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“It did, but it’s okay.” My father’s story was old news in the family, and I preferred not to dwell on it.
Our server arrived to deliver our appetizers at that moment, so the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Having dinner out wasn’t something I did often. My job made it easy to throw myself into work and avoid attachments. Sasha tugged on the ties around my heart. She’d already loosened them and slipped right in.
I set the container holding Quinn’s calzone in the back seat. It wasn’t that late. As much as my body wanted me to persuade Sasha to come home with me, I knew it wasn’t an option tonight because of Quinn. I didn’t want to bring her home too late for the very same reason.
“What is a normal weekend night like for Quinn?” I asked once we were driving.
“It varies. Sometimes, she does things with friends, and sometimes, she likes to stay at home and play video games or watch shows. It’s a toss-up. She’s not as caught up in her phone as some teens, or so I hear, but I definitely think she considers it an extra body part.”
I chuckled at that. “Right? A friend of mine at work has teenagers, and he tells me their phones are his only leverage.”
Her throaty laughter sent lust sizzling up my spine. “Oh, it’s leverage, all right.” Her laughter quieted. “Honestly, Quinn’s a good kid. I keep waiting for her to be more of a difficult teenager, but she hasn’t been that bad. She gets irritable, but she tends to withdraw when she’s not in a good mood, so it’s not horrible. Her grades are good. Thank goodness for that. She reminds me that as long as she doesn’t get pregnant as a teenager like I did, I should just deal with it.”
“Ouch. That’s harsh. She doesn’t realize how easy it is to get pregnant.”
Sasha laughed hysterically at that. “I’ve definitely told her. I don’t think she’s sexually active yet. If she is, she’s not telling me. She’s on birth control, though.”
This was the first moment when I contemplated what it would mean to get serious with Sasha. Teenagers could be truly terrifying. The idea of worrying about a young teenage girl and what someone might do to break her heart was not something I wanted to consider.
“Having a heart attack over there?” Sasha teased lightly.
I glanced to my side, giving her a sheepish smile. “Maybe a little. I don’t like worrying about that for a teenager I care about.”
“You just met her tonight, Noah,” she chided softly.
I reached for her hand, lacing my fingers through hers and squeezing. “I know you don’t believe me, but you matter to me. Maybe I just met Quinn, but I care about her by extension because I care about you.”
I was gratified that she gave my hand a squeeze. “I’ll believe it. If you had a daughter, I would care.”
The rest of the ride home was quiet, and I marveled, yet again, that I slipped into this relationship with Sasha so easily. It was just comfortable with her. Well, when we were naked, comfortable wasn’t the word I would use. More like pure fire.
When I stopped in front of the house where her apartment was, I glanced over. “Would you like me to come up, or is that too much?”
Sasha held my gaze for a few beats, and I couldn’t resist kissing her. Leaning across the console, I took her mouth. I meant for it to be brief, but touching Sasha was like tossing a match in dry leaves. The fire flashed high and fast.
Her tongue glided against mine. When I heard a little catch in her throat, followed by a moan, another match was thrown in the fire. By the time I drew back, I was gasping for breath, right along with her.
“Jesus, Sasha.” I leaned my head back against the seat, scrambling to get control of my body’s response to her.
She giggled, and the sound spun around my heart. “That was your fault. Why don’t you come up? You’ve got the calzone, after all.”
I almost pumped my fists in the air. That was how deep into this I already was.
ChapterFourteen
NOAH
We walked up the stairs together, but Sasha released my hand when we entered the apartment. Quinn lounged on the sectional over to one side with a TV and a low table against the wall. She had her knees curled up, and Matilda was napping on the couch beside her.
As soon as she saw me, Matilda jumped off the couch and hurried over to greet us both. Maybe I was taking a liberty, but I slipped out of my shoes when Sasha did and hung my coat on the coatrack by the door.
Quinn glanced over, her eyes landing on the box that held the calzone before bouncing to her mother and back to me. “Hi,” she said simply.
“Hey, sweetie.” Sasha crossed over and dropped a kiss onto Quinn’s upturned cheek. “Noah got your calzone. If it’s anything like the rest of the food we got, I promise it’s delicious.”
Quinn uncurled her feet from where they were tucked under her knees and stood, crossing over to us.
I handed her the box. “I got you a large. Your mom said you like leftovers.”
