Page 96 of Forgot to Tell You Something

“Which is it?”

“Does it matter?”

“Lu, itdoesmatter. If Owen broke up with her, then it’s not a big deal.”

“Not a big deal?” I shriek, deafening everyone within a quarter-mile vicinity. “He neglected to mention he was engaged! Eight weeks ago.”

“They broke up right before he moved here? Damn.”

I flop back against the couch cushion. “Yeah. Hi, I’m Tallulah, the rebound girl, who is also pregnant with the bastard’s baby.”

Stefani strokes my hair, her face awash in sympathy. “What are you going to do?”

“About the baby?” I croak.

“Yeah.”

“I’m not telling Owen about the baby. Chances are, he’ll be leaving for the west coast soon anyway, since his fiancée has come to fetch him. Did I mention she’s gorgeous?”

“You’re gorgeous, too, Lu.”

I shake my head so hard I’m shocked my brain doesn’t rattle. “Not like her. She’s pretty like you. She’s movie star elegant. I can’t imagine what he thought when he was fucking me.”

I admit that I’m hosting a pity party, but considering the week I’ve had, I think I’ve earned some wallowing time in my sea of sadness.

“Lu, you’re beautiful, and Owen is a tool for not telling you about his—whatever she is now. But he still deserves to know he’s going to be a father.”

“No, he doesn’t. Don’t you tell him, Stefani.”

“Sweetie, you’re furious with him for being dishonest, but now you’re lying.”

“Different scenario.”

“Not really. Look,” she adds, blotting my eyes with a tissue, “let’s just watch a chick flick and camp out on the couch with junk food. Sound good?”

I nod, but in truth, it sounds terrible. I want to be curled up in Owen’s arms, feeling him smile against my hair when I tell him he’s going to be a Dad.

But, like Mick Jagger said, you can’t always get what you want.

22

Owen

“Mr. Knowles, there’s someone here to see you.” The aide opens the door to his room, smiling in my direction. “He’s not real talkative anymore. Not since the fall. But he can hear you.”

I nod, pulling a chair next to Tally’s elderly father. He smiles when I say hello, but immediately returns his attention to some distant point.

I know Tally will kill me if she finds me here, but I’ve driven all over this damn city, and I can’t find her anywhere. Somehow, I believe that if the woman I love won’t listen to me, perhaps I can get through to her father.

I reach into my pocket, pulling out my trusty deck of cards.

Mr. Knowles’ eyes focus on my hands as I walk through the motions of the trick. At the end, his face splits into a grin, and I feel like I’ve won a damn war.

But the high is short-lived, as his eyes take on that faraway look again.

I lean back in the chair, letting out a loud exhale. “We haven’t met, Mr. Knowles. My name is Owen Stevens. I’m ridiculously in love with your daughter.” I shift in my seat as I feel his dark eyes on me again. “But I messed up, and she won’t speak to me. She’s really hard-headed,” I chuckle, “but that’s part of what I love about Tally. I love everything about her.”

I look up, meeting the gaze that is so much like his daughter’s. “I was hoping she was here. She loves you so much and judging by the photos,”—I motion at the myriad of pictures surrounding his bed—“you love her, too. I want to marry her, Mr. Knowles, but I’d like your permission first. Then comes the hard part, convincing Tally that I’m not the biggest mistake she’s ever made.”

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