Page 68 of Fierce-Michael

He explained how they knew each other, what Kelly looked like and her character. How accepting she was of everything, but he kept out anything about Kelly’s past.

“She almost seems too good to be true.”

“No one is perfect,” Owen said.

“No,” he said. “I wouldn’t say she is, but I do worry that when I call her next to meet you and then my parents and Ty, things could slow down.”

“If you worry or think that, then she isn’t for you,” Owen said.

“I don’t believe that,” he said. “I don’t want to overwhelm her too much though.”

“You’re talking about her as if she walks on water. Then she should be able to handle your son and parents for a few hours. I’m a piece of cake.”

“I’m not so sure you are a piece of cake, but she’d probably be more accepting of meeting you since I talk about you a lot.”

“I’m flattered,” Owen said. “Call her and set it up and then text me. I’ll make it happen. This week,” Owen said. “I mean it. Do it on Tuesday when Electra has Ty.”

“If he ends up going there, sure,” he said. “Since we spend Tuesdays together too.”

“Sweet,” Owen said. “Does she have a sister or any single friends?”

“No sister. I haven’t asked about friends,” he said, “and not going to. I’m not into setting people up.”

“True,” Owen said. “Sounds like if she didn’t make a funny bet with you, she’d still be staring at you from a distance. I like that she made that first move.”

“I like that too,” he said.

Because Owen was right. If Kelly hadn’t, he was positive they wouldn’t be in a relationship right now.

21

A GOOD SPEED

“Why is your leg shaking?” Michael asked her on Tuesday when they were in his SUV.

He’d picked her up to take her to dinner and meet his best friend.

There was so much happening at once.

Meeting Owen tonight and then on Sunday he was picking his son up from Electra’s and bringing him right to his parents, then coming to get her and she’d meet his family.

Kelly was fine with that.

In her mind, it was all happening at a good speed and she was happy he’d brought it up to make that move.

But meeting his best friend was something completely different.

Friends were the ones that always knew you the best.

They knew the things your family didn’t always. The stuff that you liked or disliked about a partner.

The intimate things.

Could even be about sex. She knew she talked to some of her friends about that over the years too.

Even coworkers, but in the past year or so she’d been quieter.

First, she had nothing to share.