“None of them!” Quinn shot back.
“You must be the boyfriend Helen told me about. I hate to tell you, but she picked up that trick from her mom.”
Quinn dropped her arm, the phone going with it as she shook her head, letting out a long sigh before raising her phone again. “Thanks for that, Dad. But yes—Wyatt—”
“The boyfriend. I like that better.” I pointed at her, keeping my eyes on a pair of boots I hadn’t seen her wear before.
“—My boyfriend is here to help. We leave in a few days for Utah. But I really should help him before he starts to throw out my boots.”
“Alright. I’ll watch you in Utah and text you then. Consider coming up for your birthday, okay? We miss ya.”
Quinn tightened her lips and nodded. “Maybe. I’ll talk to you later, ok?”
“Love ya, pumpkin.”
“Love you, too.”
Thevroopsounded again, and Quinn tossed her phone on the couch, plopping down after it. I stepped over a pair of boots, taking my seat next to her. Picking up her hand, I turned it so I held her palm. I ran my fingers over her lifelines, noticing the way her fingers twitched. She smiled and cuddled into me.
“We can leave the boots out and just order pizza and watchOnce Upon a Time…right?”
“We can clean up the boots while we wait for the pizza, but yes. I like that pair, by the way.” I pointed to the black pair with blue and turquoise embroidered flowers that sat in the corner. “I’ve never seen you wear them.”
“Those are one of my favorite pairs. I have a matching hat.”
“Take them? To wear on Gold Medal night?”
She sighed and turned her hand, grasping onto mine to bring it to her lips. She kissed my fingers. “Okay.”
“So…” I started. “Am I allowed to know your birthday?”
She puffed. “August second.”
“And we’re not celebrating…why?”
“Nothing really to celebrate. Twenty-three is no big deal.”
“Every birthday of yours is a big deal.”
“You turned thirty without telling me.” She rested her chin on my shoulder, glaring at me.
“Ha…okay, I’ll give you that.”
“I don’t want or need to celebrate it. All I want is to be with you on my birthday. Okay? Can we do that? With burgers, and sushi, and ice cream, and pizza—”
“Pretty much the entire town’s takeout menu?” I looked down at her.
“And you.”
“And you.” I kissed her nose. “Okay. Deal. No celebration. Just me, you, a shit ton of food, andOnce Upon a Time.”
“Deal.”
Then we sealed it with a kiss.
Thirty-Three
Quinn
