PHE

my ribs, each beat feeling like it might b

.. I mean, I didn't plan for this evening to go like this, but... He struggled to get the words out, his head sh

ges flashed: his smiles just for me, those little offerings of tenderness, the way he'd anchored me through the turmoi

a low whisper, as if the doubt blended with a flush of heatin

. "Yes. I've never been surer." His gaze was steady, an anchor ami

made my heart flip. "I don't need time, Owen." A nervous laugh slipped out, bright yet shak

er; the tension eased in his shoulders a

s joy as he wrapped his arms around me. The quiet night e

beat anchoring me in that one moment. For the first time,

he whispered, his hot v

rm, inviting atmosphere inside: soft clinking of

raced a circle on his palm as I allowed my gaze to linger on the curve

eam, I hope?" he

, feeling the weight of the

===

ilence hung heavy in the air as the all too familiar tension rose in my chest, and I found mys

and even, an anchor to the

Owen, appraising. A long pause arced across like a tightrope; t

aid, his voice rou

nd, and their handshake

or years. My father's expression changed; he turned to me, and his eyes war

es with steadfastness. "Looks like you'

uiet, comforting warmth welling over me. So long, I'd wanted this: a

y wrapped themselves around us with Skype calls. Every plan, eve

to be intimate and sma

his head bobbing forward at our choices, a quiet smi

ife, it felt like all the

====

t filtering through the window as my mother adjusted my v

ring. "You are beautiful, honey." Her voice came

the warmth grounding me in

been superfluous. Her eyes held years of memories,

ry moment was stretched and twisted in time. The enti

eakness that gutted my heart. Every word we said seemed like threads binding us tighter

and dancing. Later, the voices, so cheerful, starte

kin as anticipation hummed t

e, the delicate, sexy dress smoothing down over my

memory of our vows was still fresh in my mind. I slipped into the hallway

up, I

adowy hall-a woman's moan punctuated

t just a moment before chilling inst

ou know that? What a body you've got," he breathed, each word dripping with desire. "With you, it's

He did this on purpose. Every part of me screamed to turn back, but my feet m

open. There they were; she was wrapped around his neck, an

choked out, my