Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Owen

“I didn’t say anything about love.”

Gracie scoffed at me. It didn’t matter how much older than her I was or the fact that I didn’t get to spend any time with her growing up, she knew me better than the rest of my family and didn’t have a problem calling me out on my shit.

“You didn’t have to. It’s written all over your face.”

Oh great. Just what a man wants to hear.

“Remind me why I agreed to you moving here?”

Gracie gave me her dazzling smile. The same one that worked on our parents her whole life. Being the baby had its perks.

“Because you love me and saying no to me is not something you’ve learned to do yet.”

The little wrench was too smart for her own damn good. I was tempted to swipe the smirk off but I never would. She was right and saying anything otherwise would be a lie. I didn’t make a habit of lying to my family.

“I better go see if Annalee is hiding in the shower. She likes to take long ones when she can’t face something.”

The first day she stayed in my house was burned into my brain. And it wasn’t just because I saw her naked. I thought I was going to have to bust down the door to drag her out of the bathroom that day.

“Oh, the shower turned off a while ago. If I had to guess, she’s hiding in the hall listening to our conversation.” Gracie shrugged her shoulder like what she just said didn’t send me into a panic. “It’s what I would be doing if I was her.”

I didn’t have time to say anything before Gracie skipped out of the kitchen. Quite literally too damn smug for her own good.

“Oh, look! I love when I’m right!” Gracie hollered from the hallway.

The next second Annalee was being shoved into the kitchen with a scowl on her face. There was no missing the cackling from Gracie but at least she was kind enough to take it as far away from the kitchen as possible.

“I wasn’t eavesdropping.”

The guilt on her face said otherwise, so I quirked my brow and waited to see if she was going to tell me the truth.

I didn’t have to wait long.

“Fine, I was eavesdropping, but in my defense, I’ve already confessed how impulsive I am, so this shouldn’t surprise you.”

I walked straight over to her since she had yet to move from where she landed after Gracie shoved her into the kitchen.

Maybe this was a blessing in disguise.

Or maybe my sister was an evil mastermind.

It was more than likely the latter.

“What exactly did you hear?”

I could see her throat move from the big gulp she took. It would be interesting to know if she was going to try and lie her way out of this or tell me the truth.

“I heard your sister mention love.”

The truth it was.

Good.

“And how did you feel about my response?”

We were standing toe to toe, but other than our feet, no other part of our bodies were touching. Yet we were close enough that I could see her chest rising faster than it normally would. I bet if I placed my hand along her neck, her pulse would be pounding at a higher rate of speed.

“You didn’t really give one, except to evade the topic.”

I smiled. “Touché. Would you like to know what I wanted to say?”

I wasn’t sure why I suddenly wanted to confess my feelings when I wasn’t entirely sure what they were but the need to reassure her was suddenly important to me.

Annalee opened her mouth but no words came out. She did however manage to nod yes.

“I’m falling for you. I have been before I even met you. I’ve tried to guard against it in case you chose not to stay, but I can’t do it anymore.”

I didn’t say the actual words. I had to keep something for myself in case she decided she didn’t feel the same. Then I could say she didn’t completely break my heart.

It would be a lie. My heart was already gone even if I never gave it permission.

“I think I’m falling for you, too.”

“You think?” I frowned and once again Annalee was throwing up her hands. I was starting to see she did that a lot when she was frustrated.

“Well, how the hell am I supposed to know? The only people I’ve ever loved were my mother and father and this”—she pointed back and forth between us—“feels nothing like that, so yeah, I’m going with I think.”

She was so damn cute when she was flustered. Would she slap me if I told her as much?

Most likely.

Better to keep that to myself for the time being.

“You don’t sound very happy about it.”

There went the hands again.

“I’m not unhappy about it. It’s just another reason for me to be confused about my future and where I want to be.”

Her declaration brought everything crashing down real quick. How could I possibly forget about her wanting to leave? It was all we ever talked about lately.

“I’d follow you. If you really thought Baton Rouge would make you happier, then I would follow you there.”

The words were out of my mouth before I could think about it but I realized they were the truth. I wasn’t tied to Willow Creek like my friends were. I hadn’t wanted to come in the first place, so leaving wouldn’t be that big of a deal to me. Not if it meant I got Annalee in the end.

“Your sister just moved here for you.”

“Okay, and she would probably move again when she found out. If not, then she could have the house. It would save her from having to look for another place.”

“You would do that for me?”

I was sick of the space between us. Even if it was only a few inches, I wanted her in my arms.

“I would do that for the chance of seeing where this could lead. I’ve never had this feeling before and I’m not too keen on ignoring it. I would rather see what we could be than to live the rest of my life wondering what could have been.”

Annalee tucked herself into my side. “We should’ve figured this out before your sister came to town. That way we could’ve had a few good nights of not having to be quiet in bed.”

I nuzzled her neck. “Are you telling me you’re a screamer? I can tell my sister she needs to wear her noise-cancelling headphones tonight.”

“Don’t worry, I already plan on wearing them!” Gracie yelled from what sounded like the living room.

I shook my head. “I should’ve known you would be eavesdropping!”

Annalee’s cheeks were the sexiest shade of pink and I was tempted to tell my sister she needed those headphones now. Screw waiting until tonight.

“Yes, you should have.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” I whispered in Annalee’s ear. “Are you a screamer?”

Annalee nodded. Probably too embarrassed to say the words out loud.

That wouldn’t do. I wanted her to be confident about what we did together.

“I can’t wait to get you back into my bed tonight. I fully plan to see how loud I can get you to yell my name.”