Page 100 of The Relationship Clause

I can’t believe I let him walk away like that. I can’t believe I didn’t hug him back and I’m perpetuating this fight. I can’t believe I’m holding on to this anger. I glance out the window where he’s almost to his car.

Owen seems to understand. “Go to him, Junie. You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

I shove the gross tissue into Owen’s hand—yeah, he must love me because he takes it without hesitation—and run out the door.

“Dad! Dad, wait!”

He’s almost closed his door, but at my words, he opens it, standing up. “Junie?”

“Dad!”

He rounds the car, and we meet, hugging each other tightly. We don’t say anything. Nothing else needs to be said. Maybe things aren’t perfect, maybe our relationship will never be the same again, but also, maybe that’s a good thing.

“Once a week,” I say as we pull away from each other. “I want you to call me once a week. No matter where you are or what you’re doing. Okay?”

His eyes scan mine, and I can tell what he’s doing. He’s calculating and debating, running over all the various scenarios that could and will get in the way of keeping this promise. All the remote places he travels to and the long trips.

“Once a week,” he promises, kissing me again on the top of my head. “I’ll call you once a week. No matter what.”

A few minutes later, when I’m back in my house eating a reheated but still delicious raspberry pastry, sitting next to Owen and surrounded by all the people I love, I sigh, leaning my head against Owen’s shoulder.

“Are you happy?” he whispers.

“Yeah. Super happy. It feels good to have that off my chest.” We’re quiet for a minute, watching Summer and Marlee, who’ve started a game of charades. “Do you think you’ll ever make up with your parents?”

Owen is quiet. Like me, he hasn’t talked to his parents since they spoke to me so rudely a few months ago. But, unlike my dad, they haven’t tried to contact Owen either. According to Kiera, they seem to think they’re punishing Owen with their silence. Owen, however, has been enjoying their absence from his life.

“I don’t know,” he says after a while. “Your dad was a good person to begin with. In my opinion, it was only a matter of time before you two made up. But my parents could give the devil himself a run for his money.”

I chuckle and elbow him in the ribs.

Summer acts out what looks like a sad penguin looking for its lost shoe while Marlee looks like a bored impression of a child reading a book. I’m not sure if she’s actually playing charades or not.

“Juniper?” Owen murmurs against my ear.

“Hm?”

“Do you think I’ll ever be able to convince you to marry me?”

I turn to him, shock making my eyes wide. I half expect him to be holding a ring, but there is none, and I’m kind of glad. A public proposal isn’t something I’d want, and Owen knows that. I take a moment to ponder his question.

“I think you might be able to convince me. After we’ve been dating for a little while longer.”

“How much longer?” He nuzzles my neck, his lips trailing kisses up to my jawline.

“Mm, maybe a few more months?”

Owen groans, a sound I can feel all the way to my ribcage. “Fine. I’ll try to be patient. But I want you to know I’ve already bought the ring.”

“You have?!”

“And I’ve got it stored away in a special place for when the time is right. You will let me know when the time is right, won’t you?”

I tilt Owen’s face up so his lips are a breath away from mine. “Yes, Owen Ferguson. I’ll let you know. Now, tell all of these people the party’s over so I can kiss you properly.”

He growls, his fingers pressing into my waist with delicious pressure. “Yes, ma’am.”

EPILOGUE

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