Page 96 of Pucking Secret

My hands shake as I lower the phone, staring at the article still open on the screen. The love of his life. His family. He’s moving here permanently — for us.

Elise’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Because of Owen, I finally found the courage to tell my family the truth.”

“You did?” I gasp. “How was it? Are you okay?”

She laughs softly. “They weren’t thrilled, but it wasn’t quite the world-ending reaction I was expecting. My parents are… trying, but Rebecca and I don’t have to hide anymore, and that’s what matters most.”

“Oh, I’m so happy for you, Elise,” I say, relief washing through me.

There’s a pause on her end before she says, “You should talk to him, Stacey. He’ll be back soon.”

A sudden knock on the door makes me jump. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and my chest tightens as I stand. Could it be…? No way, that’s too soon. But maybe?

“Elise, thank you,” I hurriedly say as I make my way to the front door. “I have to go, but I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Call me anytime, Stacey.”

I hang up and shove my phone in my pocket just as I reach the door. My heart is racing as I pull it open and I find Owen standing on my porch. His hair is mussed like he’s been running his hands through it nonstop, and the dark circles under his blue eyes match my own.

“Stacey,” he says softly, his voice low and raspy.

I don’t know what to say, so I just stand there, gripping the edge of the door.

“Can I come in?” he asks.

I nod, stepping aside, for him to enter..

He turns to me, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets.

“I’m sorry,” he says, and the rawness in his voice makes my chest ache. “I’m sorry for everything—for not telling you about the engagement, for not explaining sooner, for leaving you without an explanation again. For not being brave enough to stand up to Gerald sooner.”

I swallow hard. “I… I saw the article. You said you were choosing me and Millie. Is that true?”

He exhales shakily, pulling something from his pocket. A folded piece of paper.

“Stace, that’s been true from the beginning…we were both manipulated into thinking otherwise.”

He holds the paper out to me.

“What is this?” I ask, hesitating to take it.

“It’s the letter I wrote for you. The real one.”

My stomach twists and I feel a rush of anxiety as I slowly reach out and take it. My fingers tremble as I unfold it. Thehandwriting is his, there’s no doubt. My breath catches as I start to read.

Stacey,

I don’t know how to write this, because every word feels wrong. Nothing about this is right. I’ve gone to Canada with my mom and new stepfather, Gerald. I swear to you, I didn’t want to go, especially without saying goodbye, but Gerald didn’t give me a choice. I want you to know that I love you. I’ve always loved you and I will always love you. From the moment we met, it was you—your smile, your laugh, the way you see the world. You’ve been my light in every dark moment, and I don’t know how to live without you.

This is selfish of me, I know, but please wait for me. I will come back for you. Our future together matters more to me than all the money and prestige Gerald can offer me. I want to marry you one day, Stacey. I want to have babies with you and do the whole white picket fence thing. We’ll have girls as pretty as you and boys as stubborn as me. We’ll have a yard and a dog, and I’ll teach the kids to skate and you’ll make them into smart little badasses. There is no other girl I want to build my life with. Once I’m able to break free from this situation, I’ll come back to the States and we’ll be together again. I promise.

I love you, and I will always love you. I will talk to you soon.

-Owen

P.S., Gerald took my phone and forced me to get a new one with a new number. I tried calling, but your phone wasn’t working, so my new number is 555-3535.

By the time I reach the end, my vision blurs with tears. I clutch the letter to my chest, looking up at him. This letter is so completely different from the one I actually received. That onewas cruel and cold, but this one is filled with all the love and hope I would’ve expected from him back then.

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