Page 90 of Pucking Secret

My eyes are dry,but my chest feels hollow. I spent all night crying until I literally couldn’t produce any more tears. Now, there’s only this gnawing emptiness inside me. When I got home last night, Millie was already in bed. I paid Lilah and sent her home, grateful she didn’t ask me questions, though I know I was visibly upset.

Thank God I didn’t tell Millie that Owen wanted to take her to school this morning. It would’ve crushed her when he didn’t show up. I didn’t bother texting or calling him to ask where he was, because honestly, I can’t bear the thought of seeing him right now. Instead, I put on a happy face for Millie’s sake, got through our morning routine, and took her into school myself much earlier than usual. I’m also going to be early for work as a result, but that’s okay. I can get a jump on my charts for the day and hopefully that’ll take my mind off Owen.

Now, as I pull into the parking lot at the Night Hawks’ arena, my stomach is churning and I feel like I’m going to be sick. I don’t know how I’ll face Owen — or if I even want to. The thought of seeing him, of hearing whatever excuse he has when I confront him about what I’ve heard, makes me feel agonizinglycold. It’s not something I’ll be able to avoid. I know I’ll have to see him eventually. I just hope I can keep myself together when I do.

I park and step out of the car, clutching my purse tightly as I make my way toward the employee entrance. I’m halfway to the building when I hear a voice crying out behind me.

“Stacey! Please, wait!”

I turn and freeze, hardly believing my eyes. Elise is hurrying toward me, her face pale and her hands waving frantically. What the hell is she doing here? Quickly looking around, I’m even more baffled when I don’t see Owen. Why is she here without him? I instinctively take a step back, unsure what she could possibly have to say to me.

“Can we talk?” she asks breathlessly, stopping a few feet away.

I fold my arms across my chest. “Why would I want to talk to you?”

“Because you need to hear this,” she says, her voice shaking. “I — look, I know I’m probably the last person you want to see right now, but please, just give me a little bit of time. Can we grab some coffee? I’ll explain everything.”

I hesitate, glaring at her. Every instinct I have tells me to walk away, to not give her a single second of my time. A small voice in the back of my head, softly reminds me that this isn’t her fault. If she and Owen are engaged, she probably didn’t know about me… at least I hope not.

Have I been just some last hurrah before Owen settled down with her? But then, what about Millie?

Whatever his motives, I should give her the benefit of the doubt. I should hear her out and let her try to explain, even if whatever she says makes me want to tear my hair out.

“Fine. You have thirty minutes before I have to be in the office.”

Her shoulders sag with relief. “Thank you.”

We walk silently to the local café across the street. I keep my guard up the entire time, my thoughts racing. Is she going to try and defend Owen? Herself? I’m not sure if I’ll be able to sit and listen if she tries to describe her relationship with the man I love.

Once we’re seated, coffee in front of us, she takes a deep breath. “Stacey, I need to tell you the truth about everything.”

I raise an eyebrow, skeptical. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”

Elise leans back in her chair, her hands wrapped tightly around her coffee cup as if it’s the only thing keeping her steady.

“Owen and I… we were never going to be together. Not really. Our families wanted it — pushed it — but it was never what either of us wanted.”

I stiffen, my heart pounding. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I’m in love with someone else,” she says softly, finally looking up at me. “Her name is Rebecca. She’s my girlfriend.”

The air is sucked from the room, and I blink at her in stunned silence. Of all the things I expected her to say, this wasn’t even a consideration.

“You’re… what?” I manage to choke out.

“In love with Rebecca,” she repeats, her voice firmer now. “And Owen knows. He’s known for years, and always been very supportive. He never wanted this engagement — it was all Gerald and my parents. I was too scared to come out to my family and put a stop to it, and Owen didn’t push me. Back when we first discussed our best way out of this, he assured me that it was easier for him to deal with Gerald. But it’s been a while, and both of us put the situation off… and off…”

My mouth opens and closes as I try to process her words. “So… this whole time, you’ve been letting your families manipulate you into pretending to be together?”

“Sort of,” she admits, guilt etched into her face. “Neither of us ever actually agreed to the marriage, but we didn’t exactly fight it either. Owen was just trying to protect me, but I should’ve stood up to my parents. I should’ve told the truth, but… but I was scared, and I didn’t want to risk losing Rebecca.”

I lean back in my chair, my head spinning. “So, Owen was protecting you. Giving you time to come out the way you wanted to. He went along with it for you.”

“No,” Elise says quickly, shaking her head. “He didn’t go along with it just for me. That was part of it, but he went along with it mostly because of his mom. He didn’t want to hurt her, and Gerald knows exactly how to use that against him.”

There are so many emotions swirling through me, it’s difficult to decide how I actually feel in this moment. Relief that Owen and Elise aren’t really together? Anger that he’s let himself be manipulated for so long? Pity for him and his mom?

In the end, though, does it really matter? He should have told me about this engagement, real or not, so I wouldn’t be blindsided like this.

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