Chapter 418

418
After her shower , Aria felt much more sober . She was ready to crash for the night when she suddenly remembered Owen was still in the living room . She opened the door and said , “ You can head home now … ”
But Owen was sitting there , face flushed , half – slumped against the arm of the sofa .
There was an open bottle of liquor and a glass on the coffee table .
He looked up at her , eyes a little hazy . “ You’re done ? ”
Aria walked over , eyeing him suspiciously . “ What’s going on here ? ”
“ Needed a little courage , ” Owen said , pushing himself up and nearly losing his balance . Aria rushed to steady him , glancing at the bottle – a fifth gone already . She stared at him in disbelief , “ Wait … are you seriously a lightweight ? ”
Not only did he get drunk after a single glass , but his face was bright red .
Owen straightened , head lowered , and just stared at her . Then , with a small , aggrieved voice , he said , “ Aria . ”
She looked up . “ Yeah ? ”
He said , “ You kissed me in the car . ”
There was a wounded note in his voice , like he’d just been wronged .
Aria blinked , not quite believing this was drunk Owen .
She tried to play dumb . “ I don’t remember . ”
Owen pressed his lips together , looking heartbroken . “ So you’re not going to admit it ? ”
She watched in shock as his eyes filled with tears .
Just as a tear was about to fall , Aria panicked and blurted out , “ Okay , okay ! I admit it . I kissed you . I’m sorry , alright ? ”
Apparently , that was the magic phrase .
Owen wiped away the tear and said , “ No need to apologize . Just take responsibility . ”
Aria’s eyes widened . “ Excuse me ? ”
He took a step closer . “ What , you’re planning to just walk away after that ? ”
She backed up until her legs hit the coffee table and she instinctively started to sit down , but he grabbed her arm and pulled her upright .
She ended up tumbling into his arms , and with Owen off balance , the two of them crashed onto the couch together .
Aria didn’t get hurt – Owen had cushioned her fall – but the position they landed in was … questionable .
Her head was tucked into the crook of his neck , one leg draped across his .
The room was warm , and both of them were only wearing thin clothes .
She could feel his heat through the fabric , his skin almost burning.
She lifted her head and saw his Adam’s apple bob up and down .
1/4
SUNT , EL TE
418
Neither of them moved .
Owen just held her , a fullness blooming in his chest – so this was what it felt like to really hug someone .
He almost never got this worked up , his hands opened and closed , over and over , as if he couldn’t contain all the feelings boiling inside .
Ana tried to wriggle away .
Thinking she was trying to escape , Owen pulled her right back .
This was the first time she’d ever given him the slightest signal .
He knew there might never be a second chance . If he let this go , they might always just be friends , never anything more .
She demanded , “ Was this all on purpose ? ”
Owen ignored the question and kept going , “ Are you going to take responsibility ? ”
He was dead serious – clearly that kiss meant more to him than she’d thought .
She was silent , so he added softly , “ That was my first kiss . ”
Aria choked . “ You’re twenty – seven and you’ve never kissed anyone ? ”
Owen didn’t seem to care about the age thing , but he remembered something Amanda once said at Amour Bistro .
Besides , he was four years older than Aria .
He said , “ My birthday’s not for a while . I’m still twenty – six . I’ve never liked anyone else , never kissed anyone else , and no one’s ever kissed me … except
you . ”
Guilt washed over Aria . “ I’ve never … with anyone either … ” She didn’t finish the sentence , silently cursing the trouble alcohol brings .
After thinking it over , she offered a compromise . “ How about … you kiss me back , and then we’re even ? ”
Owen’s eyes filled with hurt . “ Is that how little you think of me ? You’d rather force yourself than actually be with me ? ”
She protested , “ That’s not what I meant . ”
He pressed , “ Then why won’t you take responsibility ? ”
Aria fell silent for a long moment before saying , “ Can we at least get up before we talk about this ? ”
“ Alright . ” Owen finally let her go .
Aria climbed off him and sat at his side on the couch .
She was about to say something when he flashed her a completely disarming smile , nothing like his usual gentle expression .
He was so close , the brightness of it caught her off guard , sent her heart skipping .
She took a deep breath and met his gaze , “ Owen , fine , I admit it – I do like you , at least a little . ”
Owen’s eyes shone ; even a little was enough .
She continued , “ But right now , I’m not looking for a relationship , and I definitely don’t want to get married or have kids.
“ Kissing you was my fault , but I can’t give you anything more than that . If there’s anything else you want – anything reasonable – I’ll do it , but I can’t be responsible in that way . ”
2/4
78 % 0
Charles $ 18
Den kept smiling . The light in his eyes woven lading “ Co , when did his fine out 1ked you ? ”
Aria was honest . “ That time you showed up at the film set looking for me ”
He suddenly leaned in eyes Warm and intent .
Arie instinctively leaned back . “ What are you doing ? ”
He asked , “ You said anything but a relationship or marriage , right ? Within reason ? *
Pinned by his gaze , Arta nodded . “ Yes , anything reasonable . ”
Owen was a lawyer , full of integrity .
She knew he’d never ask for anything out of line , so this felt like a safe arrangement .
No point in starting something that would go nowhere .
Owen smiled , “ Then let’s sign a contract . That way , you don’t have to be responsible . ”
“ A contract ? What kind ? ” she asked .
He stood . “ Nothing illegal , nothing against public morals . I’ll draw it up right now – you’ll see . ”
Aria asked , “ Can’t we just do this tomorrow ? ”
Owen shook his head , “ No way . I’m afraid you’ll change your mind . ”
She agreed , “ Fine , go ahead . I’ll wait . ”
“ Wait for me , ” he said , practically skipping out of the room .
After he left , Aria sat there for a while , dazed .
Owen had looked awfully steady for someone supposedly drunk .
She glanced at the bottle of liquor , then burst out laughing – so the tears were an act , huh ?
She had messed up , so if Owen wanted to make a fuss , he had every right .
Even so , curled up on the couch , she couldn’t help feeling strangely empty and a little restless .
He’d just said she didn’t need to take responsibility anymore , so why did she feel so unsettled ?
Aria rubbed her hair and picked up her phone to mindlessly scroll .
Ten minutes later , there was a knock at the door , and Owen came back in .
Aria glanced up and saw the paper , covered in writing , a pen , and an ink pad in his hands . He was actually serious about this .
Owen’s face was still a little flushed as he set the contract on the table in front of her and folded down the part with all the terms , leaving only the
signature line visible .
Sign here , he said .
She gave him a look . “ You want me to sign without even reading it ? ”
Owen replied , “ Sign first , then you can read . ”
3/4