The way her face lights up as she looks around makes it all worth it.
“It’s not enough.” I lower my voice. “There’s something else I need to talk to you about, Katie. I’m going back home tonight. It’s time.”
She nods and gives me a small smile. “I figured it was coming.”
“I can’t stay hidden forever, or whoever is doing this wins. I served my time already and can’t continue being a prisoner. The police still have an open investigation, and my dad said nothing else has happened.”
“You’re right,” she tells me. “You deserve to get back to normal.”
I step forward and take her soft hand. “I still want to help you on the weekends, if you’ll let me. Getting this house finished before the end of the year is doable with a little elbow grease.”
She grins and nods. “I’d like that.” I kiss her knuckles, and she tucks her bottom lip into her mouth.
“You’re amazing. I don’t deserve you,” I say, meeting her eyes.
“Why would you think that?”
“Because you let me be a part of your life again after everything I did and how badly I hurt you.”
She sucks in a shallow breath, and we stare at each other as the tension between us rises. A thump sounds in the next room, and we rush toward it, only to see Owen picking up his tablet from the floor.
“Whoops.”
“Did it break?” Katie asks.
“Nope!” he says with a grin, flipping the screen around.
Katie turns back to me. “Oh, before I forget, I have a girls’ day planned with Gemma and Everleigh tomorrow. Owen’s going to my parents.”
“Do I have to?” he groans.
I smile at him, getting an idea. “You can hang out with me tomorrow. I mean, if your mom says it’s okay.”
Katie tilts her head at me as if she’s unsure.
“Yeah, we’re related, so it should be fine!” Owen immediately tries to convince Katie. “Pretty, pretty please, Mom!”
“Are you sure?” She glances at me.
“Absolutely. Just drop him off in the morning and enjoy your girls’ day.”
A wide smile sweeps across her perfect lips. “Okay, deal. I’ll call my mom and let her know.”
Owen’s over the moon.
“Do you want a ride home so you don’t have to carry everything back?” Katie asks.
“Sure, that’d be awesome.”
Owen follows me to the bedroom and helps me grab my stuff.
“Tomorrow is gonna be so much more fun now,” he tells me. “You like Marvel movies?”
“Love them. Which is your favorite?” I ask.
“I love theAvengers!”
He’s so excited that all I can do is laugh even though I have no idea what that is, considering I’ve been locked up. We’ll have a good time, and I’m actually looking forward to hanging out with him. Seeing what it’s like to entertain a ten-year-old all day will definitely be interesting.