Owen
Seeing Lainey get in my car with tears running down her face broke something in me, seeing the hurt all over her face undid me. In that moment I would have hurt anyone if they were the reason for her crying.
But what keeps replaying in my head is the tingles that shot up my arms when I held her chin in my hand or the way her brown eyes stared into mine.
When my phone buzzes it breaks my train of thought. As I'm stopped at a red light, I glance at the screen to see I have a text from Caleb.
Caleb: Hey girlfriend, join us for practice.
I glance at Lainey to see her staring out the window. I would love to practice with them but I have Lainey with me. They wouldn't know but I don't think she would like to sit and watch us practice.
"What up?" Lainey asks.
"Caleb just texted me, he wants me to come practice with them," I say.
"That's fine, I can read my book," Lainey says with a smile.
My eyes widen in surprise, "You don't mind?"
Lainey rolls her eyes, "No Owen, I don't mind."
Me: right I'll be right there.
~~~~
When we arrive at the football field all the guys are already there. As we get out of the car Lainey takes her bag and throws it over her shoulder. "Don't worry I'll act like I'm not even here," Lainey says dryly.
I grab a football out of the truck of my car, "I wasn't worrying about that."
Lainey snorts, "Your face said something different."
I roll my eyes and shut my trunk, "You sure you don't mind waiting," I ask.
She pats my shoulder, "No, I don't mind." She smiles, "Hey, I can work on my tan."
I shove shoulder and she laughs, "And it's not every day I get to watch a bunch of guys run around in the sun," Lainey adds.
I wiggle my eyebrows, "I knew you always had a thing for me."
For a moment Lainey's face flashes red then she looks down, "Oh, I won't be watching you I'll be watching Waylon."
I roll my eyes as we approach the guys. Waylon is one of the guys on the football team and one of my few friends. I study Lainey's face; I can't tell if she's kidding or not.
I realize I know nothing about Lainey. I don't know what kind of guys she likes. As long as I've known her she's never dated anyone, at least that I know of.
"Is he your type," I ask as I internally cringe. What kind of question is that?
Lainey seems to think the same thing as she looks at me. "What?"
I shake my head, "Never mind."
She chuckles and climbs up the bleachers to find a spot.
"Hey Owen, what's wrong? You look like you just ate a lemon," Caleb yells.
I quickly wipe the expression off my face and replace it with a smile, "It's probably the sight of you without a shirt on," I yell back as I jog onto the field.
Caleb laughs, "I highly doubt that."
Waylon rolls his eyes as the rest of the guys grab water.
Even though it's near the end of the school year and football season is over we still practice.
Our high school has put together a little fundraiser with another school. They're having a small football game between schools. Hopefully, we win, but either way, it's not about winning but about raising money for the school to help supply kids with food.
I have been one of those kids eating breakfast at school so I know what it's like.
After the guys get their water we go back to practicing. We'll sort of practice, it's more of Caleb tossing a ball around and a few of us trying to grab it and the rest trying to keep us from catching it.
~~~~
Lainey
I was supposed to be reading a book not watching the guys practice. At least that's what I told myself every time my eyes slid upward toward the field where most of the guys had ditched their shirts.
It feels weird watching them, it's like I'm spying on them. Technically I am because the only one who knows I'm here is Owen.
Owen is one of the guys who hasn't ditched their shirt, but he did change into a tank top that has seen much better days.
Maybe he needs someone to teach him how to use stain remover because the amount of grass stains on it is ridiculous.
Every so often he will glance up at me and every time my eyes are on a different guy. Owen's smirk and wiggling of the eyebrows make me laugh every time.
The last time he glances at me Caleb catches him and furrows his eyebrows. Because to him it's like Owen's is smirking at nothing.
My cheeks heat and I go back to reading my book. A few minutes later the guys started leaving.
As Owen talks with Caleb I slowly get up and climb down the bleachers.
"You alright?" I hear Caleb ask Owen as the rest of the guys leave.
Waylon walks over and Owen runs his hand through his hair, "Yeah, why do you ask?"
I stop a few feet behind Owen as Caleb gives him a look as if he doesn't believe him, "Owen, I can see through your bullshit."
Waylon snorts as he crosses his arms and Owen sighs, "I just have a lot on my mind."
Waylon and Caleb share a look, "Does it have anything to do with your family?" Caleb asks.
"No," Owen says harshly as if he's daring them to say anything else.
"Does it have anything to do with Lainey in the hospital?" Caleb asks despite Owen's harsh reply.
Owen groans, "I'm not answering that."
A playful smile dances on my lips as I cross my arms, ready to watch this play out.
Waylon and Caleb both laugh, "It does," Waylon snorts.
"He must have come to his senses and realized he's in love with her," Caleb says.
I snort from behind Owen and his back stiffens. "No, I'm not in love with her." Owen sighs, "I just feel bad about being so mean to her."
Caleb and Waylon's face immediately softens, "I wish I didn't let us grow apart as much as we have." Caleb says quietly.
The smile slips off my face, does Owen feel that way? Does Caleb?
I miss the times when Caleb was my best friend, but I understand why we grew apart and it's not like we're not friends we still talk. We just don't spend every minute together like we used to.
A teasing smile lifts to Waylon's lips, "I wish I finally got the nerve to ask her out."
Caleb laughs and I notice Owen's jaw tighten just a little. "In less, you wanted to," Waylon adds.
Owen rolls his eyes, "I don't think she would ever go out with you."
Caleb hides his laugh and Waylon gets a challenging glint in his eyes, "And you know that because you know Lainey that well."
I outright laugh and I notice Owen's shoulders tighten as if he's holding in laughter, "When she wakes up you should ask her."
Waylon throws his bag over his shoulder, "I will."
Both guys say bye and Owen slowly walks towards his car, giving us enough space to talk without them hearing us.
"Would you go out with Waylon," Owen asks me as I fall in step beside him.
I think about his question. "He's a sweet guy just not my type," I respond.
A smile dances on his lips, "Oh so you have a type."
I roll my eyes, "Doesn't everyone?"
Owen shakes his head, "I don't."
"Bull crap," I snort.
Owen just sighs, "I caught you watching a couple of different guys; got any favorites?"
He says that as if he's asking me to pick out an ice cream flavor makes my face heat. "I am not answering that," I exclaim.
Owen's shoulder bumps mine as he says, "Oh, come on." He gives me a mischievous side eye, "I won't tell anyone."
I laugh, "Okay, fine." The ground suddenly looks very interesting as I say, "The guy with the messy blond hair and had on the red shirt." Till he took it off.
Owen's brows scrunch, "Dylan?"
"Yeah, Dylan," I say with a smile. "I couldn't remember his name."
Owen gives me a weird look, "And you find him attractive?"
Suddenly my stomach flip-flops. Why am I talking about this with him?
"Yes."
"Why," Owen asks, not in a way to tease me but as if he is genuinely curious.
I shrug, I don't know why.
Owen stops at his car, "Well he's a twerp so you'll have to do better."
My hands quickly find their way to my hips, "What?"
Owen unlocks his car, "He is an in-mature player."
Before I can respond Owen slips into his car.
"How do you know that?" I ask as I buckle my seat belt.
Owen gives me a look as if the answer is obvious. "I have known him since freshman year. He plays girl like it's a sport and he's annoyingly in-mature."
I laugh, "You could be making all this up."
Owen glances at me as he backs out of the parking space, "Trust me, Lane, I'm not."
I roll my eyes, "Okay, what about the red-haired guy?"
Owen's only response is a look of disgust, "Everyone in the entire school knows he doesn't wear deodorant."
We both break out laughing. Never in a million years did I think I would be having this conversation with Owen Huntley.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter!!