I leaned forward and rested my arms on the table, clasping both hands around my cold glass. “This isn’t really my scene. Not that there’s anything wrong with socializing at the local watering hole, but for me, I’m usually in bed in about an hour. Ugh. Just thinking about how tired I’m going to be tomorrow makes my eyes hurt.”

Swigging his drink, Owen then mirrored my stance, his own glass wrapped between his large hands. “First off, no one uses the term ‘watering hole.’ We’re not in a Western film. Second, you should take some time to get out every once in a while. I’m sure the farm will survive without you for a day or two.”

He was making the same observation as Dean, yet it irked me to hear it from Owen. Especially since he had no clue about the plans I was drawing up for his family’s property.

“We have some workers that live in town, but my dad and I are still very hands-on. And I wouldn’t change anything. I love it.”

“Do you though? Seems really lonely, if you ask me.”

Well, shit. I didn’t know how to respond to that, because Owen was absolutely right. Besides Jenna, I had no real friends, no actual relationships. My life had always been set to take over the farm. Everything else was unnecessary. Until Owen pointed it out, I hadn't realized how lonely I truly was.

But I could fix that. It was what drove me to meet up with Jenna in the first place. Did I need a relationship? No. Would it be nice? Sure. But what I sought was intimacy. I was a twenty-four-year-old virgin who had barely done more than kiss, aside from the single blowjob I’d given. There were teens who saw more action than I have. I knew for a fact that Jenna lost her virginity to Carl Southland at sixteen. I hadn’t been jealous then, but I was now.

As a distraction, I gazed over at Tryston, who was bent over the pool table, his backside in my direction. Of course, he was showing a woman—one who’d propositioned Owen—how to line up a shot. She was pressed against him, and I instantly felt envious. Not of her flirting with Tryston, but of her confidence. I lacked that in spades.

I was too lost in my own world that I missed Owen following my stare, until he asked, “Who are we looking at?”

“We’re not,” I immediately corrected.

“My guess is the taller one. He seems like your type.”

My gaze shooting to Owen, I asked, “What makes you say that?”

“Just taking a guess. Since you work outside most of the day, I assumed you probably want someone stable enough in their own career. The suit looks that way. Of course, I don’t know who wears a suit to a bar on the weekend.”

“He’s a lawyer, and their practice is open seven days a week. Farmers aren’t the only ones who have crazy schedules.”

The corner of Owen’s mouth tips upward, and he leans back in victory. “Yet he seems to make time to go out and pick up a woman or two.”

“Touché.”

“So, why aren’t you over there talking to him?”

Sighing, I swirl my fingers through the condensation on the glass. “I don’t know. I just…. I’m not that kind of girl.”

“What do you mean?”

My fingers continue their wet path along the glass, creating images in the moisture. “I just….”

Suddenly, my fingers are pulled from their doodling, and they rest in Owen’s warm grasp. “You just what?” he requested, but all I could focus on was the feel of his thumb rubbing small circles against my palm.

Without thinking, I said, “You know, people are going to wonder why you’re holding my hand right now.”

Immediately, he replied, “Let them wonder. Now, explain why you aren’t over there talking to the guy you’re attracted to?”

“Owen…,” I whined.

He copycatted, “Aspen.”

“Ugh, I can’t believe I’m telling you this,” I mumbled before slipping my hand free from his. I’d never admit how much I immediately missed the feeling. “I just don’t know how, okay? I don’t know how to flirt or appear interested. I barely know how to strike up a conversation with a stranger unless it’s something work-related.”

“That’s not true. You’re talking to me right now.”

My head fell back in a haunted laugh. The kind that forces everyone to think you’ve gone crazy. “Owen, I’m only talking to you, because I’ve known you since we were six. You know, when you made it your life’s mission to see how much you could torment me?”

“Aw… cricket, that hurts. I thought you actually liked me.”

“Why would I like you? When have we ever gotten along?”

“We’re getting along now,” he pointed out, and I paused, because he was right. In the last ten minutes, we had been getting along. The world didn’t implode, and the sun didn’t detonate.

Now, I secretly wondered if someone was filming me for a prank show. Sitting up in my chair, I glanced around quickly, searching for any hidden cameras. I locked eyes with Jenna in my exploration, and she held up a hand to her newly acquired date, then made her way over to me.

“Owen Ramsey, what a surprise to see you here.”

“It’s nice to see you too, Jenna. It’s been a while.” She rested a hand on the back of his chair and tilted forward. But unlike the women who slipped Owen their numbers, nothing about her stance was sexual. It was friendly and open, yet I still felt a pang of jealousy, and I had no idea why.

I chalked it up to being envious of her ability to speak to everyone like a lifelong friend. It was a talent Jenna possessed since we were kids.

“It has,” she added. “So, what are you two talking about over here?”

Chiming in quickly, I replied, “Nothing.”

Both of them swiveled their heads in my direction at my outburst.

“Actually, we were just discussing Aspen’s love life.”

“Oh.”

“I don’t have a love life,” I added. “And Owen was just leaving, now that you’ve returned.”

Jenna’s face pinched. “Actually, Derek and I are going to head out and go back to his place for a bit.”

“Oh, well, I can close our tabs really quick.” I’d driven separately, since my dad drove me to my car at Chuck’s and gave it a jumped before I came here, but I didn’t want to hang out at the bar by myself if she was leaving. And I wasn’t going to complain she was ditching me, when I didn’t want to be here in the first place.

As I went to stand, Jenna forcefully pushed at my shoulder for me to remain seated. “No, you stay.”

I tried to argue with her that I had no reason to stay, but Owen inserted himself into the quarrel and said, “Actually, cricket, I have something I want to discuss with you. Please stay.”

And shit, I was a goner. Even with him saying the nickname I despised, hearing Owen ask me so nicely to stay melted me faster than the frost on my beer glass.

“Fine,” I grumbled, and I didn’t miss the way his eyes lit up in triumph.

Jenna flagged down the server and paid her bill, then she said goodbye, leaving with Derek in tow. I watched them leave with a sense of longing. I’d never left anywhere with a guy before. Never taken a guy back to my place or gone back to theirs. I felt even smaller than a wallflower. I was the tiny seed that got no sun or rain. I had no way to grow.

“Earth to Aspen.”

At the sound of my name, I jerked my head around to where Owen waited with a patient smile. It was a look I’d never witnessed on his face before.