Page 50 of Wish You Were Mine (Kings of Eden Falls #3)

LUCY

“My parents were talking about you on the ride home,” I said as I curled one leg beneath me on Owen’s couch, angling toward him.

“They were?” His brow lifted. “What’d they say?”

“That they really like you.” I gave a small shrug. “I mean, it was definitely in the ‘he’s a good friend for Theo to have’ kind of way, but still…they think you’re a cool dude. So that’s good.”

“A ‘cool dude,’ huh?” A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Somehow I can’t picture those words coming from either your mom or your dad’s mouth?”

“You know what I mean,” I said, nudging his arm playfully. “They were impressed. Everything you’ve accomplished, the way you carry yourself…they like you.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.” He leaned back slightly, his arm brushing mine.

I hesitated, then asked, “What did you think of the dinner?”

“It was really good.” He gave a small chuckle. “Your mom is super sweet, and your dad was way cooler than I expected. Honestly, I was kind of surprised by the things he said. Especially after hearing the critique he gave you after your first home meet.”

“That’s because you’re not his kid.” I sighed. “You don’t have the Archibald family legacy to live up to.”

He gave a soft exhale, his tone gentler when he said, “But he seemed proud of you today. Did he say anything else when I wasn’t around?”

“No. He was good. Proud.” I shook my head. “But…I took first place. So, you know.”

“So he didn’t have anything to complain about.”

I gave a small shrug, my fingers absently running along the seam of the cushion. “Maybe I’m being too critical. I guess I just don’t want to disappoint him.”

Owen’s voice was steady when he said, “If he’s disappointed in you, he’s the one with the problem.”

I swallowed and smiled, those words hitting deeper than I expected. I set my glass of water on one of the coasters on his coffee table. Then, on impulse, I scooted a little closer and leaned into his side.

His arm came around me, warm and solid, and I let myself sink into the feeling of him. His chest rose and fell beneath my cheek, calm and steady, and I breathed in the quiet comfort of just being close.

After a moment, I reached for his tie and played with the silky fabric between my fingers. “I like this on you, by the way,” I said. “The purple.”

“Really?” he asked, glancing down. “Doesn’t look too…feminine?”

“Nope.” I smiled. “It looks good on you. Brings out your eyes. ”

His gaze met mine, the smallest flicker of vulnerability there.

“You have really nice eyes,” I added.

A soft smile pulled at his mouth. “So do you.”

For a second, we just looked at each other.

I let my eyes wander over his face, taking in the little details I hadn’t noticed before. The sharp cut of his jaw. The faint shadow of stubble along his skin. The way his dark hair fell across his forehead like it was too soft to stay put.

He looked older than the guys I usually hung out with—not in a bad way. Just in a he-knows-who-he-is kind of way. A little more serious, a little more guarded. Like someone who’d learned the hard way not to let people in too easily.

But it was his eyes that had me hypnotized.

That rich, warm brown that always looked thoughtful, measured.

Like he was trying to memorize this moment. Or maybe memorize me .

And I couldn’t help but wonder if he saw me differently now. Not just as Theo’s little sister. Not just as the student in his one p.m. lecture.

Just…me. Lucy.

His eyes dropped to my lips, and I felt the tension rise between us, last night’s kiss hanging in the space between us like a secret we couldn’t stop replaying.

“So…” He cleared his throat. “You wanted to talk about what happened last night?”

I nodded. “I just wanted to check in…see how you were doing.” I looked down at my hands, my heartbeat pulsing in my temples.

“I know yesterday was kind of unplanned, and I really don’t want to put you in a weird position or mess with your job or anything, but…

” I took a breath, nerves bubbling up as I adde d, “In case it’s not obvious, I kind of have the teensiest bit of a crush on you. ”

“I’ve been thinking about that a lot, too—” Owen let out a soft breath, his gaze holding mine. “My job, the rules, what could happen if we’re not careful.” He paused, his voice quieter as he added, “But the truth is…I’m not really sure I’m able to stay away from you at this point.”

“Really?” My chest tightened as I searched his face. “You mean that?”

“I do,” he said, his voice low, his eyes searching mine. “And in case it wasn’t obvious…I might have a little crush on you, too.”

“Just a little crush?” I tilted my head up at him, giving him a look.

His grin widened, making his eyes crinkle at the corners. “Maybe a little more than a little.”

Warmth bloomed in my chest, soft and bright, like sunlight breaking through a cloudy sky. “Me too.”

We were quiet for a bit, the moment filled with tenderness and something undefined.

Something that made it hard to look away, but also hard to speak.

Because what else could we really say? We were tiptoeing through uncharted waters—something we never should’ve started—but neither of us had the strength to stop.

Owen sighed and looked at me for a long moment, then gently pulled me closer. His hand slid along my back, grounding and warm, as he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.

“We’ll figure this out,” he murmured, his voice low and steady against my skin.

I exhaled, my eyes fluttering closed as I rested my head against his chest. His heartbeat thudded steadily beneath my cheek, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the fabric of his shirt. And for that moment, I let myself just melt into him .

Enveloped.

Warmed.

Wanted.

Because no matter where we went from here, for tonight, just having him hold me like this was enough.