Page 34 of The Thought of You

The soft sound lingers long after she’s disappeared, like a sweet scent on a pillow.

chapter

ten

ADDIE

I flee into the hall in a daze of turmoil.

It’s not because I’m worried anyone saw me shoving Owen into the closet, nor is it because I fear I overshared once again. I didn’t say much, but if I would’ve stayed in that closet for one more second, I would’ve spilled my guts about my mother.

I float past the rows of yellow lockers like I’m rising outside my body, because one very important question nags at me—did he mean it? I’m not referring to his claim of being a patient guy, either. For some reason, I know he meant it.

It’s the other thing Owen said that sparked a thrill down my spine. The thing about helping me loosen up. Wouldn’t that be a welcomed change of pace?

But there’s no chance in Hell I could allow myself to cross such a sacred line with Owen Conrad.

Right?

“There you are!” My mother slides in front of me, a burst of bright colors decorating her top, which flows over her bell-bottom jeans. The soaked hem of her pants flares over clogs similar to ones I’ve seen the Dutch wear. They look new. A gift, perhaps, from one of the men begging to lock her down.

But according to Rain, birds aren’t meant to be caged; they’re meant to fly.

She slips her arms around my waist, wrapping me into a hug just like her lavender scent, thanks to the organic concoction she’s raved about for years.

It smells of love and nostalgia and comfort.

Whatever out-of-body experience I just had comes to a halt like a pin to a bubble. Pop! There goes whatever insanity had consumed me regarding Owen.

“Look at how long your hair has gotten.” She swoops a chunk of my dark auburn strands into her grip and places it over her own hair, the clunky bracelets rattling together on her wrist. “Now that it’s so long, we look more alike than ever.”

I school my cringe, but it’s a painful effort.

She drops my hair and shakes my shoulders until I see four of her. “You look like you’ve spent the last week in my van, smoking Nigel’s good stuff.”

“Nope. Not me. I don’t do partake in such things.” I glance around for witnesses. It will be a miracle if I leave here without my name on people’s gossiping lips. “I’m just surprised, is all. I didn’t think you were coming. You weren’t at the game earlier.”

She flashes me a devastatingly gorgeous smile. “If you’d ever answer my calls or texts, you’d know I lost track of time. I know you don’t understand that. But you should’ve assumed I’d be here. You know I would never miss homecoming with my favorite girl.”

The makings of my own smile form, but I freeze when I sense him next to me.

His cologne washes over me like a tidal wave, and my nostrils flare at the very fresh memory of my beaded nipples brushing against his hard chest.

“Lockhart, I…” Owen’s mouth closes when he realizes he and I are not alone. “Hi” is all he says to Rain, but it comes out as more of a question.

She lifts a brow, and my blood cools near freezing temperatures. For some reason, it’s like I’m on display, as if my mother caught me with my panties around my ankles next to a boy.

Not that such a thing has ever happened, but had it, knowing her, she probably would’ve applauded me and tossed condoms at me like confetti.

Dad was always the sensible and responsible one.

“Who might you be?” she sings.

Her slow perusal of Owen makes my stomach recoil. I’m dizzier by my two worlds colliding than by the bold patterns of her outfit.

“I’m Owen, the PE teacher.” He glances between us. “You two could be twins. Are you sisters?”

Rain’s laugh erupting from her matches the thunder outside, which is still going strong, and I wince. “Aren’t you a treat, Mr. PE.” She nudges me with her elbow, and she doesn’t remove her sparkling gaze from him as she says, “I’m Lockhart’s mother, Rain.”

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