Page 106 of All of Me

His smile widens, and he takes my hand again, leading me across the road. The porch steps creak under our weight, and he pushes open the door, the faint scent of fresh paint and wood filling the air. The interior is warm and inviting, with hardwood floors stretch through the open living room and kitchen. A stone fireplace anchors the living room, its mantle bare but full of potential. The kitchen is simple but perfect, with a farmhouse sink and wide windows that overlook the property.

“I kept it simple,” Owen says, his voice soft as he watches me take it all in. “Figured we’d make it ours together. Add the touches that make it feel like home.”

I step into the living room, running my fingers along the edge of the fireplace mantle. “It already feels like home,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “Because of you.”

He crosses the room in a few steps, pulling me into his arms again. “Wherever we are, as long as we’re together, that’s home.”

I tilt my head up, my lips brushing against his as the weight of the moment wraps around us. This house, this land, this man—it’s everything I didn’t know I wanted until now.As he deepens the kiss, I know without a doubt that our future begins here, in this house, on this land, with this love. And I can’t wait to see where it takes us.

thirty-eight

THINKING OUT LOUD - ED SHEERAN

OWEN - JULY 26, 2014

The morning unfolds in a blur of movement and anticipation. Barrett, having climbed in bed early with me, drifts back to sleep for a bit. I sneak out of bed to shower. The sound of voices drifts from the kitchen as I get dressed, and by the time I join them, Luke and Will are already in full swing, raiding the stash of donuts Callie left for us and pouring coffee like they own the place.

“About time you showed up,” Luke says, smirking over his mug. “I was starting to think the groom got cold feet.”

“Not a chance,” I reply, grabbing a donut and biting into it as I pour my own coffee. The caffeine hits instantly, waking me up enough to tolerate their banter. “Just trying to enjoy the last quiet moments before you two idiots showed up.”

“Quiet moments?” Will says, leaning back against the counter. “You’ve got three kids under your roof, man. Pretty sure quiet moments are extinct. Controlled chaos is your life now.”

I grin. “Fair point. But you’ll see when it’s your turn.”

Luke snorts. “Oh, here we go. The ‘just wait until you’re married with kids’ speech. Spare me, Klein. Some of us are still enjoying our freedom.”

I glance at him, noticing the edge in his voice. Luke’s always been good at hiding how he really feels, but something about the way he says it makes me pause. “Freedom, huh?” I say, keeping my tone light. “How’s that going for you?”

Will arches an eyebrow. “Yeah, because freedom looks so glamorous when you’re sitting alone in your apartment eating frozen burritos. How’s the single life treating you, Luke?”

Luke shrugs, grabbing another donut and tearing into it. “Thriving,” he says, a little too quickly. “Heather and I were holding each other back. Now she’s free to pursue her dreams, and I’m free to pursue mine.”

I don’t buy it. The way he’s deflecting, the way he keeps avoiding eye contact, he’s obviously more upset about the breakup than he’s letting on. Heather was good for him, even if they weren’t perfect. Now that she’s gone, he’s not as fine as he wants us to believe.

“Dreams like what?” Will asks, ever the instigator. “Watching reruns of Cops and avoiding laundry?”

Luke glares at him, tossing a napkin his way. “Rude. I’ll have you know I reorganized my sock drawer last night. Big accomplishment.”

I smirk, shaking my head. “Luke, I mean this in the nicest way possible: don’t try to hook up with anyone in Callie’s family today.”

His eyes widen, and he puts a hand over his heart. “You wound me, Klein. You think I’d stoop that low?”

“Yes,” Will and I say in unison.

Luke laughs, but it’s a little forced. I make a mental note to check in with him later, but for now I let it slide. “Fine, fine,” he says, holding up his hands. “I’ll behave. Scout’s honor.”

“You were never a Scout,” I remind him.

“Details,” he says with a grin, popping the rest of the donut into his mouth.

The front door opens and Vince walks in, looking far too polished for this early in the morning. His suit pants are perfectly pressed, and his white shirt is rolled neatly at the sleeves, his tie draped around his neck like he’s too cool to actually wear it yet.

“Morning, boys,” he says, grabbing a donut from the box. “Owen, you ready to become a married man?”

“Been ready,” I say, shaking his hand before pulling him into a quick hug. “Glad you’re here, Vince.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he replies, leaning against the counter. “You nervous?”

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