Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed novel Chapter 458

Owen had been in the game of wooing for over a year, a fact that seemed to amuse his friends to no end. "Dude, you've been at this for ages. How have you not sealed the deal yet? With those looks and that height, it should've been a cakewalk!" they ribbed him, but Owen just shrugged off their teasing.

One of his buddies, sensing Owen's defeat, leaned in with a conspiratorial grin. "Listen, man, I've got a tip that's practically foolproof. Works on 99% of women..." Despite his initial disinterest, Owen found himself all ears.

...

Walking home later, Roseanne couldn't stop talking about the basketball game they'd just watched. "That three-pointer you made was epic! And that victory pose afterwards..." She was all animated, reenacting the moment with a sparkle in her eyes.

Owen, trailing a bit behind, couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. They passed a convenience store, and he suddenly stopped. "Wait here a sec," he said before disappearing inside.

When he emerged, he was holding a bottle of arnica-infused oil, a well-known remedy for bruises. "Saw that red mark on your forehead. This should help it fade faster," he explained, noticing her surprise. Roseanne tried to protest, insisting it was a minor injury, but Owen cut her off.

"Come on, no girl wants a bruise ruining her look. You guys care about this stuff, right?"

"You guys?" Roseanne raised an eyebrow, a hint of a challenge in her voice.

"Yeah, you and... Leda, you know," Owen fumbled.