Page 64 of Pucking Secret

She doesn’t respond for several moments. She looks down, clearly processing something beyond just this conversation.

“All this time…” she murmurs, more to herself than to me. “All this time, I thought… and I was so stubborn… Jensen’snever going to let me live this down…”

“Um, Grace?” I ask. “Are you okay?”

She blinks, seeming to snap out of a daze, and looks at me. “What did Owen do when he found out? How did he react?”

“He just left. This happened in the worst way. I was going to tell him tonight, until that call came in, and … God, Grace. I’ve messed up so bad.”

I can still see him walking away from me, disappearing through those doors.

“He left?”

I nod. “I… I have no idea where he went or how he’s taking it now. I’m terrified that he hates me now. That he’ll never trust me again.”

I can’t even bring myself to think about what this could mean for Millie. Owen isn’t vindictive and wouldn’t take her from me out of spite. But if he tells his family about her, and tells them that I didn’t tell him the truth…

It’s all the ammunition they’d need if they decided they wanted to bring the next generation of the Weston family home.

“You have to talk to him!” Grace exclaims, pulling my attention back to her. “You have to clear the air between you two and explain everything. This has all been one awfulmisunderstanding, and you two have got to fix it! Do what you have to do to convince him!”

I’m a little stunned by her total 180 here, going from all those years of despising Owen to suddenly being his passionate cheerleader. Still, I get it. We’ve spent so many years thinking one way about him, and to find out we were wrong…

I gulp and nod. She’s right. I know she’s right. Glancing out the window by the door, it hits me just how late it is. The sky is pitch black. It’s a cloudy, moonless night. No stars in sight. That bleak darkness seems rather appropriate given all that’s happened.

“I’ll talk to him tomorrow,” I whisper, turning back to Grace. “First thing, I’ll call him. I just hope he answers.”

“If he doesn’t, you need to hunt him down,” she states. “You can’t let this sit for too long.”

“I know. You’re absolutely right.”

I could try texting him tonight but that doesn’t seem good enough. This needs to be an actual conversation, and face-to-face would definitely be best. I just pray he doesn’t try to shut me out before I have a chance to explain things. When I think about the possibility of losing him again, I feel sick. Physically ill.

“Is your mom coming here to stay when she leaves the hospital?” Grace asks.

I roll my eyes and shake my head. “No, she’ll go back to wherever she’s been staying. She’s never been one to spend an entire day and night with Millie and me, and after her dropping the bomb on Owen, I’m not all that interested in spending time with her right now either.”

Grace nods. “Yeah, I don’t blame you. Do you want me to stay with you tonight? I’m more than happy to, and then I can watch Millie in the morning while you talk with Owen.”

Her offer makes me want to cry all over again. How could I get so lucky to have a friend like her in my life?

“Thank you, but it’s all right. I’ll call Lilah to watch Millie. I really appreciate you stepping in tonight, though.”

“Of course! I’m always here for you, okay? If you end up needing me to come back at all tomorrow, just call. I will be here.”

Fighting back more tears, I give her another tight hug.

“You’re the best,” I whisper. “I owe you.”

“No, you don’t.” She pulls back and gives me a peck on the cheek. “I’ll check in tomorrow and see how you’re doing, all right?”

“All right.”

We say our goodbyes and Grace leaves. I’m left alone with all my worries. I can’t stop them as they swirl through my head. I make my way upstairs to check on Millie, and am relieved to find her still fast asleep. She looks so peaceful… and so much like Owen. Her straight nose, distinct chin, full lips… and, of course, those bright blue eyes. Really, if she didn’t have my hair, her resemblance to him would be impossible to ignore. Sighing, I carefully shut her door and continue down the hall to my room. Sinking down on the edge of my bed, the look of shock on Owen’s face as he left the hospital won’t leave my thoughts.

Dropping my head into my hands, I let the tears start to flow again, terrified that I’ve finally been reunited with the love of my life… only to lose him all over again.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: FIX IT

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