Breaking All the Rules novel Chapter 45

After Owen and I grab something to eat we go back to his place and hang out. Taylor is sitting on their couch with some blonde headed girl, not the same girl who was at their house the day before, but they can judge me for hanging out with more than one guy right? Anyway, the two of them are watching a movie and Taylor has his arm around her shoulder, he nods at us when we come in.

When the blonde girl looks up her face lights up with recognition like she knows who I am but I don't know who she is. "Kamdyn right?" She asks me.

I nod, caught off guard, I've never seen this girl before. "I'm Emma, I pledged your sorority last year."

I instantly feel bad for not recognizing her but we do get a lot of pledges it's hard to keep up with all of them. "Oh yeah, Emma. Sorry, it's so dark in here I didn't recognize you."

She shrugs it off. "It's okay."

Owen nods to his room. "Want to go hang out in there?"

Taylor looks up at that and I instantly shake my head, the last thing I need is for Taylor to go tell Tim I was hanging out in Owen's room. I don't know why I should care if he tells Tim, but I do. I don't want to hurt Ian more than I already have and that makes me that much angrier, Ian doesn't care that he's hurting me.

"We can stay in here." Instead of waiting on Owen's response I sit down next to Emma, forcing Owen to sit in the empty recliner next to me. Owen looks a little disappointed but doesn't protest.

"So how have you been?" I ask Emma.

"Great, I didn't get into your sorority but that's okay, my friend and I got our own house off campus so no complaints here." She leans in and whispers, "I thought you and Ian McAllister

were together."

I shake my head at her. "No, just friends."

"Oh." She doesn't say more and neither do I, I just focus on the movie their watching, I notice Owen watching me from the corner of my eye, but I don't dare look his way. I know he's starting to develop feelings for me, he's tried to hold my hand twice today, I just don't know what to do about it. I'm not ready for anything serious right now but in a few months I might be, I just really don't want to hurt him.

"So I heard you stopped coming to the games." Taylor says to me. He didn't have to specify what he meant; I knew he was talking about baseball.

I shrug, "I've been busy."

"Maybe that's why McAllister can't strike anyone out, maybe you really are a good luck charm. You need to come to all our games so we can actually win one." He tells me.

"What? Ian is having trouble striking anyone out?" I can't believe what I'm hearing since when does Ian McAllister have trouble doing anything?

"Yeah, you haven't heard? He sucks."

"Sorry." Owen says with a smile. My heart was beating out of my chest he scared me so badly. "It's getting late, you want to just spend the night? I can sleep on the couch." That gets Taylor's attention, he looks over at me.

"No, it's okay, I'll just drive home." I only lived ten minutes away from them anyway, it's not like it was a far drive. Owen has never asked me to stay the night before and the fact that he asked me is a little weird.

"Are you sure? We don't mind if you stay the night." He looks at Taylor for help but Taylor has his eyes back on the T.V. as though he wasn't listening but I knew he was.

"No, I don't live far. I'll see you tomorrow." I stand to my feet. I tell them bye before walking to my car, I don't even realize Owen has followed me outside until I look up and see him standing there. He reaches out and opens my car door. He stands there looking at me, runs his hand through his hair like he's nervous.

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." He says looking at me. "I just meant....you know, you could stay here if you wanted to, I wasn't expecting anything or anything."

I give him a smile. "I know, Owen, thank you, but really it's okay, I don't live far."

He nods. "I know." He stands there a minute, looking at me, his hands in his front pockets. "Is it awkward? Being around Taylor I mean?"

"No." I lie. It was very awkward I felt like I'm constantly walking on egg shells, so careful with what I say because I know whatever I say can and will be used against me because Taylor will run and tell Tim everything, guys gossip just as much as girls do, no matter how much they claim otherwise. I don't want to hurt Ian more than I already have. Even though I know it's a long shot, a part of me still clings to the hope that he and I will one day get together.

"Okay, good. I just feel like, maybe you're scared to be alone with me." He looks down at his shoes, kicks at the road. He looks adorable standing there, like a kid who just got in trouble, my heart breaks for him. I think he likes me a lot more than he lets on. I really like him too and if it wasn't for Ian I would love to be with Owen but I can't turn off the feelings I feel for Ian and I feel so guilty about it.