Page 65 of All of Me

I lean against the kitchen counter, watching him. There’s a faint smile tugging at his lips as he scrolls through his phone. He looks so calm, so steady, and for a moment I feel like I should just keep this to myself. Let the peace of this quiet moment stretch out a little longer. But the thought won’t stop gnawing at me. Brooke is right. I can’t keep holding it in.

Taking a deep breath, I walk into the living room and sit down beside him. He looks at me, his smile widening as he sets his phone aside.

“Hey, dollface,” he says, his voice warm. “What’s on your mind?”

I hesitate, my fingers toying with the hem of my sweatshirt. “I… there’s something I need to tell you.”

His brow furrows slightly, and he shifts so he’s facing me fully. “Okay. What’s going on?”

“It’s about Adam and Katie,” I say, the words feeling heavy in my mouth. “Last month, Adam told me that Katie’s pregnant.”

Owen’s eyebrows shoot up, and he leans back slightly, letting out a low breath. “Wow. That’s… big news.”

“Yeah,” I agree softly, avoiding his gaze. “I didn’t tell you sooner because I didn’t know how. I didn’t want to make it a thing or seem like I care about their life. I don’t, but it’s been weighing on me, and I feel like I need to say it out loud.”

Owen watches me carefully, his dark eyes attentive. He doesn’t rush me, doesn’t push, just waits.

“How do you feel about it?” he asks.

“I’m worried,” I admit. “Not for me, but for Ruby and Sara. Adam’s already not taking them as often as he’s supposed to. He cancels plans last minute, or he changes the schedule to suit him. And now with a new baby coming, I’m terrified they’ll be pushed aside. I don’t want my girls to feel like they’re not a priority.”

Saying the words out loud makes my chest feel even tighter. I’ve been holding onto this fear for weeks, trying to convince myself it wasn’t a big deal, that I was overreacting. With Owen sitting here, looking at me like my feelings are valid, it feels impossible to ignore.

Owen reaches for my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a slow, steady rhythm. “That makes sense,” he says gently. “And you’re not wrong to feel that way. Adam’s track record hasn’t exactly been great.”

I nod, tears stinging my eyes. “It’s not fair to them. Ruby and Sara are so little. They need stability, and I feel like I’m the only one making sure they have it. What happens when Katie has her baby? What if Adam decides they’re too much work, or they don’t fit into his perfect little family anymore?”

The words tumble out in a rush, and I hate how small they make me feel. Like I’m admitting a weakness I can’t overcome.

Owen squeezes my hand, his voice firm but kind. “That’s not going to happen, Callie. You’ve already given them stability. You’ve built a home for them, a safe place where they’ll always be loved. That’s not going to change just because Adam decides to add another kid to the mix.”

“But it’s not just about what I can give them,” I say, my voice breaking. “They deserve to have a dad who shows up for them. Who makes them feel like they’re enough. I can’t make Adam be that for them.”

“No,” Owen says quietly, “you can’t. But you’re giving them more than enough love to make up for what he’s lacking. You’ve also got me, ya know? You’re not in this alone.”

His words settles deep in my chest, steadying the frantic pace of my thoughts. “I just… I want them to be okay. That’s all I want.”

“They will be,” he says, leaning in to kiss my forehead. “Because they’ve got you, and they’ve got us.”

I let myself believe him for a moment. I close my eyes, soaking in the warmth of his presence, the steady reassurance in his voice.

“They deserve better than Adam,” I whisper.

Owen’s jaw tightens slightly, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he pulls me closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

After a moment, his tone shifts, a teasing edge creeping in. “So, do I get to be the fun stepdad who teaches Ruby and Sara ridiculous pranks to pull on their new sibling?”

I laugh despite myself, the tension breaking like a dam. “You’re terrible.”

The smile lingers on my lips for a second before my thoughts shift. Technically, he’s not their stepdad, but the idea of anyone else stepping into that role is impossible to imagine. Owen is woven into our lives like a thread that keeps us together. In my heart, I know he’s exactly who I want for us.

“Yeah,” he says, grinning, “but you love me.”

“I do,” I say softly, leaning into him, letting his warmth steady me.

The tension that’s been gripping my chest begins to ease, his presence strong enough to unravel it. Since Adam told me about the baby, I haven’t been able to catch my breath, but now I finally feel relief.

twenty-four

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