Chapter 784

chapter784

Owen Reynolds paused, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Stoddard jumped up, grinning widely. "I knew it! Owen, buddy, even you have your moments, huh?"

"Is it because of little Roseanne?" he teased.

Owen shot him a sharp look. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on, don't play coy with me. We've been friends too long for you to hide anything. I can see right through you."

"Get lost, who said we're that close?"

Stoddard chuckled. "You don't want to be close to me because all you want is to be close to Roseanne."

Owen's gaze hardened. "Stop joking around like that. I can handle gossip, but Roseanne's different. She's got her reputation to think about, and she's still in school. So keep your big mouth shut."

Stoddard raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, relax. I know where to draw the line. I wouldn't actually ruin a girl's reputation."

Owen sighed in relief. "Good to hear."

"So, ready to spill the beans?"

"There's nothing to spill."

Stoddard leaned in closer. "Is it that Roseanne's been ignoring you lately? Did you do something to upset her?"

Owen frowned, thinking back. "I don't think so."

Just this morning, she had smiled and greeted him, not a trace of annoyance on her face.

Stoddard persisted. "So... she's been distant?"

"Not really," Owen shook his head. "We have no issues between us."

"Ah, got it! No issues with you, but maybe with someone else, right? That's why you're all confused and moody."

"Shut up."

Stoddard snapped his fingers. "See, that reaction! I'm spot on again!"

"And this someone, I bet, is a smooth-talking guy, making you feel all insecure and stuff."

"Owen," Stoddard said earnestly, "you need to step up your game. If you like Roseanne, don't just sit there. She could easily end up as

someone else's girlfriend if you take too long!"

Owen's eyes narrowed, and his heart clenched.

"Who says I haven't tried?"

Stoddard blinked in surprise. "What? You actually made a move? When? How come I didn't know? Wow, Owen, I didn't take you for the secretive type!"

Owen gritted his teeth. "Stop making stuff up!"

"So did you manage to tell her how you feel? Did she say yes?"

Owen hesitated. "I tried, but she said..."

"Said what?"

"She wanted to focus on her studies."

Stoddard let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh man, Owen, you're in trouble. That's just a polite way to turn someone down. Back in high school, 'I need to focus on my studies' was the go-to excuse!"

Owen felt a sinking feeling in his chest.

But...

"I believe she meant it. Roseanne isn't the type to play games or be two-faced."

Stoddard nodded. "True. So, who's this new guy she's been hanging out with?"

Owen fell silent.

"What's wrong, cat got your tongue?"

"It's not like they're close."

Stoddard raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"The way you say it, I don't like it.

Roseanne has her principles when dealing with guys, inclu

me. It's

just that her attitude toward guy has suddenly... changed."

Who was Corley to her, anyway?

And why did he seem to fall outside her usual "principles"?

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