Page 77 of All of Me

I press closer to him, my fingers tracing the familiar lines of his shoulders and down his arms. He’s solid and my heart swells as I take him in—every detail, every movement—knowing that this is the man I’ll spend the rest of my life with.

“Owen,” I whisper against his lips, my voice shaky with emotion. “I don’t even know how to put into words how much you mean to me.”

His forehead rests against mine, his breath warm against my cheek. “You don’t have to,” he says softly. “I see it. I feel it.” His fingers brush a stray curl from my face, tucking it gently behind my ear. “And I hope you know I feel the same. You, Sara, Ruby—you’re everything, Callie. Everything I didn’t know I needed.”

My chest tightens at his words, emotion welling up in my throat. “You’re everything to us too,” I manage, my voice thick. “You’ve made this life, our life, so much more than I ever thought it could be.”

The way he looks at me in that moment steals what little breath I have left. It’s not just love, it’s reverence, devotion, a promise that goes deeper than words.

He shifts slightly, rolling us so that I’m cradled beneath him, his weight comfortably pressing me into the mattress.. His hand slides along my jaw, his thumb brushing over my cheek as his gaze holds mine.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice barely more than a whisper. His lips trace a soft line along my temple, then down to my neck, where he lingers for a moment, his breath warm against my skin.

I close my eyes, letting myself feel everything—his touch, his words, the way his presence makes me feel safe and cherished and seen. My fingers curl into his shirt, pulling him closer, needing him in a way that goes beyond physical.

“Owen,” I say again, his name a soft plea.

“I’m here,” he whispers, his lips brushing against my collarbone. “I’ve always got you.”

The tenderness in his voice, the way he moves with such care, it’s almost too much. My heart feels like it’s overflowing, spilling over with everything I’ve been holding in.

He kisses me again, deeper this time, and I lose myself in the steady rhythm of his breathing, the warmth of his hands as they explore every inch of me, the way he makes me feel like the most important person in the world.

It’s slow, deliberate, every touch and kiss carries feelings we cannot put into words. When he finally pulls back, his hand cupping my face, I see in his eyes the promise of a lifetime together, the kind of love that doesn’t fade.

For a while, we just lie there, tangled together, the morning light spilling across the room and wrapping us in its warmth. There’s a quiet intimacy in the stillness, a sense that this moment belongs to us alone.

His fingers thread through mine again, brushing over the ring on my finger, I can’t help but smile. This is it. This is everything.

twenty-eight

THE LUCKIEST - BEN FOLDS

OWEN - APRIL 19, 2014

The late morning sunlight streams through the window, casting long shadows across the hardwood floor. Ruby is dozing in her bouncer, one tiny hand clutching the edge of her blanket, while Sara sits on the couch, completely engrossed in her cartoons. Callie is still upstairs, probably texting Taylor and Brooke, judging by the occasional burst of laughter I hear from the bedroom.

I glance at my phone sitting on the counter, knowing it’s about time I let the guys know what’s happened. A grin tugs at my lips as I grab it and open our group chat, scrolling up to see what I’ve missed since I wasn’t paying attention to my phone last night.

Predictably, chaos is already in full swing.

Luke has added Hunter Holloway to the Chat.

Hunter owns the bar where the guys threw my turnout party after I finished my apprenticeship last year. Since we went back to the bar a while back, he’s become one of the guys. I’m glad to see Luke has added him to our group chat. I don’t know why I didn’t think to do that before.

Luke:

Fuck my life. Heather just bought a $400 purse, and I’m trying to figure out how to survive on bread and water for the rest of the month.

Vince:

Rookie mistake.

Will:

This is why you don’t let them near your credit card.

Hunter:

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