Page 63 of Edged
“Well, I’m not wrong. Owen doesn’t live here. He’s only in California because I brought him here.”
“He’s here because he wants to be,” Grayson corrected.
“You don’t even know him.”
“No one would have gotten on a plane after a one-night run-in with the man who broke their heart a decade ago if they didn’twantto. That’s actually a lot of reasons tonotget on the plane, and yet…here he is.”
“Owen is going home on Monday,” I muttered, taking another drink.
“And then what?” Rob asked.
“And then ten more years… I don’t fucking know.”
Grayson scrunched his nose and let his arms fall to his sides. “That doesn’t sound like it’s what you want.”
“Of course it’s not, but Mandy…”
Grayson threw a look at Rob, and I watched Rob mouth the wordsOwen’s sister. Recognition flashed across Grayson’s face, and I knew they’d talked all about the debacle of Owen, Mandy, and me.
“It’s been a long time, Archie. I think she would understand.”
“What if I don’t know how to explain it?” I finished the whiskey and set the glass down, looking up at Grayson. “I’ve never known what to say to her about what happened with Owen. With me and her.”
“Did you love her?” Rob asked.
“Of course.” I was quick to answer, but the words felt insincere as I spoke them. “I mean, I thought I did. I…maybe loved her until I realized that what was between me and Owen…”
“It was different.”
I nodded.
“It’s all just a mess,” I said, sucking in a breath that barely filled my lungs. “I like him being here. In my space, my home. I like that he’s in the car with Flynn and Dalton, and I like that they like him more than me.”
Grayson chuckled, and Rob shushed him.
“It’s fine.” I bumped my shoulder into Rob’s. “I like all of those things, I really do. And I like Owen. I like him. I…”
“You still love him,” Grayson whispered.
“I told him. It’s not like it’s some big secret.” Letting out a long breath, I pushed myself away from the counter. The kitchen whiskey did not prove as quiet or as calming as it had in the past, but I was thankful for the conversation nonetheless.
“You told him you loved him?” Grayson asked.
“I owe him the truth,” I said. “After everything else between us.”
“You’re as hard on yourself about the things you want as Grayson is,” Rob said.
“As Graysonwas,” Grayson corrected, reaching out his hand for me.
It was a kind gesture from someone I liked, but wasn’t terribly close with. I took it and Grayson pulled me in for a quick hug, wrapping his arms around me and pressing his lips very near to my ear.
“If he’s what you want, fight for him. Even if you have to fight yourself,” he whispered, clapping his hands against my back and then spinning me toward the front door and calling over his shoulder to Rob, “Let’s get out of here.”
“Do you want me to get Flynn and Dalton out of your car?” Rob asked when we reached the front door. “I’m happy to shove them in my back seat.”
“Or trunk,” Grayson suggested. “I have rope.”
I huffed out a laugh, rolling my eyes. “I heard about you and your rope last night. And Val.”
