Forty-Five
forty-five
KISS ME - SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER
CALLIE - JULY 25, 2013
A s I approach Owen’s apartment, a flutter of nervous excitement rushes through me, making my steps lighter. I’ve never done anything like this before. This feels like one of those grand gestures from the romantic comedies I used to love—spontaneous, maybe even a little reckless, but I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to see him. I smooth down my dress, a simple black cotton one that clings in all the right places.
I knock lightly on the door, feeling my heart pound with anticipation. The door swings open, and Owen’s expression—equal parts surprise and delight—makes my pulse quicken.
“Love it,” I say softly, echoing my text from earlier, and step forward, wrapping my arms around him. The familiar scent of him, warm and comforting, envelopes me as I press my lips to his.
The kiss starts soft, but quickly deepens, full of the longing that’s been building for days. His hands slide up my back, pulling me closer. I can feel his smile against my lips, a shared warmth that has my heart skipping a beat. Time seems to slow, the world outside fading away as we get lost in the moment.
When we finally pull apart, Owen’s eyes meet mine with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. “Surprise,” I whisper, feeling a little breathless.
His grin widens. “You have no idea.” He leans in to steal another quick kiss. “What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t wait till tomorrow,” I admit, my voice soft. “Taylor wanted a couple of days with Sara, so I thought I’d surprise you.”
“I’m glad you did.” His voice drops lower, like he’s speaking some hidden truth, and the sound of it makes my heart race. “I’ve missed you, Kitty.”
Before I can say anything, he captures my lips again, this time with a kiss that’s deeper, more urgent. The heat between us builds quickly, hands exploring, hearts racing. I lose track of where we are, completely caught up in him.
“Ahem.”
We jerk apart, breathless, as reality snaps back into focus. Standing just a few feet away is a kid in a red uniform, eyes glued to the pizza box in his hands like it’s the only thing keeping him grounded. His face is beet red, clearly having caught us mid-makeout.
“Pizza’s here,” Owen says, chuckling as he straightens up, smoothing a hand over my hair.
“Perfect timing,” I manage to say, cheeks burning with embarrassment.
“Clearly,” the kid mutters under his breath, but Owen just laughs, letting the kid off the hook as he hands him some cash.
Once the door shuts behind him, Owen carries the pizza box to the counter, flashing me a grin. “I’m starving,” he says, popping open the lid with more excitement than necessary. The scent of melted cheese and—oh God—pineapple fills the air.
“Please tell me you didn’t get pineapple,” I groan, crossing my arms and eyeing the box.
He shrugs, grabbing a couple of plates. “I did, and you’re going to try it.”
I take the plate he offers, narrowing my eyes at the offending fruit on my pizza. “Your taste in pizza is making me question your judgement.”
Owen laughs, biting into his slice like it’s gourmet. “I don’t know. I think my judgement is pretty solid. I mean, I picked you, didn’t I?”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “Fair point. But if this sucks, we’re going to have to reevaluate everything.”
Owen steps closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “Nah, you’re like pineapple—sweet, a little tangy, and addictive. The kind of thing I could devour forever.”
I laugh, pushing him playfully. “Okay, smooth talker. But if this pizza is gross, I’m blaming you.”
He grins, watching me expectantly as I take a tentative bite. To my surprise, it’s… not terrible. I narrow my eyes at him, trying to hide my amusement. “Okay, fine. It’s not bad, but I’m blaming weird pregnancy hormones.”
“See? Told you I had good taste.” He winks, taking another bite, and I can’t help but feel completely at home with him.
After eating half my weight in pineapple pizza, Owen sits beside me, his arm draped across the back of the couch, his fingers occasionally brushing against my shoulder. Each touch sends a little spark through me, a reminder of the connection we share. I lean into him, letting my head rest against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It’s a sound that grounds me, that makes everything else seem distant and unimportant.
“This feels nice,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. “Being here with you like this.”
He tightens his arm around me, pulling me a little closer. “Yeah, it does,” he replies softly, his breath warm against my hair. “I could get used to this. ”
I smile, closing my eyes as I soak in the warmth of his embrace. There’s something about being here with him, in this quiet, peaceful moment, that feels so right. It’s like all the worries and uncertainties of the day have melted away, leaving just the two of us, wrapped up in each other.
We stay like that for a while, just enjoying the simple pleasure of being close. But eventually, Owen shifts slightly, his hand coming up to gently tilt my chin so that I’m looking into his eyes. There’s something in his gaze, something tender and affectionate that makes my heart skip a beat.
“Callie,” he begins, his voice low and sincere, “I’m really glad you came over tonight. I know it was a spur-of-the-moment thing, but… it means a lot to me.”
I can see the emotion in his eyes, the way he’s searching for the right words to express what he’s feeling. I reach up, my fingers lightly tracing the line of his jaw beneath his beard, and give him a reassuring smile.
“I’m glad I came too,” I say, my voice soft but steady. “I needed to see you. I… I couldn’t stop thinking about you all day. And now that I’m here, I just… I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be.”
His expression softens, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I feel the same way,” he admits, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s like everything just falls into place when I’m with you.”
I lean in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, a silent affirmation of everything we’ve just said. The kiss, gentle at first, quickly deepens as the unspoken emotions between us surge to the surface. I can feel the intensity of his feelings in the way his lips move against mine, in the way his hands slide up to cradle my face, his thumbs brushing lightly against my cheeks.
A soft sigh escapes me as I melt into the kiss, letting myself get lost in the sensation of being so close to him. His touch is both tender and possessive, like he’s trying to memorize the feel of me in his arms. The warmth of his body seeps into mine, and I can feel my pulse quicken, the heat between us building with each passing second.
He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his gaze burning with intensity. There’s a raw vulnerability there, something that makes my heart clench even as my body hums with need.
“I don’t want to let you go,” he murmurs, his voice rough and filled with emotion.
“Then don’t,” I reply, my fingers threading through his hair, pulling him back to me.
Our lips crash together again, the kiss even more heated than before. His hands are everywhere, exploring, caressing, claiming, and I can feel my control slipping, the desire overwhelming me. I let myself get lost in him, in the way he feels, the way he tastes, the way he makes everything else fade into the background.
The kiss intensifies, our breaths and tongues mingling in a frenzy, the world around us fading away until it’s just the two of us, lost in the heat of the moment. It’s like everything we’ve been holding back, all the unsaid words, are pouring into this embrace, and I can’t get enough.
When we finally pull back, our breaths are mingling in the small space between us, our foreheads resting against each other. His eyes are dark with emotion, and I can see the vulnerability there, the raw intensity of his feelings laid bare.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispers, his hands coming up to cradle my face, his thumbs brushing lightly against my cheeks. “More than I realized.”
“I’ve missed you too,” I reply, my voice catching slightly with the weight of the emotions swirling inside me.
For a moment, we just sit there, lost in each other’s gaze, the rest of the world fading away. It’s one of those rare moments where everything feels perfect, where nothing else matters but the two of us and the connection we share.
Then, as if he can’t help himself, Owen pulls me back in for another kiss. This one is slow and lingering, filled with all the emotions we haven’t put into words. His hands slide down my back, pulling me closer until there’s no space left between us. I can feel his adoration, his affection, in every touch, and it makes my heart swell with a warmth that I’ve never felt before.
I can’t help but respond, my own hands roaming over his chest, feeling the solid warmth of him beneath my fingertips. The kiss deepens, becomes more urgent, as the need to be closer to him overwhelms me. His hands slide up to tangle in my hair, and I can feel the desperation in the way he holds me, like he’s afraid to let go.
When we finally pull back, we’re both breathing heavily, our hearts racing in tandem. He presses a soft kiss to the top of my head, his lips lingering there for a moment as if to reassure himself that I’m really here .
“I could stay like this forever,” I whisper, my eyes drifting closed as the exhaustion of the day finally starts to catch up with me.
“So could I,” he murmurs, his voice soft and filled with affection. “But we’ve got all the time in the world.”
His words wrap around me like a promise, and as I snuggle back into his embrace, I feel a sense of peace settle over me. And I’ve never been more certain this is where I belong.