Page 55 of Pucking Tangled
FIFTY-FOUR
Owen
Maybe it was because they were coming back after a trip that had somehow solidified everything between them—Texas heat, late-night talks, shared beds, vineyard laughter, and skin against skin in that ridiculous cabin.
Or maybe it was just that Owen finally understood what it meant to return to something that was his.
Either way, pulling up to their house felt different now.
The front door creaked as they stepped inside, dragging their bags and leftover snacks inside.
Casey was the first to speak. “Okay…this is weird.”
Waylon dropped his duffel in the hallway and sniffed. “Smells like sawdust and new sheets.”
Luca stood just behind Mia, one hand on her lower back. “I think she pulled it off.”
Owen smiled faintly, shifting his weight, the anticipation low and buzzing in his gut.
“Who pulled what off what?” Mia glanced between each of them, her face scrunched up in confusion .
“You’ll see,” Casey smirked and took her hand.
They guided her upstairs and stopped outside of his and Casey’s old room.
Waylon nudged the door open.
And just like that, their future opened with it.
The walls were painted in light and airy bluish gray with a pale green undertone, something Brooke told them was aptly called “In the Moment”.
Light filtered in through the sheer curtains at the large bay window that now held a cozy reading nook.
The bed— the massive bed —spanned nearly wall to wall, filled with layers of plush blankets and pillows in rich earth tones that complimented the dark wood of the custom bed frame and matching nightstands.
A low-profile fireplace crackled in the corner, and on the opposite wall, a built-in bookshelf had been partially filled with the titles Mia kept trying to make them read.
Mia’s hand covered her mouth. “Oh my God.”
“Surprise,” Waylon said, beaming.
She turned in a slow circle, her eyes wide and shining, but it wasn’t until her gaze landed on the painting over the fireplace that Owen thought she may have stopped breathing for a moment.
Mia stepped closer. “I didn’t know you were working on this,” she whispered in Waylon’s direction, barely loud enough to be heard.
Waylon stepped behind her. “Didn’t want you to. I wanted it to be for you.”
“This is what you were working on when our parents showed up,” she surmised.
“Actually, I’ve been working on this since the night you moved in,” Waylon confessed. “Though, in all honesty, I didn’t know what it was going to be then. Just that it needed to exist. That you needed to be in the center of it. ”
She turned toward him, her voice thick with emotion. “Waylon.”
There was no need for labels or titles.
It wasn’t a portrait of a couple. It wasn’t a “family photo.”
It was a moment captured in color and light and longing.
It was them.
And anyone who looked at it would know—this was not five people simply sharing space.
This was five hearts woven together, brushstroke by brushstroke.
A work of art from a man who, Owen knew, often thought he didn’t have the words.
“I thought maybe one day,” Waylon said, his voice low and rough at the edges, “when we’re older, and you forget what this felt like, you could look at that and remember.” He gestured toward the painting.
“I won’t forget,” she said.
Waylon continued studying her. “No?”
She shook her head. “Because I’ll have all of you. I’ll have this. Every day.”
“And that right there is why we thought it was time we had a room. One place for all of us. Our place,” Casey said gently.
“Complete with that soaker tub you love so much,” Owen added.
Mia’s eyes filled with tears. “You guys,” she sniffled. “I love you all, so much.” She turned and hugged each of them, one by one, like they’d given her something precious instead of just new furniture and a shared closet.
Owen stood back for a moment, taking it all in .
The space was beautiful, sure. But it wasn’t the bed or the soft lighting or even Mia’s reaction that got to him.
It was the way everyone just fit.
He wasn’t a captain here. He wasn’t a disappointment or a secret or a son with frayed ties and too many closed doors behind him.
He was theirs.
“Would any of you be upset if I wanted to climb in that bed and take a nap?” Mia asked, already taking off her shoes.
“Hell no, baby.” Waylon shook his head.
“We should probably shower first.” She bit her lip. “Wash off all those airline germs before we touch those fresh sheets.”
“I agree,” Luca smirked, pulling his shirt over his head.
Owen laughed. “You go ahead. I’ll join you all in a minute.”
They all disappeared into the en-suite while Owen pulled out his phone.
The screen was filled with missed texts—team stuff, a few memes from their goalie—but he bypassed them all and opened the thread with his sister.
Owen: Home safe. Everything’s good.
Tessa: I’m so glad. Tyson and I were just talking about you this morning. He said to tell you he still owes you $50.
Owen: He does. I’m not letting him off the hook just because he “forgets.”
Tessa: How was Texas?
Owen: Freeing.
Tessa: That sounds like a good thing.
Owen: It is. I’m really happy, Tess.
Tessa: We’re happy for you. Love you, Bub.
Owen: I love you too.
He smiled to himself and set the phone on the nightstand.
When he looked up, Mia was standing near the bathroom, naked and waiting for him. “Everything okay?”
Owen walked toward her, wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her a kiss. “Never better, Mia.”
“Good. Then get in her and let me take care of you.” She tugged him into the shower with the guys before she lowered to her knees and took his dick in her mouth.
Mia took turns sucking them all while they lathered each other with soap and kept each other…occupied while they waited their turn.
When she was done, they took care of her. Washing her hair, her body, and worshiping her until she had nothing left to give.
They stepped out of the shower together and Owen passed out towels so they could dry off before they climbed into bed together—one after the other, bodies folding around each other like they’d done it a hundred times already.
Mia took her spot in the middle, centering the entire group. Owen and Casey stretched out on one side of her while Waylon and Luca took up space on her other side. They all reached inward, holding on to their anchor. Her.
“Whoever ordered this bed is a fucking genius,” Waylon sighed.
Mia giggled. “Let me guess, that was all you?”
“You know it baby.” He gently squeezed her hip .
Someone yawned. Someone else let out a tiny snore.
Owen soaked it all in.
After everything they’d been through, in such a short amount of time, here they were.
Wrapped in warmth. Anchored by love.
All the heartache and disappointment from pissed off parents seemed to fade away when you had four partners who’d move heaven and earth to protect you, whose parents loved you as they loved their own.
Owen was going to be okay. Hell. He already was.
They were all going to be okay.