Page 27 of What We Got Wrong

Quinn didn’t want to make any assumptions, but her first reaction to hearing that Liv had skipped the event was to worry that it was because of her, that she’d done something to hurt her or make her feel like she couldn’t be in the same room. She was making a mess of things, and it didn’t need to be this complicated.

“Certainly, I would love to have a nice long talk with her about it,” Mel replied, and Quinn knew that she probably didn’t actually sound menacing, but that’s all she could hear.

“Perfect,” he said. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to mingle. But it was nice meeting you, and I look forward to your workshop later this week.”

Mr. Palmer, Scott, shook their hands again before making his way to another group that had slowly built nearby, waiting for their chance to snag the CEO. Quinn was struck again by how nice he was, how different from her expectations.

“Thank you,” Mel said, turning back to Audrey. Liv’s cousin had been so quiet that Quinn had almost forgotten she was there, but now she took her in, watching as Audrey looked curiously back and forth between Quinn and Mel. Something about her expression made Quinn nervous.

“Yeah, we appreciate it,” Quinn told her, trying to hold her gaze with confidence, before turning back to Mel. “I’m going to head out. Do you need anything before I go?”

“No, but maybe Audrey here can introduce me to a few more people?” Mel raised her eyebrows tentatively at Audrey, who considered the suggestion before nodding her agreement. “Excellent. Enjoy your swim.”

“I didn’t say I was going to swim,” Quinn replied.

“I know you,” Mel responded, promising to text her when she finished up.

And yes, Quinn immediately went to change into her swimsuit, her mind spinning. It had been a good day. They were accomplishing exactly what they wanted for the business, but everything from her talk with Mel that morning to finding out that Liv wasn’t married and spending time with Liv’s dad and cousin that night…it was overwhelming.

Quinn hoped her time in the pool would allow her to turn her mind off. She wanted just a touch of calm before the chaos started again the next day.

Chapter 10

Liv

April, Freshman Year

If Liv thought the party would be the end of Scarlet, she was unfortunately mistaken. A few days after that horrible night, Scarlet finally called Quinn, and though it seemed, to Liv, who was sitting in the room for part of the conversation, that they were arguing, it ended with Scarlet agreeing that she owed Liv an apology.

Which was so awkward. She’d come over to their dorm, and Emma, Liv, Quinn, and Scarlet all sat in a circle, Scarlet opposite Liv, as she gave a performative speech about how she had been drunk, but she knew she still needed to be responsible for her actions, so she was sorry that she hadn’t supported her with “the whole Joel thing,” even though she also made it clear that she didn’t necessarily think it was right for her to have to apologize for the behavior of another person… Which led to Quinn getting upset and reminding her that she was only asking for accountability for Scarlet’s own behavior, and then they both left, angry but together, so…

It went about as well as Liv would have expected.

“I don’t like her either,” Emma said, staring at the door Quinn and Scarlet had just exited, as if willing Quinn to come back.

They’d been careful not to say it, but Liv was so glad that Emma was opening this door. She wasn’t sure that she could hold it in anymore.

“Thank you,” Liv replied, almost a gasp. “Quinn is sunshine personified, and it feels like Scarlet weighs her down.”

Emma smirked at that characterization, looking at Liv for a long time before responding. “I see it too. And…”

Emma typically wasn’t a person who struggled with her words, so Liv knew to steel herself for what was coming.

“I just want you to know that if you’re spiraling right now, wondering whether it means something that you don’t like her girlfriend… I get bad vibes, too. And that’s coming from someone who definitely doesn’t have a thing for her.”

Liv felt a deep blush take over her face. Still, that was somehow refreshing, although… “When someone says they ‘definitely’ don’t have feelings for someone, it usually means that they do, in fact, have feelings, right?”

Emma laughed, a loud, unexpected sound. “I like you. We should keep you around.”

“You really get bad vibes?” Liv asked.

Emma nodded. “Honestly… I haven’t liked Scarlet since before they started dating. She’s in the Queer Alliance with me, but she’s made some questionable comments about my ability to understand the needs of queer people on campus.”

“She what?” Liv replied. She didn’t entirely understand the context of the statement, but it sounded mean, and Emma’s feelings were clearly hurt.

“When she found out I have a boyfriend, it was like I didn’t belong,” Emma said.

“That’s gross.”