The day progressed slowly and uneventfully.
"Ok guys. Go home. I don't think anything is going to happen tonight." Jack said to the team.
Gwen jumped up and grabbed her coat. She waved over her shoulder as she ran out of the Hub. Jack looked over at Owen, who quickly wiped the grin off his face and shrugged. Owen followed Gwen slowly to not rouse suspicion.
"Laters." He called.
When Owen reached the car park, he noticed Gwen waiting in her car. She nodded once in the mirror which Owen returned. He climbed in his car as she drove off. If Jack was watching the CCTV, it would seem as if they were going their separate ways.
Gwen reached his flat first and sat outside waiting for him to show up. She began to think about Rhys. He'd be so disappointed when she didn't come home tonight after she'd made her promise.
She was so deep in thought she didn't notice Owen tapping on her window. He opened the door, not realising she had her arm resting on it. She fell sideways, just managing to hold on to the steering wheel and pull herself back up.
"Whoah shit." She gasped.
"Sorry, I didn't know you were leaning on it." Owen apologised, trying to stop himself from laughing.
Gwen glared at him as she got out the car and slammed the door. He couldn't help himself and burst out laughing. She shoved him hard but he grabbed onto her and held her tight around the waist.
"You could've knocked on the window or something." She said grumpily.
"I did but you were in a world of your own." He smiled.
"Oh…Owen I don't think I can do this. I can't do this to Rhys." She sighed.
"Gwen, this may seem a little harsh but, if you really loved Rhys, you wouldn't be doing this in the first place." He pointed out.
Gwen glared at him and pushed him away.
"Don't you dare tell me I don't love Rhys. Who the fuck are you to tell me who I love?" She shouted.
"Well do you?" He demanded.
"Of course I…I mean…"
She couldn't finish her sentence. She'd loved Rhys once but lately their relationship seemed to be on the rocks. When she thought of Rhys, she felt the kind of love you have for a friend, not a boyfriend.
She growled in frustration as she realised Owen was right. Not wanting to admit it, she turned and went to get back in her car. Owen grabbed her arm and spun her round to face him.
"Don't go. I'm sorry, it was out of order. I shouldn't have said it." He said.
Gwen looked into his brown eyes and saw the regret deep in them. She held his face in her hands and smiled at him.
"Owen Harper apologising. I think that makes it three times today. Wow, I thought I'd never see the day." She smirked.
"Yeah well, don't get used to it. I'm not going to make a habit of it." He mumbled.
Laughing, she kissed him and wrapped her arms tight around his neck. It was during the kiss she realised. This thing with Owen, it wasn't just a quick shag, well not to her. She was in love with him. She wanted to tell him but she was frightened of his response. He had been in love with Diane and she wasn't sure how he felt about that now. It would break her heart if she told him she loved him and Owen didn't say it back.
The next thing she knew, her back was pressed up against the wall just inside Owen's flat. She wondered how they'd got there as he kissed down her neck. Owen picked her up and held her in his arms. He carried her to his bed, never taking his eyes from hers. Placing her down on the bed, he kissed her gently. She sat up and patted the bed next to her.
"Can we talk?" She asked.
"I've never heard it called that before." He chuckled, sitting down next to her.
"I'm being serious. There's something I need to say." She told him.
She twisted her hands together in her lap and looked down at them. Owen took them in his own, causing her to look up at him.
"Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you myself." He mumbled.
"Oh God. This is it. This is where he tells me that this is as far as we go. There's nothing between us." She thought. "Go ahead."
"No, you go first." He said.
"I'd rather I didn't go first." She mumbled.
"Erm…ok. Look Gwen, I know you probably think that I'm only interested in shagging. To be honest…it was true…at first."
"At first?" She asked.
"Yeah…you see Gwen…I've fallen in love." He mumbled.
"Oh…well, I guess I should go then." She whispered.
As she stood, she pulled her hands from Owen's.
"No, Gwen. You don't understand it's –"
"I understand completely. I'll see you at work." She mumbled and ran from the flat.
"But…it's you." He whispered to himself. "I've fallen in love with you."