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"It makes more sense than uprooting you guys, especially when you both work so close to this building."
"You really don't have to do that. I'm sure we can come up with a workable solution."
"Save it, Quinn. I know you've been looking forward to this day."
"That's not true."
He arched an eyebrow.
"I mean, I guess I knew it couldn't last forever."
"It's amazing it's lasted this long," he said. "The way you guys look at each other sometimes makes me barf in my own mouth."
I scowled at him. "We're not that bad."
"It's fine," he said. "I'm glad you guys are happy. I'm glad I’m convinced you're happy. But I don't want to live in your rose-tinted bubble anymore. If I catch you coming out of the shower together one more time, I'm going to throw myself out a window."
I bit my tongue, regretting the incident with the shower curtain the other day, not to mention the raucous laughter that overcame us when we tried to put the rod back up. "It sounds like you've given this some thought."
He laughed. "Only every day since I got back."
My expression fell.
"I didn't say that because I want you to feel bad.” He unscrewed the cap on his water bottle. "It's more about Maddy than you, to be honest."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean being in big brother mode all the time is exhausting."
"You choose that mode."
"I don't, though. It's just—" He sighed. "I've been the only man in her life that she could count on for a long time, and it's a role I've taken seriously."
I blinked at him, my soaked shirt suddenly feeling heavy on my shoulders.
"But she has you now," he said, his eyes smiling for a split second. "So it's time for me to take a step back and let her rely on someone else."
My heart squeezed in my chest at the sincerity in his voice. No, he hadn't explicitly said he was glad it was me she wanted to rely on or that he believed I was up to the job, but I knew on some level that was what he was saying.
"I can see you guys are trying to build something together, and I'm only getting in the way," he said. "Besides, seeing what you guys have…"
I lifted my brows.
"Makes me want to get on with my own life, ya know?"
"I'm glad you can see we have a good thing going."
"I can," he said. "I just don't need to see it first thing every morning and last thing before I hit the hay every night."
"That’s understandable. Any idea where you want to move?" I asked. "There's a vacancy on the fifteenth floor."
"No offense, but I've definitely narrowed it down to anywhere except this building."
"Gotcha. Well, there's no rush. And I don't know if Maddy mentioned it to you, but we're going to a wedding Saturday and staying the night in Lake Forest, so you'll have the place all to yourself."
"Cool," he said. "Thanks for the heads up."
"I can leave my Marvin Gaye CDs in the sitting room if you want."
He glared at me.
"Or not," I said, standing and stretching my arms over my head.
"I don't need your help in that department, thanks. Just get my little sister out of the house."
I bit back a smile. "It would be my pleasure."
