Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 64929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
I wasn’t sure if it would be any easier now, but even though it didn’t make any sense, I knew I was ready. Owen hesitated, but he nodded. “Yeah,” he said slowly. “I think that’d be a good idea.” He glanced in that direction. “What do you want to do with it? You know, when it’s all… cleaned out and all?”
My stomach started to whirl. The first thought that came to my head was just… too much. I wasn’t going to say wrong because we’d kind of plowed past that in the last couple of days, and I really didn’t care. But would it freak him out? I went back and forth mentally for so long that he finally gave me one of those what’s-your-problem looks.
“Um, guest room?” Wimp.
Owen snorted. “Yeah, right. Try again, I’m not a moron.”
“It’s a big enough bed for both of us… someday. I know we haven’t exactly talked about stuff and you might not want that, and I’m jumping the gun and clearly nuts, but I like this… I like us like this, and I don’t want to sleep by myself unless you want space from me because I know I’m a worrier and might drive you crazy but—”
Owen finally broke in, thankfully stopping my rambling mess. “And here I thought you’d freak if I told you I wanted to use it as a part-time kennel,” Owen said smugly. “A bedroom’s a little less fun, but it’d be nice not to have to cram into that little bed of yours so I can take care of you better.”
My brother’s smile faltered a little, though. “Not right away. Not until like… we’ve painted, and moved things around, and… burned the mattress. You know, the usual.” He offered a sheepish grin. “All right, we’ll wait to burn the mattress until we can get a new one, but I’m scrubbing that bitch clean. I don’t even want to know what went on in that room.”
I ignored the icky images that tried to pop into my head. It was easy, because all I really could focus on was that one word.
“A kennel?” I knew he was teasing but… I’d never even thought about something like that. It was insane. Wasn’t it?
“Everything I said, and that’s all you got out of it?” His snarky grin widened. “Um, yes, sorry.” What else had he said? “No burning the mattress. I think that would break fire regulations, and I have no idea how the insurance on the house works, so burning it down would be bad.” It took a minute before the rest of his words sank in. “My bed is too small if we sleep in it every night, you know, like a couple would. But yeah, we don’t have to rush. Painting and fixing it up would be a good idea.”
“I dunno,” Owen said, shrugging and stealing a kiss. “I think a lot of couples are stuck sleeping in uncomfortable, tiny beds. It’s an excuse to cuddle close, yeah?” “Couples? That’s really how you see us?” The words he’d said earlier were still fresh in my mind, but I had to be sure — before I fell any further. Owen tensed. For a moment, I was afraid I’d said something wrong and he was going to pull away from me. He didn’t, though his voice was quieter, more cautious, as he replied, “Well, two’s a couple, and we’re… two people doing… two people things… together…”
Was my brother actually at a loss for words? It seemed like that was as much as he was going to be able to get out, so I took a slightly shaky breath and plowed forward, praying I didn’t sound like a moron or make a fool of myself. “I want to be a couple. I know it’s not what I’m supposed to want but… but it’s not the same anymore and I like it. I love it. I love you, and I don’t want to lose you or what’s happening between us.” And that sounded like a sappy movie made to make everyone cry. Could I be any more of a dork?
He wet his lips with his tongue. For a moment, I saw the uncertainty beneath the mask. “You know we can’t be… together, openly. Not here.” Before I could respond, he went on, “But… we don’t have to stay here. After I graduate, after you finish your internship. I could transfer out. We could go somewhere else.” A smirk, shaky but still there, flitted across his lips. “Then having the same last name wouldn’t seem weird or anything…”
A flood of emotions ran through me, and I wasn’t sure I could describe them all even if I wanted to. It was overwhelming and incredible. I’d always heard people say that life changed on a dime, but I never understood how that could be possible.