"You're cold," Owen says.

Hm, what gave it away? My shivering, my chattering teeth, my arms wrapped around myself in a meager attempt to keep myself warm, or my lack of appropriate nighttime beach clothes?

"Here," he says, pulling off his jacket and wrapping it around me. He's only wearing a white T shirt now. But hey, it's in the boyfriend rule book to let your girlfriend stay warm before you, right?

"Thanks," I smile at him.

I left my shoes purposely. I love the feeling of sand between my toes. The breeze in my face blows my hair all over the place. It's sort of driving me crazy, so I frustratedly throw it into a ponytail.

It feels weird, walking by Owen and not holding his hand. My own is itching to. They're even swinging in the same pace. Hardly three inches away... No. We have to talk first.

"Owen," I sigh, looking up at him. "I want to forgive you. A lot. I just... I don't know, I guess. It feels wrong to let you push me around like that and to tell you it's alright hardly two days after finding this all out."

"I know what I did was wrong," Owen says. "And as many times as I say I'm sorry won't fix it. I did it, and I can't reverse it. You're right. I took advantage of your lost memory just like my parents wanted me to. I could've gone against them, but I didn't. And, well, I also didn't want it to blow up."

I nod, biting my lip. "I know you had to be careful. Thanks for worrying about me, but..."

"It's still wrong, I know. Excuses won't stop that. But I've already told you what I can. I want us to be able to get past this. I love you, Brinley. I made a mistake. I want you to forgive me. I want you more than anything," Owen says, stopping me. He stands there in front of me, eyes searching mine.

"I love you too, Owen. So much. I really do," I say. "But I put a lot of trust in you. You taught me my past... And now seeing that a good chunk was taken away from me... My trust feels a little iffy."

Owen places a hand on my cheek, and my eyes lift to his. "I love you. I know it will take time. I know it, but I'm willing to do anything to get you back."

"Owen-" I start, but I can't finish what I was about to say because his lips are on mine. His hand is on my cheek and I can feel my body heating up at the touch. I almost pull him closer, but then I remember what we were just talking about.

"Owen," I repeat, pulling away. He looks confused. "It doesn't seem weird to you, how fast I got over this huge discovery?"

"I'm not going to complain," Owen says.

"And that's the problem, I think," I frown, taking a step back. "You're used to me freaking out at you and then coming back anyways. So what says that you won't do this again, knowing I'll get over it so quickly?"

"I may not be the perfect guy," Owen says, "or anywhere near that, but I care a lot about you. I wouldn't do anything like this again. I'm too afraid to lose you. I'm scared enough as it is. I would never do anything like this again. I know some part of you believes me."

"I do believe you," I sigh, looking at my hands. "But last time I believed you about something..."

"I'm sorry," Owen frowns. "I screwed up big time. But I want to ask you for a second chance. Or a third. I'm not sure what number we're on."

I sigh again, so conflicted. I love him. A lot. I want to trust him so bad. I want to believe him when he says he's sorry and won't do this again. I know he had good reason to do what he did. But still. I have my doubts.

"We can go slowly," Owen starts, but I shake my head.

"I hate going slowly. I thought you'd know that. It's a yes or a no, and that's what I'm trying to figure out," I interject.

Clarin wants me to forgive him. So does Joey. And those two, besides Owen, are the biggest opinions I'll follow in my life. I really should give him another chance, right? It wouldn't be fair otherwise. If it were me, I would want another try.

"I love you, Brinley," Owen says, taking my hand in his. "I'm not trying to beg you to choose to forgive me, because I know you would hate that... But you're my entire life. I want you to let me make it all up to you. I don't want to disappoint you ever again."

"I know," I say slowly. "I know you wouldn't disappoint me. I've made mistakes too, right? A lot of them that I remember, and a lot I don't. I'm sure you could name a ton. And I can bet my best dollar that you've forgiven me for pretty bad stuff. So I think it's only fair that I give you a chance to redeem yourself, right?" I'm saying it mostly to reassure myself that I'm doing the right thing, but saying it out loud makes it better. "I forgive you. There, I said it. I forgive you for keeping a portion of my life a secret. I'll give you a second chance. You're dang lucky I love you so much."

"Thank you, Brinley," Owen says. This time when he kisses me I don't do anything to resist it. How long has it been since I've kissed him? A week? Two? Too long. He seems to think so as well. I think someone will have to drag me away if they want me to pay attention to anything else.

Not for the first time, I wonder what kind of conditioner Owen uses. Does he use conditioner? Is it out of place to ask? Because his hair is certainly softer than mine. That's a problem.

He leans away a little, like he's going to keep talking. No. I don't want to talk right now. I pull his lips back to mine, arms thrown around his neck. I think we've done enough talking.

Yes, I think, I definitely made the right decision.

When Owen pulls back again, I let him. Breath is kind of necessary, I guess. Oxygen. Over-rated if you ask me.

"I can't even imagine what I would do without you," Owen says quietly.

"Live a lonesome life," I say with a smile. "And so would I."

"I guess we have to stay together then," Owen says.

"I guess so."

"Come on," Owen says, tugging on my hand. "I want to show you something pretty cool."

We continue on the beach, right where the water is crashing, but this time we're hand in hand. That's better. I know I made the right decision. He made a mistake. If it were me, I would plea for forgiveness too. I would do anything to get him back.

"Where are you taking me?" I demand, looking as far ahead as I can. It's all trees and sand.

"You'll see. I have wanted to take you up here to Oregon forever. I grew up here. Same house, actually. But you have never been here, so now I get to show you everything I've always wanted to," Owen says with a smile.

I feel bad wearing his jacket... But it's so warm and it smells really good and I can't find it in me to give it back. Besides, he seems to be holding up alright. And he offered it to me in the first place.

"Here we are," Owen says, looking around with a small smile. We start walking up the shore, away from the ocean. There are huge trees back here, and he's leading me into the middle of them. It's practically a forest in his backyard.

"What is this place?" I ask, sucking beneath a branch to get a better view of the opening the path leads to. It's got a stone bench and a cooler beside it.

"This," Owen smiles, looking around, "is where I used to come hide from my mom when she had chores for me to do. It sort of became my hide out when I lived here. And whenever I would come visit."

"It's amazing," I say, impressed. I turn around in a full circle, looking up in the trees. "What's in there?" I ask, pointing to the cooler by the bench.

"Ah," Owen smiles again, pulling it open. "Things I collected. Cool looking rocks. Bottle caps. Stupid little things that I thought were pretty awesome finds."

I walk over to the bench and sit down on it, wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm. Owen takes the stop beside me, putting an arm around me. I lean into him, closing my eyes contently. I forgot how comforting Owen can be. What would've happened if I had chosen otherwise? What if I abandoned him completely? I don't really want to think about that. Deep down, I know I can't let him go anytime soon, no matter what us two go through.

<•>•<•>

"Where have you two been?" Joey demands with a smirk as Owen and I enter the house near seven in the morning.

So, we may or may not have fallen asleep on the shore last night. But you can't blame me! We were talking about a lot of stuff. Clarin. Us two. Joey. Ian. I guess Ian was telling the truth when he said he wanted to change. Owen says he was told the same thing, and he hardly recognizes his brother. If Owen's giving him a chance, though, then I will too.

"Um..." I bite my lip and look at Owen.

He shrugs, looking back to Joey. "We were out on the shore."

"I take it you two made up, then?" Joey smirks again, eyes moving from our faces to our interlocked hands.

"Mmhm," I reply positively.

"I'm glad," he says, pouring some orange juice in a glass.

"Me too," Clarin says, lifting her head up from the couch she's laying on.

"Hey," I smile at her. "It isn't Owen and I we should be talking about."

Clarin goes scarlet red.

"You really like Lucas then?" I ask, hurrying over to sit on the couch beside her.

"Yes," she admits, smiling widely. "He's just so... so... nice! There's no other way to describe him. He's charming and flattering and... I just... I don't know."

"He seems to really like you, too," I nudge her with my elbow. "I'm happy for you."

"Thanks," she says, "I'm very happy for you as well."

"I want Lucas to come over again today," I declare to nobody in particular.

"Agreed," Owen, Joey, and Ian all say at the same time. When did Ian get in here?

"We are going to my favorite pier, right?" Ian asks, looking at Owen for confirmation.

"Yes!" Owen replies with a nod. "Let's all get ready... We'll probably want some swimwear for our secret little place." The brothers smirk at each other.

"Oh yes," Ian replies. "Everyone's going to do it."