Page 145 of Pucking Tangled
“How the fuck did I not know that?”
“I’ve always kept shit close to my chest. Besides, before all of this, it’s not like you and I hung out and talked about anything personal. We barely saw each other outside of the locker room, even though we live in the same house.”
Waylon stayed silent for a beat, letting Owen’s words sink in. “Yeah. You’re right. I’m sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize.” Owen shook his head.
Waylon bumped Owen’s shoulder lightly with his own. “We’re better off now, though. Right? You, me, the chaos crew out there.”
Owen finally smiled. “Yeah. We are.”
“You’ve got Tessa and Tyson,” Waylon added. “And I’ve got...you guys.”
“Yeah. You do.”
Waylon looked over at him, his expression a little softer now. “Just so you know, you don’t have to carry it alone.”
Owen nodded. “Neither do you.”
Mia poked her head in. “Are you two having a bro-motional moment in here without us?”
Waylon called back, “We’re forming a trauma bond, leave us alone!”
But his grin had real warmth in it now. And Owen’s chest didn’t feel as tight anymore.
“You gonna tell them?” Waylon asked.
“Casey knows, but I guess Luca and Mia deserve to know too, huh?”
“They do.”
Owen finished his coffee and set the mug in the sink before looking back at Waylon. “You know I really hate when you’re right, Waylon.”
They stepped out into the backyard together.
The sun was warming up fast, but not uncomfortably so, and for a moment, Owen just let himself stand there, taking it all in. This group. This weird, chaotic, chosen family.
“You good?” Luca looked up and asked.
Owen nodded once. “Yeah.”
Mia turned, a small crease between her brows. “You sure?”
Owen hesitated, then he pulled out a chair across from them and took a seat.
“I was talking to Waylon in the kitchen,” he said. “About family stuff.”
Luca’s expression softened immediately. Mia shifted slightly, giving Owen all of her focus.
He took a breath.
“I realized I’ve never really talked to you guys about mine.”
Mia blinked. “You don’t have to?—”
“I want to,” he said.
It was Luca who nodded this time, quiet and steady. “Okay.”
