Accepting Owen (Emilia's Perspective)

Chapter Five

"I should take you home," Owen said, stroking my cheek.

How long have I been laying in his lap? He had been running his fingers through my hair for what felt like hours. "I... dont think I have to go."

He smiled softly down at me, raising his eyebrows. "You want to stay?"

"I don't know. Should I?"

"I really don't know. I won't mind if you do, but are you sure you're comfortable with that?"

"Maybe not tonight," I mumbled. I didn't want to be away from him, but I felt a little like he was intoxicating. I wanted to be sure I wasn't losing myself to him. Somehow, I had immediately opened up and let him in like it was nothing.

He rubbed my back as I sat up. "Take your time. I won't push you."

"Well, after Saturday, my dad won't let me back in the house, so I'll definitely be here then." I noticed him watching my lips as I talked, so I leaned closer. "Are you listening?" I whispered.

"I'm listening," he whispered back, without lifting his eyes.

I kissed him softly at first, but quickly I found myself shifting positions, pulling him with me so we were facing each other on the couch. I pulled away, gasping for breath, and he wrapped one hand around the back of my neck, using the other to pull me into his lap.

He rested his back against the arm of the couch, holding me against his chest. His hand absentmindedly traced up and down my spine, as I kissed him again. His lips were so soft and graceful as they moved against mine. He looped his arms around me so could crush my body up against him.

When I broke free of his mouth again, he smiled at me. "Something about knowing you're mine," he mumbled, shaking his head in confusion. "I don't know what it is, but it's so comforting." He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "And you fit perfectly," he joked, stroking my back.

"I feel it, the comfort. It's strange, but I love it!" My phone vibrated on his coffee table, so I reached for it. "Oh, shit," I grumbled. "I didn't even tell Malia!"

"A friend I'm assuming?" Owen asked.

"She's been my best friend forever. She asked if I'm going to come out tonight. She's sent me a bunch of messages all day, actually. Give me just a second."

I fired off a quick message back to her reading, "Sorry. Dad picked a man for me. I'm getting married Saturday. Been a really busy day."

I tossed my phone back onto the coffee table and pulled my hair down from the bun it was in. I shook it loose with my fingers, relishing at the relief from the pressure on my scalp being gone.

"Your hair is so long," Owen remarked, twirling a strand between his fingers.

I shifted to get more comfortable and my hair fell forward, laying over his face.

He laughed heartily. "Of course!" he shouted, pushing my hair out of his eyes."It smells amazing!"

I couldn't contain the giggles. "I just washed it at four this morning."

"Your phone is ringing," he said with a nod towards it.

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "I'm sorry."

He reached for it with his long arms, and handed it to me without looking.

"Mal," I answered. "I'm busy right now."

"You seriously didn't think you could just text me that and then not respond?" She questioned. "You're getting married in like two days and you think you're just gonna ignore me until then?"

"Uh, kind of. I'm trying to... create a relationship with the man who's about to be my husband. So, unfortunately, for right now, my concern is with the person I'm going to be marrying."

"Well why didn't you text me when you met him? I have so many questions!"

"Because I was hungover and a little distracted." I cupped my hand over my phone and my mouth, whispering, "He's really hot."

He chuckled, his torso still trapped between my legs.

"Well, can I get his name so I can at least look him up on Facebook?"

"His name is Owen. I don't actually... What is your last name?" I asked him.

He licked his lips. "My name is Owen Samuele Mancini. If she's looking for my Facebook, tell her to look for Samuele Mancini."

I said, "I knew my dad wouldn't pick someone who wasn't Italian."

At the same time, Malia said, "His voice!"

"Mal, I really don't have time to talk right now. When I get home, I'll call you and we can gossip."

"He is hot," she remarked, ignoring what I'd said.

"Malia, I'll call you later."

"Yeah, okay. So what time is the wedding and where?"

"It's Saturday at four. Uh-"

Owen slipped the phone from my hand and pressed the speakerphone button. "We'll be at the Ledgecrest Reserve," he answered.

"What's the vibe?" She asked.

"It's a wedding, so, formal," Owen answered swiftly.

"Oh, he's cocky like you, too," Mal said excitedly.

"Great, so I'll call you later. I love you, goodbye." I hung up quickly before she could respond with anymore questions. "Do you go by Owen or Sam more?" I asked.

"I go by either. I was born in America, but my dad was the first in his family to immigrate here. My  mother is American, so she wanted me to have an American name."

I rubbed at my face, before covering my mouth to yawn.

"You're tired. Let me take you home."

I stood from his lap, even though I wanted to kiss him more, or do anything but break the physical connection we'd been having. I was just too exhausted to argue against leaving. "I'm not sure I want to go now," I complained.

He stood, and kissed my forehead. "Maybe you can stay tomorrow. You need to feel completely comfortable before we spend a night together."

I sighed. "Fine."

When we pulled up in front of my dad's house, he asked for my phone, and I handed it over to him. He added his number in my contacts and told me, "If you feel overwhelmed or scared, or you just want to talk, call me. It doesn't matter what time it is." He copied my number into his contacts, and handed my phone back to me. "I'll text you in the morning to see when you want me to come get you."

"Call me in the morning to wake me up if I sleep in," I said as I unbuckled my seatbelt.

He stepped out of the Explorer, and held my hand as we walked to the door. His hand, as I was growing accustomed to, held my cheek as he kissed me. "Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow. Get some rest."

My bottom lip was shaking slightly, so I pulled it between my teeth to still it. "Goodnight. Don't forget to wake me up if I sleep in, if I sleep at all."

He kissed my cheek before taking a step away. "You need rest. You don't want to look like you have black eyes on your wedding day."

"That's very true! I'll do my best to sleep." I watched him as he walked backwards a few steps, then turned around to walk to his car. My heart was racing, and I wasn't sure it was the right thing to be apart from him.

I stood by the front door, until his taillights faded into the darkness, and finally headed inside.