Way Back into Love ↪ Owen Grady

nineteen ↪ loose!

    Owen widened his eyes at the sight of the loose brachiosaurus in the middle of the park. We all sprinted outside and stopped a few feet away from the gigantic dinosaur.

    "Have fun leading that back to the valley" Michael's challenged behind us. Jerk. "Test number one"

    ACU rushed on the platform and surrounded the dinosaur. I could see Owen in the middle of an inside battle. He looked like he was about to punch Michael, but also didn't want ACU to shoot at the poor thing. He eventually groaned and sprang towards the armed men with his hands up. "Do not shoot!"

    "Any ideas?" I asked Claire and Lowery.

    "Maybe your stiggy can help" Lowery shrugged.

    "Wait, I've got one better" I excitedly informed.

    I grabbed one of the radios and asked Claire to give one to Owen. Dyson hopped on a four-wheeler, probably having had the same idea. I jumped behind him so he sprinted all the way to the valley. Strangely, every herbivore dinosaur was hyped. Did they drug the dinos?! I got off the quad when it stopped and climbed up the closest tree. I ripped off a couple of leaves from the tallest branches, having trouble avoiding the rest of the brachiosaurus pack during their feeding time. When I jumped down the tree, I picked up the radio.

    "Owen, do you copy?"

    "Loud and clear, babe" he blurted out. I was pretty sure Michael was standing somewhere near him at that point and he was just playing around. I frowned and abruptly stopped walking. A mix of excitement and disappointment messed with my head. "Elle?"

    "Yeah, uh, be ready"

    Dyson eyed me and raised an eyebrow at my sudden change of mood. He fortunately didn't question it, but eventually spoke up anyway. "I really need you to know something"

    I hopped back on the four-wheeler and glanced up at him before he could get on too.

    "That night. Our date. I spoke to Roger and he had no idea I had to work the night shift also"

    I quirked an eyebrow at his words, not quite getting the point. "Owen has the authority to check everyone's shift and eventually call us when there are changes. He called me that night, telling me I had to work a couple of more hours"

    My heart stopped for a second. What?! — "He made up a shift so you wouldn't come to the date?"

    "Yeah. Just thought you needed to know before, you know, getting serious with him"

    I nodded half-heartedly. I didn't know how to take it. Good thing? Bad thing? Definitely bad thing. But he did it for me though. Geez, boy! — Dyson climbed on the quad and sprinted back to the park. Everything was as we left it, Michael standing near Owen as expected.

    When the vehicle stopped, I calmly climbed down, no enthusiasm whatsoever. Owen snapped his eyes on me with a confused look, moving then the attention to Dyson, probably only now realizing all the things he could have said to me. I grabbed all the leaves, which were surprisingly heavy, and walked towards my crush.

    "Lift me up" I flatly requested.

    Owen's frown was heartbreaking. "Are you okay?"

    "Just lift me up"

    The raptor trainer weakly nodded and did as requested, making me land on his shoulders where I sat. I looked up at the brachiosaurus, obviously still much taller than us. "Hey Jupi girl, down here!"