Page 15 of Fragile Hearts

She swallows, blinking at me as she says, “Yeah, that’s cool.”

When the credits on the movie roll, I turn to Sloane, who’s curled into the corner of the couch, her eyes glued to the screen. “Okay, verdict?”

She lets out a laugh, stretching her legs out so they rest on the coffee table. “That was totally a car movie, Owen,” she says, grinning at me.

“But not just a car movie, am I right?”

Her grin turns to a smirk as she shakes her head a little. “Maybe not just,” she says, glancing at the screen again. “So like, how many of them are there?”

“Oh, there are twelve of them if you count the spin-off.”

“Twelve?” Sloane repeats, her eyes wide.

“Yep, twelve. It’s legit got a cult following, you know. The early ones are kinda old now, obviously, but my cousin got me onto them, and now I’m hooked.”

Sloane laughs, shaking her head a little as she says, “Okay, guess I better watch all of them then.”

“So that’s your pick for next week?”

“Guess you’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?” she teases, and I swear, I think I fall even harder for this girl every day.

The next day, Sloane and I both wake early, having coffee and breakfast on the deck again before Sloane leaves for class and I leave for work. When I walk into the shop, both Flynn and Alana are already there, and she greets me with a smile as she says, “So, Mochi’s moving in too, huh?”

I roll my eyes as Flynn laughs, leaning back against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. “You said it yourself, Alana, he misses Sloane. Letting him move in is the right thing to do,” I tell her.

“Riiiiiight,” she says, walking over to stand beside Flynn, who immediately throws an arm around her shoulders and pulls her close. “Pretty sure you’re also trying to score brownie points with your new roommate,” she adds.

I smirk at her, my gaze flicking to Flynn, who’s grinning at me. “Just trying to make her feel at home,” I say. “Anyway, aren’t you two heading to Oahu soon for Pipe Masters? Who was gonna look after Mochi then?”

Alana snorts out a laugh. “Yep, keep telling yourself that’s why you’re doing this, Owen.”

Flynn rolls her into him, pressing a kiss to her temple as he says, “Don’t be too mean, babe. Owen here has been pining for his girl for ages. He’s just trying to up his game now.”

I scoff, shaking my head at them both. “Whatever,” I reply.

Flynn laughs. “You know it’s true, dude. You said it yourself; you’re just waiting for the right time, and I think now that Sloane is living with you, it’s totally the right time.”

“Jesus,” I reply, shaking my head at both of them. “Just because you two are surfing world’s new power couple, don’t think you can just start doling out relationship advice,” I say, teasing them a little.

Alana smiles, looking up at Flynn as she says, “Are we surfing world’s new power couple?” There’s a playful tone to her voice, and I know she’s loving every second of this.

“Fuck yeah we are,” Flynn replies, just as Nate and Sage come in through the back door to the shop.

“You are what?” Nate asks, looking from Flynn to me.

“Surfing world’s new power couple,” Alana says.

Nate snorts out a laugh, rolling his eyes as he says, “Oh my god, I see placing at Pipe has gone straight to your head.”

Alana reaches over, punching Nate in the arm as Flynn laughs, pulling her back to him. “You know it’s true, Petersen,” he says with a grin. “But looks like you won’t need to look after Mochi next month because Owen here is upping his game and letting the fluffball move in with him and Sloane.”

I groan as Sage lets out an excited yelp, clapping her hands as she turns to me and asks, “How’s it all going? Has Sloane settled in? Don’t forget her favorite food is from that dive place at the other end of Turtle Beach.”

I slow-blink, my gaze moving around my circle of friends, who are all standing there grinning at me as I wonder when this suddenly turned into a relationship advice session. I don’t need their advice when it comes to Sloane. I know exactly what I’m doing, even if the fact she’s turned me down for more dinners than I can count suggests otherwise.

“He misses her,” I blurt out, and they all burst out laughing.

“Yep, you keep telling yourself that,” Nate says, giving me a thumbs-up, before he turns to Alana. “Now, are we working this morning or are we gossiping?”

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