Chapter 42 Owen
“ I think ‘nice’ might be putting it mildly,” I say, leaning in for another kiss. Her lips feel right against mine. Just like this day.
She gives me an extra peck on the cheek and shifts so she’s tucked against me with my arm around her once more. Letting out a contented sigh she says, “You might be right about that.”
I smile. Something I do a lot around this amazing woman.
We watch the water for a bit longer, content to take in the view with our drinks and I think about her photos and how beautiful they are. And how I can tell when she scrolls through and finds that she got the shot. It’s not just her eyes widening or her face lighting up. No, her whole body seems to radiate with pride.
“Can I ask you something?”
She rests her head against my shoulder. “Of course.”
I try to phrase my question the right way. “Is there a reason you don’t have any of your photos up in your house?”
“I think Andi might be the only other person to ask me that,” she says, amusement tickling her voice for a moment.
“You have an observant best friend,” I comment.
“And an observant boyfriend,” she says, playfully nudging my side with her elbow. I kiss the top of her head and then rest my cheek there, feeling the same fluttering sensation whenever she calls me her boyfriend.
“The only photos I’ve taken that are framed or displayed are at my parents’ house,” she explains.
“You never put your own up?” I ask, looking down at her.
She shakes her head slightly and her nose scrunches up adorably. “I didn’t feel that keen on filling the walls with my art in case I was going to be moving in with my ex at some point. It seemed, I don’t know, presumptuous maybe, that he’d want a bunch of my photos up.”
My mouth opens to say what I want to say… Why wouldn’t he already have your photos up after being together for over five years? But I close it, take a breath in through my nose and settle on saying, “Well, he was a fool for not already having one up on every wall.”
I lean down to kiss the tip of her nose. “On a completely unrelated note, can I get some of the photos from today?”
She snorts out a laugh. “Completely unrelated, huh?”
“Absolutely,” I say, cupping her cheek in my hand and kissing her until her mouth opens and I can taste her. Pulling away so we’re not making out like teenagers on the beach, I rest my forehead against hers. “I was going to ask you that before I knew why you didn’t have your photographs displayed. I want reminders of you all around my apartment besides the handful of things you’ve left.”
“I suppose that could be arranged, Mr. Wright.”
Immediately straightening up, I look around us for a student or one of their parents.
“What on earth was that about?” she asks.
”You only call me Mr. Wright at school and I thought you might have seen someone,” I explain.
“Owen, you do know that people have seen us together outside of school, right? That’s part of life in a small town.”
“You’re okay with it? If a student sees us together?” I ask.
“Well, I don’t need to grab your ass in front of any young, impressionable minds, but I wouldn’t have a problem with your arm around me or holding your hand.” My body relaxes with her response, we really hadn’t covered what to do when we run into a student or their parent. She gets that little wrinkle between her brows as her expression turns thoughtful. “Are you okay with that?”
“I like that I don’t have to hide anything about how I feel about you,” I explain, trying to get my thoughts in order. “I mean, we’re not kissing at school or anything, but that’s where we work and that wouldn’t be appropriate, even if it would cause Noah to do a happy dance to see us holding hands walking down the hallway.”
“Oh, he definitely would,” she laughs.
“But I like what we have. A lot.”
”I do too,” she says, leaning against me once more and looking out over the water that’s still catching the last of the sunset’s colors. After a few minutes of quiet, she starts to shiver a little.
“Okay, time to go inside,” I say, giving her waist a squeeze.
“But it’s so pretty.” She pouts adorably.
“I know it is, so why don’t you unpack your camera for a few last shots while I get the sand out of the blanket?”
“I get to take pictures while you clean up?”
I nod.
“How can I say no to that?” She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and enthusiastically gets her camera out, picking out just one lens.
As I bring the blankets away from our books and drinks, I turn back and watch her for a moment. She’s completely engrossed in the views and capturing the fading light. And she’s absolutely stunning. Her bangs are blowing this way and that, while her hands are steady and sure.
I know she’s freezing again, so I only fold up the blanket we sat on and drop it over my book. As I approach her from behind so I don’t disturb her frame, I feel calmer and more alive. She’s both grounding for me and filled with endless possibilities. It hasn’t taken long for me to figure out that I’m already falling for this incredible woman.
“Let me know when I can put the blanket over your shoulders so you don’t start shivering again,” I say quietly so I don’t startle her and ruin her shot.
“It’s like you read my mind,” she says, her shutter clicking a few more times before lowering the camera. My hands rub her arms to add warmth after draping the blanket on her. “Just a few more?”
“Take your time, Poppy. I’m not going anywhere.”