Chapter 51

Isabella wanted to ask. She should have asked. In the end, she didn't.

"It was a work thing," Owen explained unprompted. "Those guys had been loitering around and harassed our guys. Boss Mike sent me over to take care of it. So please, don't worry."

Isabella visibly relaxed. "Okay."

'It's like before. It's never going to be like it was before.'

The entirety of his adolescence was a time he did not wish to relive. He remembered the loneliness he experienced in middle school and the very first fight he got into. That morning, his dad dropped him off and waved at him from the window. One student saw him and made a snarky remark about the fact that his dad was a taxi driver. Owen ignored it. Second period rolled around. Another kid commented on it. Lunch, and a whole group of six guys went to ask him about it. Owen ignored them.

After school, Owen heard the group laughing and proceeded to beat the shit out of all of them. His life was never the same after that. Fights after fights accumulated until Owen entered high school and he couldn't handle it by himself. Until he formed his own small gang.

But that life was behind him. He was here with Isabella now. He was here with her with his whole heart and not out of some concern to be normal. Isabella was the first of his girlfriends and the one that saw the worst of him. He owed her so, so much.

Quietly, he held her hand and squeezed it lightly. Isabella squeezed back and that was the end of their hand-holding. That was the way she liked it, short and sweet. It was strange though. Ever since the black muck left his arm, his wrist was getting better abnormally fast. It was as though the more he used his wrist, the better it got.

Owen and Isabella returned home. Opening the door, they found Ophelia standing at the door, her arms crossed and a slight pout on her lips. Sensing her mood immediately, Owen exchanged a knowing glance with Isabella before stepping forward to greet Ophelia.

"Hey there, Ophelia," Owen said with a warm smile, reaching out to give her a hug. "How was your day?"

Ophelia huffed slightly, her expression softening as she returned Owen's embrace. He was bigger than her and found his chest to be the perfect set of pillows. "It was okay," she replied, her tone slightly muffled against his chest. "But... I missed you guys."

"I know, I know. Because of that…"

"We got you a present," Isabella finished. Behind her, she had been holding a white bag.

Ophelia's eyes widened in delight as she reached for the bag, her earlier frustration forgotten. With eager hands, she pulled out the contents and her face lit up with joy as she beheld the new giraffe onesie.

"No way! You guys got this for me?" Ophelia exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement as she held up the soft, fuzzy garment.

"Of course!" Owen replied, his smile widening at her reaction. "We thought you'd love it."

Isabella nodded in agreement, her own smile mirroring Owen's. 

Ophelia squealed with delight. Her excitement was palpable and she zipped off to her room to change into her new giraffe onesie. Moments later, she returned in a dramatic opening burst of the door, the blonde having ran past them. With a few playful twirls and giggles, she pranced around the living room, the giraffe ears atop the hood bouncing with each movement.

"It's perfect!" Ophelia exclaimed, her grin infectious. She embraced Owen and Isabella in a group hug. "Thank you, thank you so much! You guys are the best!"

Made of soft, plush fabric in a warm shade of golden brown, the hood was one huge charming giraffe face. The long neck being Ophelia's head with the snout sitting directly on top and with large, expressive eyes, and a small pair of antlers adorned the top of the hood. Every step caused a tiny bounce of the snout.

"Ta-da!" Ophelia exclaimed, striking a playful pose, a hand on her hip and a hand making a peace-sign. "What do you guys think?"

"It suits you perfectly. Isabella chose it out for you," Owen added.

"Aw, really?" Ophelia sent her a big smile and two thumbs-ups. "Thank you." 

"No problem." Isabella smiled faded. After a glance and a nod, she darted to her room. 

"Err, thank you!" Ophelia repeated.

"No problem!" Isabella echoed, closing the door behind her.

"She's just recharging her batteries," said Owen. "She really appreciates it."

"Oh, okay." Ophelia crossed her arms, thinking. "Why don't we make her something?"

"Ah, we already…ate."

"Without me!? What did you guys get!?"

"Ice cream and—"

"And? There's an and? Not fair, Owen! I want ice cream too now!"

"We had dinner first."

"Which was?"

"...burgers."

"Burgers!? Unfair! The one day I almost considered going…seriously unfair!" Ophelia humphed and uncrossed her arms. She stomped to the living room with Owen close behind her, laughing.

"I'll get you something tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is Sunday," Ophelia murmured, stopping in the middle of the living room. Owen embraced her from behind and tucked his chin on her shoulder, cheeks touching. 

"Then takeout. And on Monday, when I came back from work, we can go to the convenience store together and get you whatever you want.:

"Mm…I dunno…"

Owen rubbed his face against hers. Ophelia closed her eyes, pretending to be unaffected. In a voice that was cute and husky, he whispered in her ear, "Please. I really want to make it up to you." 

"Mmmm…" He peppered her cheek with kisses. Ophelia stood there a couple seconds longer, her resolve breaking. Her cheeks were flushed red and the end of his intimate whispering didn't appear to have an end. "Okay. Okay, fine. Remember, you said anything!"

Money was tight but he could make it work. Owen's linked arms pulled her closer to him. 

"I'm going to get five bags of potato chips! I want Doritos and salsa chips!"

"Anything," he repeated. "Although when your tongue hurts, please don't blame me."

"Psssht. I won't."