Page 103 of Fragile Hearts

Owen: Where you at, babe?

Me: Meet me out front right now.

* * *

A few seconds later, Owen is coming out the front door, just a pair of boardshorts on, minus the T-shirt as usual. It makes me laugh thinking about how he would be shirtless everywhere if it were acceptable. It’s something I love about him.

“Driving my car, huh?” he says as he opens the passenger door and plucks Mochi from the seat.

“I love your big SUV, but I needed it for something. I hope that’s okay.”

“With you, everything is always okay,” he replies, smiling, and I walk over and kiss him softly.

“There’s something in the back. Something big. Go put Mochi in the house, and I’ll help you get it out,” I tell him, and he narrows his eyes at me, a questioning look on his face.

But he does what I ask, meeting me back outside, and I open the back of the SUV to reveal the tarp-covered canvas.

“What is this?”

“It’s for you,” I whisper, leaning into his side. “I wanted to have something made for you from me. Something that shows you how much you mean to me. You have everything in the world, so it was a little tough to come up with something, but this is it.” That last line is said with a playful quality, and Owen lets out a chuckle.

I motion to the oversized item and then put my hands on the end to begin removing it, and Owen follows suit.

“Don’t take the tarp off till we’re inside,” I all but demand, and he nods his agreement, silently carrying it into the house.

Once we’re in, leaning it against the couch, I remove the tarp, revealing what Nate has created.

Owen’s eyes go wide, and he looks at me and then back at the painting.

“It’s us,” I tell him, my heart hammering so hard in my chest that I can feel it everywhere.

“I know it’s us. It’s gorgeous, babe.”

Walking over to me, he pulls me into his arms, holding me to him. I melt against him, our bodies fitting together like two pieces of a puzzle.

Perfect.

“I wanted something to show how much I love you,” I say, my head resting against his chest, his chin dropping to the top of my head. “Nate captured us in a way I could never put into words.”

“I love it,” Owen whispers, his fingers coming to rest under my chin, tipping my face up to look at him now. “And I love you so fucking much.”

“I love you too.”

It’s been a week or so since Sloane’s mom got arrested, and when I walk into the kitchen, Sloane is standing by the island, her phone in her hand and her eyes glued to the screen.

“Hey, everything okay?” I ask, dropping an arm around her shoulders as I press a kiss to her temple.

She turns to me, an easy smile on her face that is definitely more frequent these past few weeks. “Yeah, just got a text telling me that Jenna has left and is on her way to California.”

“How are you feeling about that?” I ask, squeezing her shoulder.

“Good,” she says with a nod, dropping her phone on the counter. “I’m not wasting any more time on her. That part of my life is officially over.”

I pull her into me so we are facing each other, circling my arms around her shoulders. “Good,” I say, giving her a quick kiss. “And I know I’ve said this before, but if you ever change your mind and want to go and see her, you know I’ll make it happen.”

Sloane smiles up at me as she presses up on her toes to kiss me again. “I know you will. Thank you.”

“Anything for you, babe,” I tell her.

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