Page 8 of What We Got Wrong

“You just said you’d let a woman go down on you, and you think I’m the one acting weird?” Olivia didn’t mean that how it sounded, and she regretted the words instantly, speaking again before her cousin had the chance to call her out. “I’m not homophobic. I don’t think it’s weird. I think it’s weird that YOU said it.”

“Why,” Audrey replied. “I’ve totally made out with my girlfriends before. It doesn’t have to mean anything serious.”

Liv raised her eyebrows at her. “I feel like that’s much more homophobic than anything I said, honestly.”

“Huh,” Audrey replied, pausing as if replaying her comment, genuinely thinking about what Liv had said before shrugging it off. “Well, she’s definitely checking you out.”

“She said she’s here with her partner,” Liv grumbled. She didn’t want to care, and she knew she probably sounded like a brat, though she didn’t think her cousin would guess why. “They were holding hands when I walked up to them.”

“Yeah, her business partner,” Audrey said. “She was very clear about that. Like I said. Flirting.”

Liv hated that she perked up at that, hated that her body responded, and she took a moment to remind herself that none of this mattered. Quinn hadn’t even acknowledged they knew each other. Whatever she thought would happen if they were in the same room again, whatever she’d hoped for, it wasn’t happening this week, and she needed to get over it.

“See, there you go. Not together,” she heard Audrey say, through her haze. When she turned back towards them, Mel had stood, her arm around another woman. She saw her hold out her fist, and Quinn bumped it with her own, leaning forward enough that Liv could finally see her. “I’m going to run to the restroom, feel free to grab a second round.”

They hadn’t finished the first round, but Liv wasn’t opposed to that option. She gestured to the bartender, asking for another drink for each of them.

“You can put those on my tab,” Quinn said, approaching behind her.

There had always been something about Quinn, from the first minute that they met, something about her presence that took up space, even before Liv understood why Quinn affected her like that. It hadn’t diminished, not in all their time apart.

“Hey, I’m glad you’re here,” Quinn said. Her words made Liv’s pulse race, but she couldn’t respond, afraid that she would say the wrong thing. “I’m sorry about earlier. I hadn’t told Mel about our history and I kind of…panicked. But…I explained things to her tonight, or I started to, at least.”

“Is she angry?” Liv asked tentatively.

“Oh, she’s upset, but I suspect that she’ll work out some of her frustration tonight,” Quinn said, gesturing in the direction her friend had left with the other woman. Liv’s eyes went wide at her words, heat settling low in her belly. “Hey. It’s not an excuse, but I wasn’t my best self tonight, and I didn’t handle it well.”

“It’s okay,” Liv said, maybe too quickly. She thought for a moment before she added, “I’ve also been known to panic and not handle things the best on occasion.”

“I remember,” Quinn said, but it wasn’t unkind. They held each other’s gaze for several charged moments.

“I’m sorry too,” Liv said, the first one to break. “I should have given you your space. I just saw you, and I couldn’t believe it…”

“Yeah, it’s been a while,” Quinn acknowledged, a heaviness in her voice.

“Yeah. You cut your hair,” Liv said, and then she cringed. You cut your hair? What a totally stupid thing to say after ten years.

Quinn just smiled at her, though, and it was painfully familiar. “I did.”

“It looks great,” Liv said.

When Quinn blushed, Liv’s stomach erupted with butterflies. The fact that this version of her could make this version of Quinn blush… She felt that power skitter deliciously throughout her body.

“You also look great,” Quinn said, her voice practically a whisper, and Liv felt her gaze in every part of her body. Only for a second, though, before Quinn shook her head, clearing her throat, shaking her head at the thought, and murmured, “Your husband is a lucky guy.”

Liv had never experienced a true record-scratch, world stopping moment before, but that’s how she felt at this second. Because Quinn thought she was married? The fuck?

“Wait, I’m not—" Liv started.

“I should go,” Quinn cut her off, and it only took a moment for her to realize it was because Audrey was headed back. Quinn gestured for her check from the bartender.

“Quinn, we should talk,” Liv said, and she heard the desperation in her voice, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

“We don’t have to get personal,” Quinn replied, signing the receipt. She downed the rest of her drink, setting the cup down on the counter, before turning back to Liv. “Have a nice night.”

Liv wanted to follow after her, to chase her down and make her listen, but she felt stuck in her seat, aware that she couldn’t be the only one who wanted to talk. And if Quinn came here thinking that she had a whole husband… She was just so confused.

“Okay, she is also kind of hot,” Audrey said, as she took her seat back next to Liv, her eyes on Quinn as she walked out of the bar.