Page 101 of Owen North

I’m not certain, but I think I just fell a little further.

For a girl who only wanted sex for a year, I’m fast falling my way to so much more.

22

Charlize

“So, when’s the next wedding?” I ask Seth when he joins Poppy and me for a drink. She and I started two hours ago and have spent that time mixing these strawberry cocktails she discovered in Italy, drinking a few too many of them, and catching up on every single thing we’ve both done over the past two weeks since her wedding. And when I say “every single thing”, I mean every.single.thing. Poppy and I don’t ever skip details. That’s why Seth wasn’t here when I arrived. He’s sat through enough Zooms with us to know of our love for details, a love he doesn’t share.

He glances at his wife before looking back at me. “To who?”

Poppy smacks him. “To me. Seriously, if you think you’re ever marrying anyone else, you’re dreaming. Charles and I will unalive her, cut her up, and bury her before I’ll ever allow you to do that.”

He’s amused. “Unalive?”

I grin. “Yes, that’s how married women speak, Seth. They speak differently to the rest of us.”

“Right,” he says to Poppy. “I’m impressed with your dedication to ensuring she never takes another breath, but cutting her up seems extreme, sweetheart.”

“Never,” I declare, taking a sip of my Rossini. “A girl can’t ever be too careful when it comes to these things.”

Seth laughs and Poppy eyes him with an arched brow. “I’m being deadly serious, darling. The only weddings of yours in your future are to me. And our next one is in six months. Start thinking about where our honeymoon will be.”

A text comes through on my phone and when I attempt to pick it up, I drop it. Then, when I bend to retrieve it, I hit my head on the table on the way up.

“How many of those cocktails have you girls had?” Seth asks while I swipe at my phone to unlock it after seeing Owen’s name on the screen.

“Not enough,” Poppy says.

“Oh my God,” I mutter as my swipes are unsuccessful. “Definitely not enough, but also”—I look up at him—“maybe too many. Either that, or my phone is being difficult and trying to keep this message from Owen from me.”

I swipe some more and finally unlock it.

I can’t open Owen’s text fast enough. I haven’t seen him since I left his condo this morning because he was out of the office all day. We’ve texted a few times, and holy hot sexting, who knew texts could be so dirty? Not me.

He wanted to cook dinner for me tonight, but I told him I never abandon my friends for a guy. Seeing Poppy tonight was my priority even if my vagina is mad at me for that decision. I really like that Owen didn’t try to convince me otherwise.

I’m not sure if I’m disappointed his text now isn’t filthy. A girl could do with some good foreplay before her late-night date with her vibrator.

Owen: We haven’t talked about the weekend yet. Are you free tomorrow for a hike?

I look up at Poppy. “Do you think ‘hiking’ could be code for sex?”

Seth laughs and Poppy says, “Charles, everything is code for sex when it comes to a man.‘Pancakes for breakfast, sweetheart?’Sex in the kitchen.‘I’m doing laundry today.’Sex on the washing machine.‘Let’s play chess.’You can ride my dick while I figure out my next move.”

“Right,” I say. “I’m taking it chess is another one of those married women things.”

I go back to my text.

Charlize: If ‘hike’ is code for sex, yes. If it isn’t, maybe.

Owen: What are the maybe conditions?

Charlize: Three hours max. I am not a hike-all-day kind of girl, Owen. And after, I’m going to need to fill that huge bath of yours with bubbles, and you’re going to have to bring me food.

Owen: Done. I’ll pick you up at six.

Charlize: I wasn’t finished with my conditions. This body is only available for hiking after seven a.m.

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