Chapter 4

 

Early March
Wednesday

 

The lobby of Gardner Components was busy with the typical end-of-day foot traffic as a steady stream of employees emerged from the various elevators and made their way to the exits and parking structures. Owen stood awkwardly against one of the long granite walls, frowning down at his phone as he read Logan’s text for a third time.

Meet me in the GC lobby in thirty. The creep just skipped town.

He hadn’t seen Logan’s message until almost twenty minutes after it had been sent, and his belated reply had gone unanswered. Owen had a fair idea of where Phelps was headed, but he hesitated to put all of the information in a text. So, he waited with mild apprehension as he watched for Logan.

At the moment, his nervousness actually had very little to do with Phelps. Owen had been planning to invite Logan over again on another evening when Lena was in class, but he hadn’t yet decided when. He only hoped the forthcoming conversation wouldn’t be too terribly awkward. He and Logan were still getting to know each other, but they’d made decent progress toward friendship in the months since the shooting.

Owen stood up straight and waved to get Logan’s attention when the latter came through the front entrance a few minutes later. Logan held up his phone in acknowledgment of Owen’s last text but didn’t speak until he’d reached him.

“So, you know where he went? I followed him and the daughter as far as the first class lounge at SeaTac, but I couldn’t tell what flight they took. They had two bodyguards with them.” The presence of the two guards had been intriguing since Phelps seemed to prefer to use his security detail as a chauffeur service more than anything else.

“Yeah, I just didn’t want to put it all in a text. He’s going to London on business, supposedly. The trip was planned on really short notice. I only know because I happened to overhear him barking at his assistant to get some of the plans finalized yesterday,” Owen explained. “I didn’t know Madalyn was going too, but I’m not sure it means anything. For all we know, traveling with him could be her usual routine.”

“Hmm. Well, I can’t very well follow the guy out of the country. So, what now?”

“Just sit tight and wait for him to come back, I guess. I don’t know when he’s supposed to be back.”

“What if he doesn’t come back?” Logan challenged. “We thought he might skip town, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the guy just disappears.” Owen nodded in agreement but couldn’t see a way around it.

“We’ll all just have to keep our ears open. I’ll be in and out of his department while I’m working this project, and Lena hears a lot too. We’ll let you know if we pick up on anything new.”

“Yeah, alright. I’ll see you.” He turned to go, but Owen stopped him.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something else if you have a few minutes,” he said, shifting his weight as his nervousness returned.

“Sure.”

Logan watched curiously as Owen retrieved a tiny, black box from his pocket and held it out toward him, allowing him to open it himself. His eyes widened at the first glimpse of what lay inside. A beautifully rendered silver engagement ring and wedding band was nestled against the black velvet. The cushion-cut diamond gleamed up at him from the center, reflecting the light of the setting sun that streamed through the lobby windows. An array of smaller diamonds surrounded the larger one and encircled both bands in a delicate, vintage fashion.

“Whoa,” Logan chuckled, sensing Owen’s tension. “I’m guessing this isn’t for me.”

Owen cracked a smile reluctantly and relaxed a little.

“No. Mary—uh, my mother—went with me to pick it out, but she doesn’t really know Lena all that well yet. I want to make sure it’s something she’ll like, and you know Lena better than pretty much anyone else.” Other than me, he added silently. “Plus, you’re the closest thing she has to a brother. I got Nate’s blessing, but I’d like yours too.”

Logan was speechless for several long moments, bemused by the unexpected turn of events. When he and Lena had been younger, he’d wondered if he would ever be in a position like this, guarding the heart of his little sister. That speculation had waned, however, after he’d been deployed and had begun to think of Lena differently. Logan had even hoped, for a short time, that it would be him presenting her with a ring someday.

Of course, that future was not meant to be, and Logan understood now that there had never been any real chance of it coming to fruition. He wasn’t upset about it, particularly now that he’d found Valerie, but still… This was big. It occurred to him how difficult it must’ve been for Owen to even approach him like this, considering the fact that Owen had punched him in a fit of mistaken jealousy just a few short months ago.

“Shit… It’s not the right ring, is it?” Owen winced, taking Logan’s silence for disapproval. “I thought the vintage style would appeal to her, but maybe I was wr—”

“Easy, man,” Logan interrupted with a laugh. “Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting it. That’s all. It’s perfect for her.”

“Really?”

“Definitely. I’m sorry. I got lost in my thoughts for a minute, there. I wasn’t expecting you to ask for my blessing, especially after everything that’s happened. It’s kind of an odd feeling.”

Owen relaxed further and gave a slight shrug.

“You’re as much her family as Nate.”

“And he gave his approval?”

“Yeah. He let me sweat it out a bit, but he was just messing with me,” Owen chuckled, taking the ring back from him.

A second later, they both turned in the direction of Nate’s voice and spotted him walking toward them, as though the mention of his name had conjured the man himself. Owen recognized Simpson, Nate’s usual security detail, shadowing him a few steps behind.

“Logan,” Nate greeted him in obvious surprise, unable to recall the last time the young man had set foot inside GC. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, um…” Logan faltered, realizing he couldn’t explain the original reason for his presence.

“I wanted to get his opinion as an expert on all things Lena,” Owen spoke up as he handed the tiny box over to Nate.

The older man looked suitably impressed and more than a little emotional as he gazed down at the ring.

“She’ll love it. It’s just right,” Nate approved, passing it back to him. “Do you know how you’re going to do it yet? Or when?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I’d like to ask her sometime before I graduate in a couple months. As for the how… That’s even harder. I thought about taking her to one of the places we went on our first date or one of her favorite restaurants, but that seems a bit cliché. I want it to be more original than that. Something that would be special for both of us.”

Owen wondered privately whether Lena would find it romantic or stupid if he hid the ring in a packet of gummy fruit snacks. It was the first thing they’d ever shared together, and he knew she hadn’t forgotten.

“I know she’ll say yes no matter how you ask, son. Maybe it’s just a matter of waiting for the right moment.” Nate glanced behind him at his bodyguard, belatedly recalling the fact that he’d been on his way home. “Well, boys, I need to get going. Been a long day.”

They bid Nate farewell and watched him disappear in the direction of the executive parking structure.

“Nice save,” Logan commented. “I was afraid he was going to ask more questions.”

“No problem.”

“Getting back to what I was saying, though… Yes. You have my blessing.” He smiled at Owen’s relieved expression. “Like I told you at Christmas… You make her happy. You’re good for her.”

“She’s good for me too,” Owen replied, grinning like the lovesick fool he was. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

“Just don’t screw it up.”

They laughed together quietly, and Owen invited him to come over for dinner, knowing his presence would ease the stress Lena had been under lately with her current course load.

“Thanks, but I have plans with Valerie in a little while.” Now it was Logan whose eyes glazed over.

“Tell her I said hello,” Owen said, smiling in approval as they parted ways.

“Will do. Later.”

 

 

The Following Saturday

 

Owen fidgeted a little in the reclining leather chair as he watched the tattoo artist set up his supplies on the small rolling table next to him. It was technically the third time he’d been in the chair, and he hoped today would be the last. When he'd decided he was ready to get the work finished on his back, the artist had suggested breaking it up into two more sessions, one to fill in the black portions of the design and another to add the red. As Lena had promised, she'd been strong and steady at his side through it all.

She smiled at Owen encouragingly as he turned around in the chair so the artist could have better access to his shoulders. Lena scooted her chair closer until they were a mere foot apart, reaching out to hold both of his hands when the buzzing of the needle commenced. Owen flinched at the initial contact with his skin, but the panic he’d fought throughout the entirety of his first time in the chair was noticeably absent. He kept his eyes on Lena and focused on his breathing, counting every inhale and exhale as she smiled serenely back at him.

“How are you doing?” she asked after about fifteen minutes.

“Okay so far. Can you look?”

Lena nodded and stood briefly to peek over his shoulder. She was smiling again when she sat back down in front of him.

“It’s going to look so hot. I think it’ll be exactly what you wanted.” She held his hands again, and he squeezed them in thanks while doing his best to hold still. Owen winced at a particularly painful pass of the needle, and Lena tried to keep him distracted. “Why did you choose this particular design? I mean, I get the phoenix part, but this one is… unique. And big.”

“Go big or go home, right?” he grunted. “I liked the tribal look, but the real reason I picked that one wasn’t obvious without the shading. Look at it again.”

She did as he said, still holding one of his hands while she watched what had appeared to be a black eagle become a phoenix as the artist added the red accents. As she tilted her head slightly, she realized that while the design did look like one large bird with its wings spread across his shoulders, a line of negative space in the center also made it look as though it was an image of two birds facing one another with their wings spread in opposite directions.

“There are two,” Lena murmured in confusion. Owen squeezed her hand again to get her back into her seat so he could see her properly.

“Can you guess why?”

“For us?” Her brows lifted in surprise, and she smiled sweetly when he nodded. “But you got the outline done before we met again last fall.”

“Yes, but Ellie was always with me. I survived because of her. Because of you.” Lena’s eyes misted over, and she leaned forward to kiss him softly on the lips. “You’re a phoenix too, baby. Even if you don’t realize it yet.”

Owen held her gaze for a long time, watching the emotions play in her eyes. He could tell she didn’t agree with him, but the fact that she didn’t argue was reassuring. Slowly but surely, her self-esteem was improving, and he never stopped looking for ways to build her up.

They continued to kiss and converse in low voices until the tattoo artist switched off his tool and began to clean the blood and excess ink from Owen’s back. Lena took a picture of the completed tattoo with her phone and handed it to Owen. He smiled in approval, shaking the artist’s hand as he thanked him. His shoulders ached, and the skin felt raw and angry, but he forced himself to shrug back into his shirt. The artist explained how to take care of the tattoo until the skin healed completely and advised them on the possible signs of infection. Cook, who had stayed in the waiting area, followed them from the building.

As they stepped out of the tattoo parlor, the cool air made Owen’s skin tingle under his shirt in spite of the gauze that covered his tattoo, but it was soothing in a way. Lena beamed proudly at him.

“You did it. I’m so proud of you, Owen.”

“Thanks, babe,” he grinned.

“Maybe we can come back over spring break.”

“Come back?” Owen frowned, but her smile was radiant.

“Yeah. Next time, it’s my turn!”