Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 184(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 184(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
“I understand, sir,” she says in defeat.
“With that,” Judge Rowe murmurs, “consider this resolved.”
Finally. I hope that’s the end of it.
Smoke & Sugar is busy with their lunchtime crowd, but we secured a table big enough for everyone. Christopher picked up Carol along the way and Owen’s kids met us here. It’s strange to think that several months ago, I was so lonely I couldn’t stand it. Now, my relationship with Mom is improving more and more each day and I have two more families to join mine. Maybe Marrying Owen was the best thing Mom ever could have done for us because it brought me to him and forced her to go after her own happiness.
Owen has my chair close to his and drapes a possessive arm around the back of it. I lean into him, inhaling his familiar, comforting scent. Addison babbles to Penny about some show they’re going to watch later. Cason regales Carol with his investigative journalism YouTube page while Mom and Christopher listen with interest. Rhett sulks and rapid-fire texts on his phone. I’m not sure what that’s all about.
“Everything okay with Rhett?” I ask Owen softly.
“He’s struggling with something,” he murmurs. “I’ve been trying to get it out of him, but I think he’s keeping things from me for my own stress levels. I think I’m just going to have to get him alone and force it out of him.”
Guilt niggles at me. When Owen’s not at work and I’m not in class, we spend every waking moment together. I hope it’s not hurting his relationship with his oldest son.
Rhett catches me staring at him and he smirks. It has relief flooding through me. I’m grateful for Rhett’s friendship. Of all Owen’s kids, I have the most in common with Rhett. He has good taste in music, and he got me obsessed with watching soccer. I’ve even gone to the movies and shopping with him and his girlfriend a few times when Owen had to work. Now that I’m not babysitting Penny so much in the evenings, I’m free to have friends and hang out. I thought I’d be sad, but it’s been nice.
I playfully stick my tongue out at Rhett which causes him to smile.
“Maybe if I can’t get it out of him,” Owen says, “you can. I know you guys have coffee time after I head to work in the mornings before class.”
“I’ll try.” And I will. This is my family now.
Soon, our meals are brought out, and we celebrate with good food and even better company.
I wake with a start, sensing Owen getting out of bed. I’m exhausted, but his safety is my priority. I slip out of bed and trail after him. He moves quickly and races down the stairs. My heartbeat hammers in my chest, fully waking me by the time I reach the bottom.
In the past when he sleepwalked—which has been fewer than a handful of times in the past couple of months—he went straight to the backyard. This time, he heads for the living room. Something soft under my foot has me halting.
A rose petal.
No, a trail of them leading toward the fireplace.
There, standing in front of the fire with more roses than I’ve ever seen in one place, is Owen, grinning and wide awake.
“What is this?” I say, confused at the romantic gesture.
He hooks a finger and motions for me to come to him. In only his black boxers, all his golden muscles are on full display. Heat burns through me that has nothing to do with the fire.
“I need to ask you a question, angel.”
When he kneels, my breath catches in my throat. Then, he takes my hand and kisses the back of it.
“You were a blast of sunshine in my heart the second I laid eyes on you. I knew, right then, you were mine. It didn’t make sense and it was insanely stupid, but I knew.” He flashes me a handsome grin that melts me to my core. “Will you marry me, Mei?”
“When?”
He produces a pretty diamond engagement ring from his other hand and holds it up for me to see. “As soon as next week. The divorce from Jin should be finalized by then. Please say yes, beautiful. I’ve never wanted anyone more in my life than I want you. I love you, angel.”
“I want you too. Yes, Owen. I’ll marry you.”
I grin as he slides the ring onto my finger. It’s beautiful and perfect. Like him.
He rises to his feet and hauls me to his chest. I tilt my head up to receive what I know will be a sweet kiss. And he doesn’t disappoint. Owen goes above and beyond to make me feel special and loved.
And soon, I’ll no longer be his wife’s daughter.
I’ll be his wife.
Just his.
Always.
Epilogue - Owen
Six months later…