‘You’re fun, Quinn,’ Noah said, as Quinn was torn out of the water and into a world where he couldn’t breathe.
Fun. Wasn’t it time he had a little fun?
ChapterThirty-Two
‘I can’t do it.’
It was the evening before Noah’s signing, and Quinn was wearing a cherry-scented face mask and a fluffy all in one dressing gown with a cosy hood. And he stood in front of Noah, looking like this, because Noah had turned up unannounced, which seemed to be a common theme now.
‘What can’t you do?’ Quinn asked, glad that his face mask covered his blushing face.
‘The book signing.’
‘Oh.’
The face mask hid his crestfallen expression, prompting Quinn to think maybe they should use that in their marketing campaigns. Buy this face mask so that hot romantic novelists don’t see when you’re gutted about what they just said.
‘Come in.’
Noah did, shedding his hoodie like he might catch fire. Quinn liked his apartment hot, so of course he turned the heating on full volume.
‘Aren’t you hot in that?’
Quinn’s dressing gown swayed at his shins. ‘Not really.’
‘Well, you look adorable.’
Noah’s hand touched the soft fabric of his dressing gown, and Quinn wished he could shred it and the clothes underneath. Totally appropriate.
‘Tea?’
‘Please,’ Noah said. ‘I hope you don’t mind me coming over like this. Again.’
‘Seems like a regular thing now, doesn’t it?’
‘The house is awkward.’ Noah sighed. ‘Matty’s not leaving. Says he can’t drive back to London because we drove together, and the trains are off because of the snow.’
‘Can’t he rent a car? The roads are open.’ Secretly, Quinn wished he would disappear. Maybe he could go to Cardiff and link up with Dougie.
‘I’ve suggested that.’
‘But you’ve got your room to escape it all?’
‘I do. But I know he’s in the house. And Mum’s been asking me about it and I wanted to get out. And then I started rethinking this book signing, and I got scared.’
‘Take a seat.’
Noah settled on the sofa, and Quinn got to the kettle, refilling the water. Making the tea, he fretted about what to say next. It had been a miracle organising the signing to begin with. At such short notice, the haphazard posters and the slapped together newsletter were all Quinn could do to boost the event. Though word spread in Hay, and Quinn was sure they’d get enough custom to make it a success.
Quinn brought the tea to the table and handed Noah his mug. Noah’s hand cupped Quinn’s before taking it from him, and Quinn sighed.
‘I look ridiculous, don’t I?’
‘No. I love a face mask,’ Noah said. ‘How else do you think I look this youthful?’
‘Botox.’
‘Cheeky.’ Noah smirked, running a hand through his hair. ‘Oh, Quinn. I feel like an arse.’
