Page 27 of Wish You Were Mine (Kings of Eden Falls #3)

OWEN

Light was already slipping through the blinds in my small bedroom when I woke on Sunday morning, cutting across the comforter in long, lazy lines. My head sank deeper into the pillow as I stretched one arm across the mattress, still half-asleep.

After giving my body a few minutes to decide whether it wanted to drift back to sleep, I rolled onto my back and reached for my phone on the nightstand.

Notifications filled the screen—group-chat updates from Bash, Ky, and Miles; a few emails; a reminder about a meeting with Dean Harris on Monday—and then one that made my stomach twist a little.

Lucy.

Right. Our conversation from last night.

I scrolled up, trying to remember where I’d left things…and immediately winced.

She’d replied to my text about my dad. Twice.

And I’d just left her on Read .

Not because I meant to. Not because I didn’t care. Just…Th e Garden got slammed after that big birthday group walked in, and by the time I remembered to check my phone again, it was well past two. Too late to reply without seeming like a total creep.

Still, a pit of guilt settled in my stomach as I opened our thread again.

Her messages were sweet. Gentle. Exactly the kind of responses I didn’t know I needed until I read them.

But then I scrolled a little farther up and saw the other part of our conversation. The part where the late-night version of me—the looser, more open, bartender me—was behind the wheel.

Yeah…in the light of day, those messages suddenly felt reckless.

And I probably shouldn’t have said half the things I’d said.

Not because I didn’t mean them.

Just…because I knew better. She was my student.

And this was complicated.

Even so, I found myself tapping out a reply.

Me: Hey, sorry for leaving you on read last night. Got slammed at The Garden and didn’t get back to my phone. But thank you—I really appreciate it.

Then I decided to add another text.

Me: It was definitely hard at first and everything was kind of a mess. It’s a long story that I don’t really want to get into over text since it’s…a lot. But you’re sweet. And I’m okay now.

I hit Send and stared up at the ceiling, letting the reminders of those hard times settle. I hadn’t talked about my family with anyone new in a long time.

A few seconds passed before my phone buzzed again.

Theo’s sister: Glad I didn’t offend you or anything. I’m not always the best with my words. (Or texts in this case.)

That made me smile.

Me: You’re just great. And from where I’m sitting, your texting abilities are perfect.

I’d had fun chatting, at least.

Even though I probably shouldn’t be doing it…

But the line between appropriate and not had been severely blurred from the beginning.

She’d started as just a cute girl at the bar. Then a fun girl at Ky’s party.

In any other universe, I would’ve asked her out by now. Taken her to dinner. Maybe kissed her under something other than string lights and poor judgment.

It wasn’t her fault she’d walked into my classroom a week later.

My phone buzzed again.

Theo’s sister: I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it. I’ve liked texting with you too.

My heart gave a soft thud.

We were being good. So careful.

Tiptoeing around this undeniable pull that didn’t feel like nothing.

I typed back.

Me: What time’s your meet today? You already at the arena?

Theo’s sister: It doesn’t start until 1:00, but we’re just about to leave the hotel and head over.

Me: Cool. Well…good luck. I hope you have a great meet.

Theo’s sister: Thanks

I stared at that emoji longer than I probably should have. And then closed my eyes, wondering how much longer we could play this game without someone getting burned.