Free Unfinished by Shae Scott Page B

longer…” He was looking at me and at that moment I saw a hint of the
boy I used to know.  I bit my lip to keep from looking overly anxious by
blurting out, YES.  “I’d invite you over to the hotel, but I’m sharing a suite
with a bunch of smelly dudes,” he said.
    “You could
come back with me.” The words were out before I’d had time to think them
through.  Had I really just invited Owen to my room at two in the morning? If I
didn’t have such a history with him, I’d probably feel a little cheap. But
honestly, I just wasn’t ready to let this night end.
    He smiled and
I couldn’t help but swoon at his little smirk.  I’d seen it many times, but
having its full power unleashed on me was new.
    “I’d like
that,” he said, taking a step closer.
    “Okay then,
let’s go,” I managed.

Chapter Nine
     
     
     
    Owen didn’t
have a car.  He’d ridden over with the guys and had planned on taking a cab
home. He climbed in with me and we headed to my hotel. Neither of us said much
on the drive.  Maybe he, like me, was wondering if this was a good idea.  I
kind of hated myself for feeling so much angst at this situation. But he made
me feel 17 again and I felt way out of my league with the whole situation.
    The valet took
the car and we headed towards the elevators.  We made small talk as we waited.
I kind of wanted to go hide under a rock. I was suddenly very nervous.  Maybe
it was the silence or the small confined elevator, but by the time we actually
reached my room I was a hot mess on the inside.  I really hoped he couldn’t
tell.  Honestly, it kind of seemed like he was in the same boat.  He was
distracted, looking around the room, eyes pausing on the bed before taking a
seat on the sofa.  I let out a breath and headed to the mini fridge.
    “Drink?” I
asked pulling two tumblers off of the shelf.
    “Please.”  He
leaned back into the couch and made himself comfortable.  He crossed one leg
over his knee and watched me as I made us each a drink.  I made mine a little
stronger.  I kicked off my heels and moved over to join him on the sofa.
“Thanks,” he smiled, taking a sip, his eyes still on my face. 
    “Stop looking
at me like that,” I blurted.  He laughed. Loudly. 
    “How am I
looking at you?” he asked.
    I sighed. “I
don’t know…like you read my mind or something.”
    “I can’t.  But
now I wish that I could,” he smiled.  I shook my head and settled into the
corner of the couch and pulled a pillow onto my lap and faced him.
    “You’re
nervous again.” It wasn’t a question. The fact that he wasn’t afraid to point
out my nerves frustrated me.  Couldn’t he just let me pretend I was hiding it?
    “I know.  It’s
not really nerves as much as it is just when I think about the situation I can
barely believe that we are here right now,” I admitted.
    “You mean,
here in this room?” he asked. The way he said it made the hair on the back of
my neck stand up. For some reason it felt intimate. 
    “No,” I lied. 
“I mean, it’s odd for me.  Sometimes when I look at you I see the old Owen. 
Then, you are someone completely new. It’s strange to fit both of you together.”
I wondered if I was making any sense.
    He smiled. 
“Still the same Owen for the most part,” he said.  He looked so relaxed, so
comfortable that I began to feel my own guard slipping. 
    “Yeah,” I
agreed quietly.
    “I feel the
same way, ya know. I mean as much as you are my Ally from before, you’re
different.  You have life under your belt now.  It’s made you more…” He let the
sentence fall, unable to pinpoint the words.  I was still stuck on my Ally .
    “More?” I
urged him on, curious as to how he saw me now. 
    He took a sip
of his drink and held my gaze over the rim of the glass. It was a look with so
many layers, yet I couldn’t grasp a single one long enough to make sense of it.
“Just more,” he finally said. 
    “So tell me
more about Chicago,”