalism… this is only going to get worse if you don’t control the narrative. Let me help you draft a statement. Something that acknowledges your mistake and apologizes—“
“My mistake?” Heat floods through me. “Writing a book isn’t a mistake.”
“Writing smut that exploited this town without permission is.” He’s still using that calm, patronizing tone. “You know I’m right.Deep down, you know you crossed a line. Who’s going to buy books from the woman who wrote porn about their town?”
“Sadie, tell him to leave.” Jess’s voice is tight. “Right now.”
“You heard her,” I say to Owen. “Leave.”
“You’re not thinking clearly.” He takes another step toward me.
“What are you doing?” I put my hand up instinctively.
“You never do when you’re emotional. That’s why you need someone who can—“
“I said leave!” My voice cracks.
Owen’s expression shifts. The fake concern drops, replaced by something colder. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be. I’m offering to help because I care about you, Sadie. Despite how you ended things and you making a fool of yourself with this book, I still care.”
“Get out.”
“You’re so stupid, Sadie.” Owen’s laugh is sharp. “Everyone is using you. Everyone. Mateo, Isabel, Macy… they see a scandal, and they’re circling like vultures. But I know you. I know how you spiral. You need someone to pull you back from the edge.”
“That’s not…”
“You’re on the edge, aren’t you, Sadie? You always make mistakes when you get to this point.” His jaw tightens. “I’m trying to protect you. Can’t you see that?”
“That’s not what you’re doing.”
“Why else would I be here?”
“I don’t know, but you’re doing that thing again where you make me small.” My hands are shaking, but my voice is steady.
His eyes wander up and down my body. “Nobody can make yousmall, Sadie.”
“Fuck you. You spent two years doing it, and I’m not letting you do it anymore. Get. Out.”
He doesn’t move.
“Owen—“ I start toward the door myself, but he catches my wrist.
