Page 102 of Just for Fun
With all the ideas swirling in my head, a plan sort of hatches. I don’t know if it will work, but I have to at least try. I grab my phone and look up Owen’s phone number. I did a quick search for it once I knew I wanted to be in Zara’s life for as long as she’d have me. Now, I’m glad I did that.
“If this is a scammer calling,” Owen growls into the phone in greeting, “Know that I will find you. And I will kill you.”
Struggling not to laugh, I clear my throat a couple of times.
“Owen, this is Kyle.”
Silence comes over the line. I half expect him to grab me by the throat through the imaginary line and actually strangle me to death.
“Well, lookie there, it is a scammer after all,” he says.
“Dude, I need to explain.”
He laughs. “You better think again before you call medude. You lost that right when you broke my sister’s heart.”
“I didn’t, though,” I rush to say. “It was my friend who was an asshole to her. I didn’t know. I went to get a water for Zara, and by the time I came back, she…”
“Why would you leave her by herself at a party where she doesn’t know anyone?”
“I didn’t think,” I admit. “I thought she was having a good time with everyone, and that…”
“Why would you tell your friends about…” He hesitates for a second. “About you being her first?” It’s almost as if he shudders at the end of the question.
“I swear to fuck I had only talked to Alex about it. I was scared. I’d never been with anyone so innocent before. I… I fucked up.”
Owen sighs into the phone, and I brace myself for whatever he is about to unleash on me, only grateful that I am not doing this in person. It’s safe to say I would shit my pants.
“Why did you call?”
I start pulling on my hair again. “I need to talk to Zara. I want to make sure she is okay…”
“She’s fine.”
“I want to see that for myself,” I insist.
“Nothing to see, though.”
I let out a frustrated growl. “I am begging you to help me, Owen. Please help me talk to Zara. I need to talk to her. I need her to know how sorry I am that shit happened the way that it did. I need her to know that I’ve fallen in love with her, and Ihope we can figure out if we have a future together. I’m a fuck-up when it comes to her and love, and I am begging for a chance to make it right.”
Out of fear of him hanging up on me, I speak fast. By the time I’m done, I feel out of breath and like I ran a marathon.
“No.”
It’s just one word, not even a long one, but it holds such a punch, it’s as if my heart has been ripped out of my chest.
“Owen, please. I’m begging you…”
He growls, but I can’t tell if it is in approval or denial.
“Fine.”
I could cry with relief.
“But there are conditions,” he adds.
“Anything, dude!” I catch myself. “Man… Owen…”
“First, cut your fucking hair,” he tells me. “I could deal with it when my sister was happy with you. Now that I know what a fuckwit you are, it has to go.”
