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“Do you mind going to Juneau for two days? We’re going for it with setting up a smaller production warehouse there.”
“I’ll go. This afternoon?”
“If you don’t mind going on the fly like that.”
“You know I don’t.”
“Tish has already looked up flight options for you, so just swing by her office on your way out. Thank you.”
“You got it.”
As I walked down the hallway, my footsteps slowed when I passed Quinn’s office. The lights were off, and she had already left. I felt the sting of regret in my chest. I knew Rhys was right. We were avoiding each other. I needed to talk to her. But more than that, I needed to convince her I was worth the chance.
ChapterThirty-Seven
QUINN
Three days later
I waved the key card in front of the keypad to my hotel room. Nothing happened. I waved it three more times before I heard the lock click open. I quickly stepped into the hotel room, letting my bag slide off my shoulder in the entryway and tossing the key card on the dresser as I walked past it.
I stopped by the windows and pushed the curtains open to look out over the Seattle skyline glittering in the darkness. I’d taken an unexpected trip here when my father told me he needed help on a commercial fishing case. I tried to explain to him we could’ve done all of it over video conference, but he preferred the personal touch. He had had a minor medical procedure scheduled for his knee this week and couldn’t fly.
The meeting had gone well, and I had one more night here before I flew home. With Christmas a few weeks away now, I felt melancholy.
With a mental shake, I turned away from the windows. I decided to order room service. I didn’t want to go out and see people feeling festive while I felt more alone than I’d ever felt lately.
My friendship with Kenan had become such an integral part of my life over the past five years or so that its absence loomed. Normally, before we’d gone and blown everything up, he might’ve come with me to Seattle. We would’ve gotten adjoining rooms and watched a show together. Instead, we weren’t even texting and joking. I found out from Tish that he’d left to help Blake in Juneau. Before, he would’ve texted me he was leaving and sent me photos of funny things. Now, there was a void of silence.
I kept replaying our last conversation at my place and the look of hurt in his eyes. I forced my mind off him. While I waited for my dinner, I logged in to the system where I could select a potential anonymous donor. Every time I tried to do that, my heart ached.
Ever since Kenan had said he wanted me to give him a chance, that was all I could think about.
ChapterThirty-Eight
KENAN
“What do you mean Quinn’s gone?” I asked.
Tish blinked up at me. “All she said was she had to go to Seattle for a couple of days.”
“For Fireweed Industries?” I prompted.
She shook her head. “No, for personal reasons.” The confusion on my face must’ve been evident. “I would think you would know. You two are usually all up in each other’s business,” she added dryly.
I didn’t know what crossed my face then, but her gaze immediately sobered. “Wise up, Kenan.”
“What do you mean?”
“You have been in love with her since you two have been close. I thought maybe you had finally figured it out. But now you’re being stupid.”
My mouth dropped open before I snapped it shut, muttering, “Oh my God.”
Tish cocked her head to the side, the look in her eyes almost pitying. “Kenan, tell Quinn how you feel and make it right. If you’re wondering, that’s more for your own good. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do.”
Without another word, she tapped her keyboard and returned her attention to her computer screen. I walked down the hallway toward my office, walking by Quinn’s office on the way. She must be going to Seattle to do the IVF thing; that had to be it. I had to go find her.
I came to an abrupt stop in the hallway just as Rhys stepped out of his office. “Everything okay?” He stopped in front of me.
