Page 77 of ICED
It’s not that I don’twantto go. Sophie invited my herself, after Owen had asked me and I said I’d think about it. She’s been nothing but lovely, texting me updates on her morning sickness and asking about the cupcakes with actual excitement.
But still.
I don’t belong in that world. Not really. I’ve lived too many years in the shadows, blending in, making myself small. I don’t know how to stand next to a man like Owen and not feel like everyone’s wondering what the hell he’s doing withme.
“Mummy?”
Lila’s voice breaks through the storm in my head.
She tilts her head, frowning. “Are we not going?”
I swallow. “We are.”
And just like that, there’s a knock at the door.
My pulse spikes. “That’ll be…”
“BEAR!” Lila squeals, launching herself off the bed like a tiny cannonball.
I follow her down the hall, heart tap dancing in my chest. I open the door to find Owen standing there with a box of cupcakes balanced on one hand and a grin that hits me square in the ribs.
He’s in a navy jumper and jeans. Hair still damp from a shower. He looks unfairly good for a man who once told me he owns seven identical black t-shirts.
“Morning, girls.”
Lila is already clinging to his leg. “Bear, look! I’ve got wings!”
“I see that,” he chuckles, squatting to her level. “Are you going to fly around the party and sprinkle fairy dust on everyone?”
“Imight.”
He winks. “You’re my favourite fairy.”
She beams, and my chest does that soft ache again.
When he straightens, he turns to me, eyes raking over the navy wrap dress I finally chose.
“You look…” He whistles, low and admiring. “Maya. You’re gonna start a riot.”
Heat crawls up my neck. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Not even a little.”
I shake my head, but I’m smiling.
And then his voice softens. “You okay?”
I don’t answer right away.
Instead, I gesture to the tray of cupcakes, all carefully iced and filled with blue or pink cream depending on the gender Sophie and Murphy gave us last week. “If I say no, do you still want the cupcakes?”
He grins. “Always. But I’d rather have you.”
God. I hate how he does that. Cuts through all the noise in my head as though it’s nothing. Like my worry isn’t the loudest thing in the room.
“You don’t have to come if you’re not up for it,” he says gently. “I’ll tell them something came up.”
I glance at Lila, who’s now spinning again, wings catching the light. And then at Owen, who’s holding out his free hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
