Page 68 of Wish You Were Mine (Kings of Eden Falls #3)
LUCY
“Thanks for stepping in,” Owen told Josh once Brody’s taillights disappeared from the lot.
“No problem,” Josh said. “Glad I was here.”
“What were you doing out here, anyway?” I asked, still trying to piece together how both of them had managed to appear at exactly the right moment.
I understood Owen since he’d probably seen me leave the club alone and his protective side had kicked in.
But Josh? I hadn’t even spotted him inside tonight.
“I was here to pick up some of the guys.” Josh gave a half-shrug. “Tried to go in for a few minutes, but…” He rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish smile tugging at his mouth. “Turns out I’m blacklisted. Guess the bouncer hasn’t forgotten about my fight with Brody in December.”
“Oh.” I hesitated, unsure which response fit best. “Should I say sorry you’re blacklisted…or thank you, since it meant you were outside?”
“Not sure.” He chuckled. “Yeah, fun times. But I deserve it.” His smile faltered, his voice dropping a notch. “And well…I kn ow it’s way too late for this, but…I really am sorry for everything that happened when we were together. I was a terrible boyfriend, and you didn’t deserve any of it.”
“Thanks,” I said, somewhat surprised he was bringing it up now.
My instinct was to follow it up with an it’s okay since the people-pleaser in me practically trained for it.
But it wasn’t okay. Not even close.
So instead, I asked, “I heard you stopped drinking. Is that true?”
“It is. Took me way longer than it should have but…I finally realized it was turning me into someone I didn’t like.”
“I’m glad you were able to realize that.” Even if he’d hurt me, I still cared and wanted what was best for him…even if it couldn’t be with me.
An awkward beat passed between us before he cleared his throat. “And sorry for not warning you about Brody. I always knew there was something off about him, but…I didn’t know why until tonight.”
“Yeah.” A shiver crawled up my spine. “He took me by surprise, too.”
We exchanged a few more strained pleasantries before Josh tipped his head toward Owen. “It’s good to know Lucy’s got someone else looking out for her now.”
“Yeah,” Owen said, skirting the fact that we weren’t exactly allowed to be together right now. “Maybe we can talk sometime about getting you off the club’s blacklist.”
“That’d be great.” Josh managed a small grin. “Mocktails only, though.”
“Sounds good to me.” Owen chuckled.
Josh headed back to his car and Owen turned back to me, his arm still warm and solid against my lower back, that touch the only thing keeping me steady at the moment. “Want to go back inside?”
“Not really.” I shook my head. “Would it be too much to ask you to take me to my parents’ house?”
“Definitely not too much,” he said. “Just let me tell Malik he’s closing up.”
We walked inside together, Owen staying close by my side. After speaking with the other bartenders, Owen and I made our way to the corner where my friends were.
“Lucy! What happened?” Nora shot to her feet the moment I reached the table for my jacket. Her gaze flicked over me, then to Owen, then back to me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay now.” My hand trembled as I held out my keys. “Can you drive my car home? I…I’m not up for it.”
“Of course.” She took the keys without hesitation. “Do you want to go now?”
“Owen’s going to take me to my parents’ house,” I said, already feeling the weight of the conversation I’d need to have with them. “I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Okay.” She hugged me, quick but firm, not pressing for details even though I could see the questions in her eyes.
Owen’s car was parked close to the back entrance. The ride was quiet, the hum of the engine the only sound between us. I kept my gaze on the dark streets sliding past, the glow of streetlights smearing into golden streaks, fighting the replay of Brody’s face in my mind.
When we stepped into my parents’ living room, Mom was curled up with a book, Dad scrolling on his phone.
“Mom. Dad.” My voice came out small and shaky, like it belonged to someone younger.
They both looked up immediately.
“What’s wrong?” Dad rose to his feet, his gaze locking on Owen like he assumed Owen was responsible for my distressed appearance.
“This isn’t what you think,” I said before we could have a repeat of the last time we were all in the same room together.
“Owen drove me home from The Garden. He was just making sure I got home safe after a hockey player tried to—” My throat closed around the words, but I forced them out.
“—tried to assault me in the parking lot.”
Mom’s book slipped from her lap. Dad’s expression shifted in an instant, all that heat redirecting away from Owen and into something colder, harder—dangerous.
“Who?” he asked, voice clipped.
“His name is Brody,” I whispered.
Dad’s jaw clenched like he knew exactly who I was talking about. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. Owen got there just in time.” My voice wavered. “But…apparently, he’s been stalking me.”
A wave of insecurity slid over me as I realized the security blanket I’d thought I had—my sense of who I could trust—was gone.
I’d thought Brody was my friend. But after this betrayal, I wasn’t sure how many other smiling people in my life were hiding something I couldn’t see.
“Come here, sweetheart.” Mom crossed the room, wrapping me up in her arms, her familiar perfume grounding me. “You’re safe now.”
Dad’s expression shifted from barely restrained fury as he stepped in and pulled us both close.
“We’ll make it so he can’t hurt you again,” he said, each word clipped like he was already running down a list of exactly how to make that happen.
When we finally stepped back, my gaze went to Owen, who still stood by the door, his shoulders squared in a way that said he wasn’t leaving until he knew I was really okay.
“Thank you for bringing her home.” Dad turned toward him, his protective energy redirecting like a spotlight. “I know you probably have classes early in the morning, so we’ll take it from here.”
“If it’s all right,” Owen said, his eyes flicking to mine before returning to Dad, “I’d like to hear about your plans for keeping Lucy safe. I know you have your opinions about me and my intentions with your daughter, but I want her safe just as much as you do.”
For a beat, Dad just looked at him, like he was deciding whether to bristle at the intrusion or recognize the fact that whether he liked it or not, he wasn’t the only protective man in my life now.
“Okay,” he said with a sigh, something in his stance easing. “Have a seat.”