CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Grace

My hand fits in his just right but it doesn’t stop my tummy from flipping. I thought it was bad enough when he asked me out, but now... it’s doing double somersaults. He’s such a gentleman and so different to the other dicks I meet, but he’s also a lot more mature. I suppose that happens when you have a child - although I’d love to know more about him but I don’t think he’ll tell me yet. Be patient, Grace.

He opens the door for me when we reach the car, I step in and smile. “Thanks.” Putting on my seatbelt, I wait for Owen to get in and start the car. It’s cold outside. Summer is turning into Autumn as the temperature is lower for this time of year than normal. Owen sees me shiver and puts on the heater.

“I didn’t think it was that cold...” he smirks.

“I’m always cold. I should live somewhere tropical not in cold and damp England.” He takes a hold of my hand again and rubs it with both of his to warm it up. He lifts it towards his mouth and blows on it to heat it through, but it’s not my hand that it works on. Oh god, don’t do that! I don’t think he realises the effect he has me at all.

“So, do you want to go for a drink or do you want to go home?” He asks.

“I’m not fussed if you want to go home…”

“Grace?” He cuts me off from my overthinking, “I don’t want to go home to an empty house, I’d much prefer to spend a little longer with you, if that’s okay of course.”

“Oh.” I say quietly and smile at his gesture.

“I’m trying to be a gentleman, I don’t think it’s working though.” I twist to face him.

“It is working, I think you’ve been really nice. I’ve really enjoyed tonight, thank you.” I lean across towards him; my lips softly touch his cheek in a light kiss. HIs eyes close on an exhale as I pull my lips away. He looks at me, his eyes intense, baring into me. I wonder what’s running through his mind? I know he has skeletons, I know he had a wife; but what happened I have no clue. His eyes convey a thousand questions and probably mirror mine.

“How about we go for that drink?”

“I’d love to.” I answer nodding. He smiles and starts the engine. He puts on the radio to break the silence but before long he’s pulling up at a small pub.

 

Finding a small table in the corner, I sit down while Owen gets us drinks and wait for him to return. I have quick peek at my phone - just a message from Meaghan telling me she’s gone out but that’s it. I drop my phone in my bag and wait.

Owen joins me not long after. I pick up my glass of rosé and take a sip. After taking a gulp of his beer, he relaxes and leans back into the seat looking at me. “So, here we are…”

“Yep. So, Owen, how’s work going?” I know I’ve asked already but really, it’s all I have.

“It’s good - busy. How about you?” He smiles knowing I’m really just making this up as I go along.

“It’s so-so. I’m thinking I may have to get a real job. I love dancing and teaching the kids and I do more classes in the day but I still need to pay the bills. Meaghan keeps asking me to go to work at the school, I trained to be a teacher anyway, so who knows I might.”

“Meaghan’s a teacher?”

“She is.” I nod and also smile because I know exactly what’s going through Owen’s mind. “I know what you’re thinking…” I tell him smirking.

“What’s that?” He laughs.

“How can Meaghan be a teacher? I know she’s not the most innocent role model especially for the age group she teaches, Key stage Four which is ages fourteen to sixteen.”

“I don’t get this key stage crap. I’m not looking forward to Ella starting school if I’m totally honest.”

“Oh, but she’ll love it.” As I look at him something tells me I should change the subject from Ella. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“Nope. How about you?”

“None. I must’ve been enough, but you never know if my Dad hadn’t have been a serial cheater, there may have been one - but hey ho. What you’ve never had you don’t miss.”

Owen looks down to his hands in his lap, his mood turning subdued. “You really think that’s true?” He looks up frowning.

“Well, maybe not for everyone, people deal with things differently, they cope how they can.” I watch him for a minute before speaking again. “Want to talk about it?”

He looks deep into my eyes then shakes his head. “Not right now... do you mind?” shaking my head, I smile at him to ease his worries a little, who know if it works. “Do you want another?”

“Yeah why not. I’ll get these though.” Grabbing my bag to take out my purse, Owen’s hand covers mine.

“It’s fine I’ll get them.”

“But you’ve paid all night.” He shrugs, grins and grabs both of the glasses then walks to the bar, watching his perfect arse move in those jeans though for way too long well, at least until he’s out of sight anyway.

He comes back not two minutes later with what looks like iced water or lemonade, a glass of wine for me and places them down, then sits back down next to me. He takes his phone from his pocket, looks at it quickly then places it on the table. I’m at a loss of what to say without venturing on unknown territory so we sit in silence, not an uncomfortable one though I’m pleased to say.

“Are you ok, Owen?”

“Yeah…” He smiles, “yeah, I think I am. I’ve enjoyed tonight.”

“So, have I.” The smile must fill my face because it definitely feels that way. Hesitantly his hand softly covers mine again as our fingers link together, we sit like that until we’re both ready to leave just enjoying each other’s company, talking and laughing.

 

He stops outside my block and turns off the engine. “Thanks for tonight, Grace.”

“You’re welcome. It’s been great.” I say smiling.

“Maybe we could do it again?” He asks hesitantly.

“I’d love that. Just let me know when and I’ll check my diary, I may be able to pencil you in somewhere.” I laugh.

“Pencil me in, huh? I don’t know if I like the sound of that?” I touch his finger with mine. He links them together again. His hands are hot where mine are cold... again.

“You can’t be cold? It’s like an oven in here.” He says in bemusement as I shrug but smirk. The air grows thick as I look into his eyes willing him to kiss me just once. He doesn’t though - just stares at me.

“I’d better get going.” I lean across the central reservation and kiss his cheek, his eyes close as his lips part. He turns his head slightly and slowly leans towards me. His lips touch mine in a gentle sweep and pulls away. He gazes at me again but I know it’s time to go. “Bye Owen.”

“See ya.” His hand lifts and he winks. He waits for me to enter my block before pulling away. I head straight to bed when I get in the flat, falling to sleep straight away with the image of Owen’s eyes to keep me company.

 

When I woke this morning, I think I was still smiling because Meaghan asked me why I was looking so happy. I’m not telling her though. She’s manages to go three hours now with me not saying anything and I’ve promised I’d pop around to my Mum’s for lunch today, so if she’s getting out of me she’s got a long wait. “You can’t go to your mum’s and leave me hanging!”

“Yes, I can.”

“But you won’t, will you?” I shrug but don’t speak. “Why are you being a bitch?”

“Because I don’t want to tell you.”

“I tell you everything!”

“Your choice not mine. Believe me I can do without the ins and outs of yours and Ross’s seedy relationship.”

“It’s not seedy.” She argues.

“No? That’s why he has a girlfriend already and you’re his dirty little secret. I’m not getting into an argument because I’m very happy.” I pull on my boots and grab my bag then walk towards the door… “I will tell you this though,” I pop my head back around the door, “he’s an amazing kisser.” winking at her, I head out to leave her shouting after the door has shut. Who cares if it wasn’t a proper kiss, it’ll keep her chewing at the bit for a while. I walk down the stairs and out to my car to spend a couple hours with my Mother.

 

While I’m at Mum’s, my phone goes off. I pull it from my bag and a smile forms as I see the screen. A text from Owen is enough to make any girl smile.

“What are you smiling at?”

Shaking my head, “Nothing.”

“It’s obviously not nothing, Gracie.” My Mum has called me Gracie, since I’ve been old enough to remember and she’s never dropped it, I don’t mind it though, not from her anyway. “I hope it’s not a man that’s making you smile like that because then you’re asking to have your heart broken.”

“What if it is?” I frown as I open the text, anything to piss on my parade.

 

Owen: Hey you.

Me: Hey yourself.

 

I close the screen and drop it in my bag. “You know they’re all the same. Only want one thing and drop you when they get it.”

“You know mum, you’re so cynical. They’re not all like that and I’m twenty-four not sixteen.”

“I thought the same about your Dad, I thought wrong so you’ll forgive me for being like that.

“Well, not all men are alike and it’s pretty much a good job they’re not all like him. I know what you’re saying and I totally understand your point of view but you’re wrong this time. I’m a big girl I don’t need you to tell me the ways of life and relationships. So, with you and Meaghan trying to ruin my good mood today - I’m going.” I kiss her cheek and walk from the house, I hear her call me back but I don’t stop until I’ve reached my car and I’m sitting inside the safety of it. I lock the doors and breathe…

Taking my phone from my bag, I see another text.

 

Owen: You ok?

Me: I’m good, was just sitting through the facts of life from my Mum.

 

My fingers tap at my screen until I press send, but I get one straight back...

 

Owen:????

Me: Don’t ask. Really.

 

I drop my phone back into my bag and head towards the studio, I think some training will help some of this tension because I don’t intend on going back yet.

 

Pulling up at the studio, I grab all my gear and go inside. Once I’m changed I open Spotify on my phone, click Strip That Down by Liam Payne and let the music take me away.