Owen's Return

OWEN’S RETURN A HEART OF HARMONY GROVE STANDALONE QUINN WARD CONTENTS Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 A Note From Quinn About Quinn PROLOGUE The scents of sugar, fryer grease, and exhaust clung to the humid night air. Even record high fall temps couldn’t stop us from enjoying the last night of the town fair. Tyler had somehow managed to convince his parents to drop us off at the front gate, provided we met them promptly at ten o’clock when the midway closed. It was our first taste of freedom and we were determined to prove to his family that we could be trusted. My parents couldn’t care less. Dad was probably passed out on the couch again and Mom was working the late shift at the diner. She was too busy to worry about her only child and Dad saw me as the inconvenience that anchored him to Harmony Grove. I played with the paper wristband on my arm, wondering what was going on with Tyler. He’d gone on every ride, but only because I forced him. His normally bright face was shadowed, his perfectly straight smile absent. I grabbed his hand, only thinking after the fact to look over my shoulder and see who might be watching. Tyler didn’t try pulling away as I led him behind the last row of rides to the area where the fair employees had set up camp for the week. We’d be in so much trouble if anyone caught us, but right about then I didn’t care who saw us. I was worried about Tyler and time was running out for me to make sure he was okay. “What’s going on with you tonight?” Tyler’s face was hidden in the shadows, but there was no mistaking the way he clenched his fists or the grinding of his teeth. For the first time ever, I was tempted to step away from my best friend, not sure if he was going to deck me for some unknown indiscretion. Tyler stumbled backward, as if his legs weren’t able to hold him upright any longer. He doubled over, fisting his fingers in his windblown curls. His back heaved and bowed, and I swore I heard a sniffle. My heart shattered even though I was still clueless. My friend was in pain, and here I’d been assuming I’d done something to piss him off because of how distant he’d been all night. It’s not always about you, Owen. The admonishment was in my head, but it was Tyler’s voice. He loved to tease me about my insecurity. I always thought I’d done something to offend someone. I couldn’t take it anymore. After a quick glance around to make sure no one was lurking in the shadows, I stepped closer, pulling Tyler into my arms. I rubbed his back, swaying softly from side to side. “It’s okay. Whatever’s going on, you can talk to me.” He let out a disbelieving snort. “Yeah, you say that now but if I tell you, you’re going to hate me.” “That’s impossible,” I insisted. There was literally nothing Tyler could do or say to make me turn my back on him. He was like a brother to me. His family took me in because my own didn’t give a single shit about me. Losing him would be like losing a piece of myself. “You can’t promise me that.” His voice broke. As soon as he realized we were hiding in a deserted area of the park, he recoiled. “What in the hell are you doing? Don’t you know what’s going to happen if anyone catches us back here? They’re going to know something fishy’s going on.” “And we’ll tell them to shove it up their asses.” I was used to fighting; I’d been doing it my entire fucking life. “If anyone has a problem with me hugging you when you’re upset, that says more about them than it does either of us.” “They can’t know, Owen. No one can know. If they do, it’ll ruin everything.” Tyler was talking in circles so convoluted, even I couldn’t understand him. “Then just tell me,” I urged. As much as it pained me to do so, I backed away from him. He needed to take a few deep breaths before he hyperventilated and passed out. Calling his mom to let her know he was unconscious and bleeding from a head wound would not encourage her to let us spend time without an adult in the future. “You know I’ll take anything you say to the grave with me.” A shake of his head was Tyler’s only response. A light turned on in a trailer near us and I prepared to confront whoever told us we couldn’t be back here. Their light shone bright enough for me to see the tear tracks down Tyler’s cheeks. Something stirred deep inside of me. My entire body tingled with awareness, a completely foreign sensation to me. It felt like there was a weight on my chest making it impossible to breathe. Oh shit! This couldn’t be happening. Tyler was upset about something, and my body decided this was the exact moment I became aware of why I never felt the way other guys in our school did about cheerleaders’ boobs bouncing in their tight uniforms. Nope. I was not crushing on Tyler Jernigan. It wasn’t allowed. This was what would ruin everything. I felt like I’d touched my tongue to a nine-volt battery when our eyes met. A jolt surged through my entire body and my dick came to life. Nope. I wasn’t going to allow this. Tyler licked his lips and I let out an undignified whimper. My palms itched with the need to touch him. It felt as though the choice had been taken away from me. Maintaining distance from my best friend was an impossibility. I need to touch