Page 8 of Owen (Storm Enterprises)

My mom texted to let me know everyone was waiting for me to make an appearance. I bite into my lip at the ache between my thighs, a dull throb that reminds me of where the man I adore was only twenty minutes ago.

I’m determined to turn this night around. It’s been momentous for me. I finally got what I’ve always wanted. Now I need to get him on board with it too. Taking a deep breath, I steel myself. This birthday will be one to remember for more than what just happened. It’s the beginning of my future, our future.

I pull open the door, and as I walk toward the stairs, the guests erupt into claps, hoots, and whistles, party poppers go off, and my favorite song, “Black Magic” by Little Mix, fills the foyer as I beam at my mom’s party organizing skills.

As I descend the staircase, my eyes lock onto Owen, and I pause mid-step. He has a woman tucked under his arm, her straight blonde hair and pale skin the complete opposite of me. He doesn’t pay me any attention as he places a kiss on her forehead while she smiles back at him with a love-struck gaze. A gaze I recognize well, the same gaze on my face whenever I’m around him. My blood runs cold. How the hell can he stand to be around another woman when he just fucked me? My lip wobbles, and I try to shake their image from my mind, but it’s stuck there, squeezing tightly at my chest while the background noise of celebration goes off around me.

A loud noise snaps my attention toward my father when he hits a microphone. “We’re all here tonight to celebrate our beautiful girl turning eighteen. We’re so incredible proud of you,Laya.” Claps and shouts of “Happy Birthday” flood my ears, yet the whooshing sound of the turmoil of my heart is louder. “We also have another celebration tonight.” I dart my gaze toward my younger brother, Dex. He stares back at me with concern, his eyes narrowed and scanning over me. We’ve always been close, so in tune with one another, as if we’re from the same blood and not adopted. He knows my inner thoughts, my dreams, my obsession, and when I see his fists pump beside him, I know he knows something happened with Owen. I give my head a subtle shake, and he sighs. “Tonight, one of our boys has gotten engaged.” I turn my focus toward Tate, who grins like an idiot. Nope, there’s no way he’s engaged. The guy is a manchild. Then I move to Shaw. He’s not officially my brother, but my parents have always welcomed him as such with him being one of Tate’s best friends. They all fall under the same umbrella as far as my parents are concerned. They’re family. It’s what always made me believe it would be easier than Owen expected for us to become an official couple. My family already loves him. “Congratulations, Owen and Samantha!”

I cling to the banister, but my knees buckle. My heart is torn from my body, leaving me a shell and unable to function. The room feels like it’s spinning as I struggle to suck in air, the crushing pain in my chest too much to bear when all I want to do is scream and plead for help. I squeeze my eyes shut at the heartache, trying and failing to regain control. A loud noise erupts, and I snap my eyes open to witness Dex fly toward Owen, landing a punch at his jaw while my ass drops onto the red carpet.

Devastation, betrayal, and heartbreak rack through me. All of it hits simultaneously as I struggle to breathe, my mind spinning with a tsunami of flashbacks. Every touch and smile he reserved solely for me has become debris. Nothing more than dust floating away like it never existed.

He was never mine.

It’s clear now; I was just a fantasy he played out. He used me and discarded me like I meant nothing to him at all.

I gave him my heart, and he destroyed it. The flames that burned between us become ash as I stare through the bars of the banister and our gazes lock. The impact behind his stare causes a jolt deep in my chest, a scar lancing my heart. He’s right, he’s scarred me. Then her hand guides his face toward hers, and he allows it. Their lips touch while mine quivers.

He’s gone.

My hand finds the necklace sitting like a weight around my neck, and I will myself to snap it away from me, to break it like he’s broken me. But I can’t because I love him.

I love him, and it hurts so much.

He was meant to be my everything, but he never will be.

OWEN

I cling to the counter and breathe through my nose, trying yet failing to regulate my breathing. A technique taught to me during my therapy sessions as a child, something that worked well until now.

“What the fuck is going on?” One of my best friends, Mase, storms into the kitchen, but I can’t face him. I can’t face anyone. “Since when were you getting engaged? And to Samantha? Did you learn nothing from my mistakes?” I can feel the anger emanating from him, but I’m unable to respond. I squeeze my eyes closed to the point of pain. All I can see is her heartbroken face, the look of resolution hurting more than the tears that spilled from those shimmering orbs.

I did that.

I caused her pain when I promised myself I’d never hurt her.

“Owen!” he barks, and I snap my eyes open to stare back at him.

Disappointment is etched on his face, and I hate that I put it there. My only family are my brothers and best friends, and they’re everything to me, but Laya, she’s my fucking world.

“What are you doing, man?” His tone is softer. “You’re breaking her heart,” he mutters, and for the first time, he’s letting me know he’s aware of how I feel about Laya, even though I worked so damn hard to make sure nobody ever knew.

My mouth becomes dry, and I lick my lips, unsure of how much to divulge. “Her mom said she was offered a scholarship to Miami. She turned it down.” Mase nods, as if aware of this already. “I know she turned it down because of me.”

He leans closer. “Does it matter? She’s wanted you forever, man, and no matter how much you think you hide it, you want her too.”

“I want her to have a fucking life, Mase. Outside of me.” I scrub a hand over my cropped hair. “Everything she does, she makes sure it’s pleasing me.”

He nods. “The girl is obsessed, I get it, but she loves you, Owen, and you love her too.”

“You don’t think I fucking know that?” My voice gets louder. “Do you really think I want to marry Samantha?” Her name on my tongue is bitter, and I wince when I become too loud, then lower my tone. “I don’t want to hurt her, Mase.” My voice is solemn this time, and even I flinch at the defeat in it.

“So, what? You push her away. I never saw you as a coward, Owen,” he snaps, and I want to lash out, but I stop myself, knowing I wouldn’t be able to stop, not when my emotions are so out of control.

I grind my jaw and exhale. “I hurt her.” I hold his stare, and he swallows.

“What?”

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