Page 83 of Love You Madly

As we load up the truck, I can’t help but admire how effortlessly he handles everything. It’s like he’s done this a million times before. Meanwhile, I should be the one with moving expertise. Moving into this little house marks the fifth time that I’ve moved in the last year. I’m desperately trying to find stability for me and my girls and hoping this is the last time I will have to move for a very long time.

We only have to take a couple of trips back and forth, and before long, the apartment is empty.

“All set?” he asks, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead.

“Yep,” I say, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest every time our eyes meet. “Let’s blow this popsicle stand.”

He laughs as we climb into the truck.

As we drive back to my new house, the song “Cups” by Anna Kendrick from the movie Pitch Perfect comes on the radio. “Oh, I love this song! Can I turn it up?”

“Sure,” Owen replies, smiling.

I enthusiastically turn the volume knob, not paying attention much as it lands on level twenty-nine. We drive for a moment before Owen quickly reaches over and turns it up one more notch to level thirty.

I glance at him, puzzled. “Twenty-nine not quite loud enough for you?”

He chuckles. “I don’t like odd numbers. I’m a numbers guy–everything has to be even.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “That’s kind of adorable.”

He shrugs, still smiling. “We all have our quirks.”

As the music plays, I start singing along, tapping the dashboard to the beat. I’m giving an impromptu concert that Owen didn’t know he was in for today.

When the song ends, I turn to him and say, “I want this song played at my funeral.” He gives me a bewildered look. “What?! It’s a great song!”

“For a funeral?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Yep! It’s perfect.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “If you say so.”

“I do say so! Besides,” I tease, “we all have our quirks, right?” I add with a playful wink.

Once at the new house, Owen helps me unpack and put things away. We work together seamlessly, with Owen easily lifting heavy items and me directing where things should go.

As we move boxes, I notice Owen pause, looking around like we’re missing something. “Hey, where’s Sara’s crib? I assumed it was already here when I didn’t see it at the apartment. I was going to put it together for you.”

I sigh, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I gave the old crib to Adam. I’m planning to pick up a new one tomorrow. For tonight, Sara can just sleep with me.”

He nods, understanding. “Got it. If you need any help with that, let me know.”

“That’s sweet, Owen. But I don’t expect you to come back here again tomorrow. That’s a long drive.”

He shrugs and we continue unpacking. The atmosphere becomes more relaxed as we finish up and I am grateful that he has been here to help. This would have taken me forever to do alone. We joke and tease each other, the playful and flirty banter making the work feel less like a chore.

As I put away the last of the dishes in the kitchen, a thought occurs to me and I turn to Owen. “Is your girlfriendgoing to be mad that you’re helping a damsel in distress like me?” I ask, only half-joking.

He looks at me, a serious but soft expression on his face. “I don’t know, and I don’t really care if she is. You’re my friend, Callie. I’m going to be here for you, even if she doesn’t like it. And besides,” he adds more to himself than to me, “we aren’t doing anything wrong.”

“I suppose that’s true,” I say feeling a warm blush spreading across my cheeks because I know I would do all the wrong things with him if I could. God, these pregnancy hormones need to simmer down. But there’s something so magnetic about this pull that I feel toward him.

As the night winds down and I get the last of my things put away in the bathroom, Owen prepares to head home. I walk him to the door, feeling a pang of sadness that he’s leaving.

“Thank you so much for all your help today,” I say, giving him a hug goodbye. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

He wraps his arms around me, holding me close. “I won’t be. I promise.”

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