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She bites her bottom lip, and I feel it in my gut. “I don’t want to use you anymore, Quinn.”
My throat clamps down on itself and all I can do is nod. Hold her hand until she takes it back. I let it go even though it feels like the most wrong thing I’ve ever done in my whole life.
Only instead of turning and walking away, she rests that hand against my chest. And pushing to her toes, peers up at me with eyes that are shy and warm and nervous and determined—eyes that take my fucking breath away.
“I just wanted to come by before you left and wish you good luck.” Then soft and light, she pulls me down and presses the most perfect kiss I’ve ever had to the corner of my mouth.
“Have a good game tonight. I’ll be watching.”
Chapter 16
George
I’m crashed out in Julia Baxter’s living room, cocktails littering the table in front of the oversized couch that’s nearly swallowing the five of us whole as we watch the Slayers dominate the Maple Leafs in period three. Cammy snaps a picture of Rux in the penalty box, a sour look on his face.
Swiping her finger around the screen at lightning speed, she then flips the phone to show us the cartoon dunce hat she drew over his helmet.
“It’s too soon. I know. But tomorrow, he’ll laugh,” she assures.
For about a second this summer, I thought there might be something going on between them, but Nat says no. Being Julia’s little sister, Cammy scored little-sister status with the team too, and apparently no one takes that more seriously than the assistant captain. The guy even babysits her kid once in a while.
Turning to me, she shakes her head. “I can’t believe you turned O’Brian down when he offered to fly you out for the game. How crazy cool would it be to drop everything and jaunt off to another city. Just like that!”
Nat nudges me with her foot. “Maybe next time we can go together?”
Rubbing a hand over the nervous tension in my belly, I take a shaky breath. “I don’t even know where we’re going with this thing. From day one, I’ve been shutting Quinn down. Giving him this impossible obstacle to overcome. And now that the challenge is gone, who’s to say whether he’ll even be interested.”
It starts with a cough. And then a snort. And then every single one of my so-called friends is flat-out laughing.
Cammy’s the one who inches closer and pulls me into a side hug that’s actually kind of awesome. She has a way withthe hug.
“Umm, I’m pretty sure you’re okay on the challenge front, because… girl, you’re a handful.”
I blink, looking from one face to the next, finding only warm smiles of agreement with their nods.
Nat rolls her eyes. “Seriously, you are the most challenging girl that man could pick, and not just because you didn’t want to date him after what he did to your friend.”
My eyes meet Margo’s but there’s no judgment there. I have the sense she understands why sometimes secrets need to be kept.
Julia nods, standing up from the couch. “I second that. Also, Laurel’s on her way up and she’s going to want wine. Anyone else want a glass or are we all still good with whatever it is Margo’s mixing here?”
Everyone’s good. Though I’m probably a little too good because I’m getting all kinds of choked up about having these amazing women on my side.
Nat goes on. “Quinn is going to have to stay on his toes if he wants to keep up with you.”
I look at my oldest friend and feel a sharp pang of guilt over having kept the truth from her all this time.
But even now, I can’t make myself admit what happened.
If things don’t work out with Quinn, then I’d rather keep this bit of personal history to myself. And if they do work, then I’ll have to tell him. There’s no way to get around it with my family and maybe his too—I still don’t know what to make of Patrick’s claim not to remember me. But if and when I do tell Quinn what happened, it’s not going to be after half the people he’s friends with already know.
“Okay, so maybe the challenge isn’t my only concern.” I take a slow breath. “I guess I don’t really know what this thing looks like now that I’ve stopped saying no.”
The elevator doors open and Laurel glides out, phone stuck to her ear, smile bright as she waves to everyone and heads toward the kitchen. “Law, that’s incredible news, but Boston, wow… What does Shelly think?”
Julia’s brows shoot high and she turns to Margo, who’s gone stone still. Or maybe I’m reading in, but I kind of don’t think so.
“Is her brother moving?”
