This One’s For You Page 30

  I climbed out the car, slamming the door behind me, and entered the house, heading to my room.

  “Brennan, wait!” he called out to me. He reached out, pulling me to a stop. My body coiled with anger simmering in my veins. “Look, I shouldn’t have said anything. We don’t have to go, okay.”

  I yanked my arm from his soft hold. I burned holes into his eyes. My nostrils flared, and my hands shook by my sides.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, stepping toward me. He brushed his hand across my cheek, tucking my hair behind my ear, and I turned my head away. “Say something, please.”

  The desperate sound of his voice broke me. I couldn’t stay angry at him, especially over something that I was completely throwing out of proportion. It was only a party. Granted, one for my best friend who was gone. Yeah, everyone was pressuring me to go, but that didn’t mean I had to give in. I was still my own person, and I could do whatever the hell I wanted. I did not want to go to that party.

  “Owen,” I said, sighing loudly. “I’m not mad at you.” His eyes widened, and he looked hopeful. “But I’m not going to that party tonight, and I don’t want to hear any more about it.”

  He pulled me in for a kiss, teasing my lips with his soft, luscious ones. “My lips are sealed,” he muttered between each kiss. “We’ll do whatever you want.”

  I pulled away, raising an eyebrow. “Anything I want?” I asked, not hiding the mischievous tone in my voice.

  “Why do I get the feeling that I should be afraid about what you might have up your sleeve?”

  “You should be afraid,” I teased. Owen shifted his weight uncomfortably. “Very afraid.”

  I watched his Adam’s apple slide down his throat as he gulped, and it was all I could do not to laugh. I grabbed him by the hand, laughing softly, and continued to make our way down the east wing of the house. I stopped and knocked on all three of my brothers’ doors, asking them to meet me in my bedroom.

  “Okay, what’s the purpose of this little powwow?” Trent asked, sulking into my bedroom. He didn’t hide the irritation from his face about being woken from his nap.

  I was sitting on the edge of the bed, next to Owen, and a wide grin spread my face. “Well, I think it’s time to bring back a standing Daniels tradition.”

  My brothers glanced between one another, and I could feel Owen staring at me. He didn’t have the slightest clue as to what he was about to get himself into. I watched in silence as my brothers tried to figure out what exactly I was talking about. Then all at once, it was like a lightbulb went off in their heads, and they smiled simultaneously.

  “You aren’t talking about . . .” Trevor said, his words trailing off.

  We exchanged glances, talking with our eyes instead of words. “I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

  “Oh, ho, ho!” Trent exclaimed, his face lighting up like a kid on Christmas morning. He rubbed his hands together, before reaching over and squeezed Damon’s shoulders. “This is going to be great.”

  My brothers left the room, their moods bright and excited. Trent had jumped on his twin’s back and started hollering as they exited. Damon paused at the door, winking, and the corner of his lips turning up into a slight smile.

  “Mind telling me what I’m about to be dragged into?” Owen asked, as the door closed.

  “Nope,” I answered plainly. I pushed myself off the bed, and walked over to my dresser. “You’ll find out later tonight.”

  ***

  “You’re kidding me, right?” Owen asked.

  We were standing on the dock. It was almost midnight, and we had spent the day hanging out with my brothers. We all were tight-lipped about what we were going to be doing tonight. And the look on Owen’s face right at the moment was priceless. It was somewhere between excited and absolutely petrified.

  “No, I’m not,” I told him. “Every year, at the stroke of midnight, we discard our robes and jump into the lake.”

  “Every year?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you were bringing back the tradition?”

  Damon chuckled beside Owen, placing his hand on his shoulder. “Yeah, we’ve missed the last couple years because we were all off doing our own thing.”

  “And don’t think we’re going to miss out on it this year!” my mother sang out from behind us. I looked over my shoulder and saw my parents walking hand in hand toward us.

  Owen’s eyes shot to me. He probably thought we were all crazy. It was only thirty degrees outside, and we were all standing around in swimsuits underneath the plush robes. We were about to dive into water that was only a few degrees warmer than the air.

  Maybe we were crazy.

  This was something my family had done before I was born. I remembered being impatient and upset as a child when I was told I was too young join in the festivities. The year I finally turned seven, I was able to make my first jump into the frigid cold water. It was exhilarating—freezing—but my gramps said it was a way to wash off the troubles of the year and start off fresh in the new one. And that was something I needed more than any of us.

  “If you’re too chicken to do it, I promise I won’t make fun of you,” I teased Owen. “Much.”

  “Oh no, I’m doing it,” he retorted. “But the lot of you are crazy fools.”

  “One minute to go,” Trevor called out.

  We started to pull off our robes. Our breaths visible in the cold, winter air. Owen shivered next to me, and I could hear his teeth chattering. I laughed to myself and shook my head. Wrapping my arms around him, I offered him a bit of warmth before we took the plunge.

  As the clock wound down, we all stepped toward the end of the dock, standing in a line, and our fingers interlocking with the person on either side. Owen was to my left, and Damon was to my right. Trevor started the countdown . . .

  5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . we all jumped.

  The water pierced my skin like a thousand daggers. My body instantly began to shake as I swam toward the ladder on the dock. I climbed out of the water, quickly pulling my thick robe around me. The floodlight set up on the deck cast a large glow, and I looked out into the water.

  My heart started to pound against my chest, my teeth chattering loudly in my ears. I could feel the panic rising in my body as I searched for any sign of Owen. He was nowhere to be seen. I was too stunned to say anything. To cry out to my family to look for him. I felt the warm tears sting against my cheeks as they slid down. A lump forming in my throat.

  “You’re going to pay for making me do that.” I jumped at the deep, husky voice that belonged to Owen.

  He slid his arms around my waist from behind. I turned in his embrace, and pressed my lips against his. Repeatedly kissing him over and over again, as if I thought I’d never see him again. And for a moment, I didn’t think I would.

  “Brennan?” he said gently. “Are you okay?”

  “I thought—” My voice cracked. I wiped at the few straggling tears that fell from my eyes. “I couldn’t find you in the water after I got out . . . I started to panic . . . I thought something happened to you.”

  I let out a soft sob. Owen pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly against his chest. He kissed the top of my head, as I listened to the sound of his heart beat in sync with mine. Even our hearts were in tune with one another. The thought brought immediate comfort.

  “It’s about dang time!” Trent shouted, as he climbed out of the water. I turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “I mean, it’s official right, the two of you are an item?”

  I looked up at Owen, before turning back, smiling at the small crowd around us, and nodding my head. You’d think my family just won the lottery by the way they cheered and gave each other high fives. My father shook Owen’s hand, nodding slightly to him. My mother pulled me into a tight hug.

  They were acting like the two of us were getting married. It was ridiculous the display they were putting on.
But that was my family for you. They always did things in excess. I wasn’t surprised by their reaction, and thankful that no one tried to strangle Owen. It helped that my brothers tried to do that when we first arrived. Now, they treated him like he was a part of the family. The idea warmed my heart.

  After the quick celebrations were over, we all rushed inside for a cup of my father’s hot chocolate. My father made a fire in the living room, and we stayed up telling each other stories. I felt normal again. It was nice to be sitting there with my family—with Owen—and just talk.

  I didn’t realize until then just how much I had closed myself off to everyone. I missed out on so much. Damon did, in fact, have a girlfriend, whom he promised to introduce me and the rest of the family to soon. I didn’t know that the twins were team captains of the football team. Or that my father had become the chief surgeon at the Children’s Hospital.

  I had been so wrapped up in my own personal little bubble, shutting myself out from everyone, that I missed all these important things going on in my family’s life. It made me feel guiltier that I missed so much. As I sat there, I made a promise that wasn’t going to happen anymore. I wasn’t going to keep myself from being an active member of the family. I was going to be there as they had tried to be there for me.

  After a while, Owen and I called it a night. We were heading back to school in the morning and needed to get some rest. I took the time to give each of my family members a hug, holding on a little longer than usual, and told them I loved them. I was certain that each of them had tears in their eyes by the time I was done—including my brothers—and I felt ashamed at what I put them through.

  By the time we got to my room, I was so drained from the day that it didn’t take long for me to succumb to sleep. I curled up next to Owen, snuggling in as close as I could, and drifted off.

  The next morning came sooner than I’d have liked. Owen had already packed our bags into the death trap of a car that belonged to Sam. My father was concerned about us making the drive back in the rusted piece of crap, but Owen assured him that we would make it without any problems. Unless it decided to overheat again, but I didn’t tell him that. No need to make him worry about me more than he already had.

  We said our good-byes and before long we were on our way back to campus. The drive back felt different than it did on my first trip I took with my brother. Then, I was afraid of what to expect. I wanted to enjoy school but wasn’t sure I was going to. I missed Reagan. I was so full of anger that I couldn’t really enjoy the good things.

  This time I was excited. Though I wasn’t completely okay, I was making progress. A little of the weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I still had a long way to go, but this time I wasn’t alone. I was ready to let people in. I was ready to say I wanted to make friends, make memories, and move on, and actually meaning it. I was no longer doing this solely for Reagan, but for myself as well. For the both of us, and that’s how it should’ve been from the very beginning.

  Instead of returning Sam’s car, we headed straight for campus once we reached Eugene. Thankfully, we made it without any speed bumps along the way.

  While I wasn’t afraid of being in a new place on my own, I was worried. Owen and I were a couple now. I could hardly stand the stares and whispers when we were nothing more than friends—two people who trekked closely on the thin line of what it meant to be friends.

  I knew Owen had a past, one that worried me in the back of my mind, but I kept the doubts to myself. How could a person really change their ways? How could they just suddenly stop what they were doing and say they were a new person? Was I setting myself for heartache? What if everyone was right—including Owen—when they said I should stay away from him? What do I do then?

  “You doing all right over there?” The sound of Owen’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

  Okay, some things hadn’t changed yet. I still overthought about things. I worried too much. But I was doing that before the accident. I didn’t think that’s going to change anytime soon. It was a part of who I was. Just an overanalyzing, overreacting, worrisome chick.

  “Mm-hmm,” I replied.

  “I can hear the words spinning in your head.”

  Owen lifted the back of my hand to his lips and pressed them it against it. He slowed to a stop at a red light and looked over toward me. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Brennan?”

  “Just thinking . . .” I answered. The light turned green, and he eased the car forward. “Everyone’s going to be talking once school starts.”

  “Let them. I want the whole world to know that we’re together.”

  My cheeks blushed at the sentiment. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

  His foot slipped off the gas, and the car jerked. I widened my eyes as they connected with his. It took less than a second for Owen to correct himself, and he kept heading toward the dorms.

  “What are you trying to say?” he asked, unsure of the situation. He was upset. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel, easing it into the parking lot. The car came to a stop. He shut off the engine, turned to look at me, and took a deep breath. “Are you saying that you want to keep our relationship a secret from everyone?”

  “NO!” I balked at the idea. I watched the relief wash over his face. “I’m just trying to say I’m not ready for all the attention that seems to come along with you.”

  He face fell. I didn’t mean it in the way he seemed to be taking it. I sighed, trying to figure out the words he would understand.

  “What I meant to say is—”

  He reached out and placed a finger over my lips, silencing me. “I know what you meant,” Owen said, laughing softly. “But you won’t be alone.”

  “My own personal knight in shining armor.”

  “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again,” he whispered seductively. “I love rescuing damsels in distress.”

  “Well, Mr. Scott, you sure picked a winner this time,” I joked, leaning toward him.

  He gave me a quick peck on the lips. “That I did.”

  Before we said anything else, he opened his door and climbed out. I met him at the back of the car and retrieved my suitcase. The campus seemed dead, lifeless. Not a single person was to be seen. It gave it a bit of an eerie feeling. I was looking forward to when it was full of busybodies over the next few days, at least then it wouldn’t be so quiet.

  The dorm seemed deserted as we made our way down the hall on our floor. I waited as Owen tossed his bag carelessly in his room. I turned to unlock my door. I let out a small scream as my eyes fell on the last thing I expected to see.

  Amelia. She was back already. I hadn’t expected her to be back for another four days. However, she wasn’t alone. She was lying on top her bed, wearing a pair of jeans, and a black bra. Hovering over the top of her was some dark-haired guy I’d never seen before. Thankfully, he was still fully clothed.

  This had to be the guy Amelia had been sneaking out to see.

  “What’s wro—” Owen started to say until his eyes fell on the couple on the bed. He tensed beside me. “What the hell is this, Amelia?”

  “Oh save it, Owen,” Amelia scoffed, pushing the guy to the side. She looked at her partner, glaring at him. She didn’t need to say anything for him to get the point; he climbed off the bed and stormed out of the room. “Don’t even start with that crap.”

  I was confused on what was happening here.

  First of all, Amelia wasn’t supposed to be back yet. And why did Owen question her like she was doing something wrong? Why did she snap at him?

  They stared at each other for several long seconds. She scooted to the edge of her bed, snatched her shirt off the ground, and pulled it over her head. They continued to have their little standoff, and I was growing uncomfortable standing there.

  “Well, it’s good to see you too,” I said loudly, trying to lighten the mood. It took another couple seconds before Amelia tore her gaze away from Owen and l
ooked at me. “I missed you.”

  Amelia got to her feet, crossed the room, and pulled me into a hug. “I missed you too.”

  “How was Christmas?” I asked.

  Amelia shrugged her shoulders, offering me no details. It struck me as odd. I was expecting to hear all about how miserable she was the entire time she was there. Yet, she was giving me nothing.

  I brushed past her, heading toward my bed to drop my suitcase. My steps faltered when I heard Amelia whisper harshly to Owen.

  “Not a word, Bieber.”

  I set the bag on top of my bed and sat down. I watched the two of them exchanging uncomfortable glances. “Am I missing something?”

  “No!” they both answered a little too quickly.

  “However, you did forget to tell me that Bieber-boy . . .  spent Christmas with you.” I heard Owen groan and caught him shaking his head. He hated his nickname, but as long as he kept the hair, the nickname was sticking.

  “How’d you find out?”

  “Well, since my best friend”—my heart grew with her words—“decided that it wasn’t important enough to even send me a quick message to tell me, I heard it from Callen.”

  “I didn’t know you talked to Callen,” I said, out loud and to no one in particular.

  “Well, yeah—” Owen started to say.

  Amelia’s voice overpowered his. “He called on Christmas to wish me a happy holiday.”

  I saw the way Owen’s eyes widened at what she said. There was something I was missing here, something the both of them weren’t telling me, but I wasn’t sure what. Evidently, they didn’t plan to tell me either, so I was on my own to figure it out.

  “Huh,” I said. “Little jerk didn’t call me on Christmas.”

  “Probably thought you were a little too preoccupied,” Amelia teased. “So tell me, did you two finally get it on?”

  “And that’s my cue to leave,” Owen said uncomfortably. “I’m going to let you two catch up. Let’s grab some dinner later on, okay.”