I take them , sniffing their flowery aroma. I can’t help it, their color symbolizes purity, and I feel a tug in my heart even though I should probably resist. No, I know I should resist.
“Thanks,” I say. “What is this for?” I have to grip the flowers with two hands because they’re so heavy.
Undoubtedly, I’m confused as ever.
“These roses are the beginning of the apology I want to give you,” Owen recites.
He’s wearing all black—black jeans, a black sweater and a black coat.
He clears his throat to begin what I assume will be a speech about his wrongdoings.
“Molly, I present these roses to you as a way to sincerely apologize,” he says.
So I’m right, I can sense these things. The guy in the dog house wants to come back inside.
“Molly, there are one hundred white roses here, and each one represents how truly sorry I am for hurting you.”
I don’t know why, but all I can do is stare blankly at him. I don’t have a reaction…not yet anyway.
“Can I come inside?” He gestures towards my living room.
I still can’t bring myself to speak, so I continue to stare a hole in the wall across from him.
“Please, Molly…”.
I finally regain some control over my muscular activity. I simply nod, but I still don’t say anything to him.
He walks past me and takes the roses, placing them on my kitchen table.
“These will look good here,” he offers.
I stand there awkwardly, waiting for him to say something else.
“Molly,” he holds his hands up, “I am so, so sorry. Yes, it’s true that my plan began with trying to win you over so you would lift my suspension from the Expose. I really wanted to fuck Crystal in the beginning.”
I flinch at his words.
He pauses here, waiting to see if I will counter, argue or fly into his arms. I do none of these things; I simply look at the ground and remain silent, still.
Owen has no choice but to continue on with his apology.
“What was not part of the plan,” he says, “is the way I now feel about you. I can’t deny it any longer, Molly. I think I’m in love with you.”
Whoa, hold the train. No way. Owen fucking Wolfe just said the L word?
His words are powerful, and I can hear the vulnerability in his voice, but I’m not quite ready to open up to him yet. I’m not sure what to think, if I can trust him. I need a little more.
Owen approaches me and takes my hands in his, cradling them gently. I don’t protest or try to pull away.
“Molly,” he whispers softly, his voice like a prayer, “I love you. You’re the only thing I can think about. I can’t fucking sleep, I can’t fucking eat. Without you, I’m fucking nothing.”
I ponder his confession and digest it, allowing it to sink into every fiber of my being.
“Do you think you can grant me a second chance to fix everything I’ve fucked up?” Owen asks softly.
I breathe in the intoxicating and sexy scent of his masculine cologne. He’s only standing close to me, but I can feel his amazing strength and safety, as if I’m already wrapped in his arms.
I finally know how to answer him. I decide to go with the truth.