Owen stood outside the gym, hands shoved deep into his pockets, his foot tapping restlessly against the pavement. The cool evening air did nothing to settle the storm brewing inside him. His mind replayed what he had seen over and over, twisting the knife deeper. He wanted to believe there was some kind of explanation, but the image of Lila’s hand brushing against that guy’s, the way she had smiled, it was burned into his mind.
Every passing second felt heavier, and he hated the way his chest tightened at the thought of what she might say. Was he overreacting? Had he already lost her without even realizing it? He let out a slow breath, forcing himself to stay calm.
Then, finally, he heard footsteps approaching. His head snapped up, and there she was. For a split second, everything else faded. She was beautiful, she always was, but something about the way she walked toward him, unaware of the weight crushing his chest, made his heart ache. He wanted to reach for her, to pull her close like nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t spent the last half hour spiraling over what he saw.
But then the knot in his stomach tightened, a sharp reminder of why they were here. The image of her with that guy flashed in his mind again, and the warmth he felt was quickly overshadowed by the sting of uncertainty. His fingers curled into fists in his pockets as he forced himself to stay still, to not let the frustration slip out in a way that would push her away.
Owen exhaled sharply, shaking his head as he looked down for a moment before meeting her eyes. “You know, I was gonna surprise you today.” His voice was quieter now, tinged with something between frustration and hurt. “Had this whole thing planned, just… something for us. But then I see you with him.” He let out a dry, humorless chuckle, rubbing his jaw.
He paused, as if choosing his next words carefully, but when he spoke again, there was no hiding the way it stung. “I just need you to be honest with me, Lila.” His voice was quieter now, almost hesitant. His arms dropped from where they had been crossed over his chest, and his fingers flexed at his sides, restless. “If I messed up, if I waited too long, just… tell me. Because standing there, watching it? It sure didn’t feel like nothing.” His voice wasn’t sharp, but there was weight behind it, a quiet kind of ache he wasn’t used to showing. He didn’t want to accuse her, didn’t want to push her away. He just wanted to understand.
@ChayChay05 - Lila
@SotaForgotten - John mentioned
