Page 136 of The Thought of You

“Normal—who the hell wants normal?” She cracks a grin. “I hate that you cut your hair, by the way.”

“You’ve mentioned it once or twice.” It’s been eleven times, to be exact. I counted.

“You can’t just tell him you’re sorry. You can’t tell him you care or even that you love him, even though you totally do.”

“What? Love? No one said anything about love.” I lean back like she smacked me, and my wine sloshes in my glass.

“Then how do you feel about him?” She lifts a brow and waits expectantly, but the slow wicked grin spreading from cheek to cheek says all I need to know.

She knows the answer, as do I.

Because love is the only word that sums up my feelings. Nothing else encompasses this massive explosion of happiness and caring and excitement I feel for Owen.

I don’t answer, but I guess my silence is enough when Rain says, “You have to show him, honey. Don’t just tell him. Don’t do what I did. Maybe if I would’ve shown your dad that I meant what I said and that I’d changed, he would’ve considered saving our marriage, but it’s too late for us. It’s not too late to show Mr. PE what your heart is made of.”

When I got off the phone with Dad earlier, I was still uneasy. My stomach tossed and turned like a restless toddler.

But as I talk to my mom, I’m relieved. Dare I say, I might even feel peace coming on.

How did she do that? How is it that my mother, of all people, is the one who puts me at ease like this?

As she runs her fingers through my hair while we talk, I realize it’s because I’ve never pretended with her, not like I have with Dad just to keep the peace. It’s easier to keep the peace with someone I hardly see.

But with Rain, I’ve never been anything but myself, even though I know she doesn’t agree with my philosophies. She and I have butted heads plenty of times in my life, but we’ve always been honest and real with each other. That’s what always matters the most when it concerns our relationship.

That’s not to say I haven’t been wrong about her, because I totally have in many ways.

She knows me better than I ever thought she did, but I am just now beginning to understand the core of her in return.

And through the biggest plot twist of my life, she’s going to be the one to help me win Owen back.

chapter

forty-three

ADDIE

Owen’s late this morning, and the only thing at the forefront of my overactive brain is that it’s because of me.

He doesn’t want to accidentally run into me before class.

I don’t know if he was at karaoke night last night. I didn’t go, since Rain and I enjoyed a mother-daughter movie night for the first time in years. I wouldn’t have opted to stay in with her on any other night, but yesterday was different.

She made me realize my relationship with her needs love and attention too.

But did Owen go to the Tap last night? Did he stay out late? How much did he drink?

And who the hell did he share a dance with?

I incessantly tap my pen to my notebook, my knee bouncing beneath it as I stew alone in the gym.

I don’t know how long I keep this up until the door creaks open, and I pop onto my feet as graceful as a ballerina, although I don’t feel so collected on the inside. My stomach is in absolute turmoil.

Owen rounds the corner of the bleachers, and when his eyes find mine, his steps falter. He doesn’t stop, though, not until he’s a foot from me, his hands tucked into his pockets.

“Hi,” I whisper as my heart stumbles over its beats.

“Lockhart, listen.” He frowns, and I hold my breath. “About the other day…”

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