Page 104 of Love You Madly

To distract myself, I decide to order a ham and pineapple pizza. I pull up the app, my fingers moving automatically through the motions of placing the order, but my mind is still on Callie. The thought of seeing her tomorrow both excites and unsettles me in a way I haven’t felt in years.

The doorbell rings earlier than expected. I glance at my watch—definitely too fast for the pizza. Shrugging, I grabsome cash and head to the door, my mind still half-occupied with thoughts of tomorrow and Callie. But as soon as I swing it open, the air catches in my lungs.

It’s not the pizza guy.

forty-five

KISS ME - SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER

CALLIE - JULY 25, 2013

As I approach Owen’s apartment, a flutter of nervous excitement rushes through me, making my steps lighter. I’ve never done anything like this before. This feels like one of those grand gestures from the romantic comedies I used to love—spontaneous, maybe even a little reckless, but I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to see him. I smooth down my dress, a simple black cotton one that clings in all the right places.

I knock lightly on the door, feeling my heart pound with anticipation. The door swings open, and Owen’s expression—equal parts surprise and delight—makes my pulse quicken.

“Love it,” I say softly, echoing my text from earlier, and step forward, wrapping my arms around him. The familiar scent of him, warm and comforting, envelopes me as I press my lips to his.

The kiss starts soft, but quickly deepens, full of the longingthat’s been building for days. His hands slide up my back, pulling me closer. I can feel his smile against my lips, a shared warmth that has my heart skipping a beat. Time seems to slow, the world outside fading away as we get lost in the moment.

When we finally pull apart, Owen’s eyes meet mine with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. “Surprise,” I whisper, feeling a little breathless.

His grin widens. “You have no idea.” He leans in to steal another quick kiss. “What are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t wait till tomorrow,” I admit, my voice soft. “Taylor wanted a couple of days with Sara, so I thought I’d surprise you.”

“I’m glad you did.” His voice drops lower, like he’s speaking some hidden truth, and the sound of it makes my heart race. “I’ve missed you, Kitty.”

Before I can say anything, he captures my lips again, this time with a kiss that’s deeper, more urgent. The heat between us builds quickly, hands exploring, hearts racing. I lose track of where we are, completely caught up in him.

“Ahem.”

We jerk apart, breathless, as reality snaps back into focus. Standing just a few feet away is a kid in a red uniform, eyes glued to the pizza box in his hands like it’s the only thing keeping him grounded. His face is beet red, clearly having caught us mid-makeout.

“Pizza’s here,” Owen says, chuckling as he straightens up, smoothing a hand over my hair.

“Perfect timing,” I manage to say, cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“Clearly,” the kid mutters under his breath, but Owen just laughs, letting the kid off the hook as he hands him some cash.

Once the door shuts behind him, Owen carries the pizzabox to the counter, flashing me a grin. “I’m starving,” he says, popping open the lid with more excitement than necessary. The scent of melted cheese and—oh God—pineapple fills the air.

“Please tell me you didn’t get pineapple,” I groan, crossing my arms and eyeing the box.

He shrugs, grabbing a couple of plates. “I did, and you’re going to try it.”

I take the plate he offers, narrowing my eyes at the offending fruit on my pizza. “Your taste in pizza is making me question your judgement.”

Owen laughs, biting into his slice like it’s gourmet. “I don’t know. I think my judgement is pretty solid. I mean, I picked you, didn’t I?”

I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “Fair point. But if this sucks, we’re going to have to reevaluate everything.”

Owen steps closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “Nah, you’re like pineapple—sweet, a little tangy, and addictive. The kind of thing I could devour forever.”

I laugh, pushing him playfully. “Okay, smooth talker. But if this pizza is gross, I’m blaming you.”

He grins, watching me expectantly as I take a tentative bite. To my surprise, it’s… not terrible. I narrow my eyes at him, trying to hide my amusement. “Okay, fine. It’s not bad, but I’m blaming weird pregnancy hormones.”

“See? Told you I had good taste.” He winks, taking another bite, and I can’t help but feel completely at home with him.

---