Chapter 21 Noah
Chapter Twenty-One
NOAH
Quinn’s eyes were round behind her glasses when she looked from me to her mother and back again. “Why?” she asked. Her gaze lingered on me, narrowing in suspicion.
“Because your father’s name appeared in an investigation.
That doesn’t mean he’s done anything wrong, and in fact, his identity may have been stolen.
I have permission to tell you that, so I am.
I don’t want your mother to forward that email unless it’s okay with you.
It was originally sent to you,” I pointed out.
Quinn pushed her glasses up on her nose, rolling her eyes. “Like I didn’t know that,” she said pointedly. “I’ll forward it to you. What’s your email?” She was all business now, sliding her phone out of her pocket and tapping on the screen.
I quickly recited my email address, and she tapped it in. “There.” Her eyes lifted to mine. “Make sure it made it.”
She looked at me expectantly, so I obediently pulled my phone out of my jacket pocket and checked my email. In a second, her email appeared. “It’s there. Thank you. Have you replied to him yet?”
Quinn shook her head quickly, the ponytail on top of her head swinging back and forth. “I thought I’d wait until you tell me it’s okay. After Mom said you wanted to ask me, it seemed best to wait.”
“You don’t have to wait,” I replied.
She shrugged. “I’d rather. If someone is being squirrelly and pretending they’re him, I’d rather know that. And if it is him, well, geez, he’s never going to win dad of the year.”
Figuring it was best if I didn’t agree with that, I simply said, “Well, whatever you choose to do, if you could keep your mom and me in the loop, that would be great.”
“Sure thing, FBI,” Quinn deadpanned as she spun away to open the refrigerator.
When I risked a glance at Sasha, her lips were tight at the corners, and I knew she was trying not to laugh.
“Where are you two lovebirds going out to dinner?” Quinn tossed over her shoulder. Leaning into the fridge, she pulled out a container of juice and proceeded to fetch a glass from the cabinet and fill it.
I finally chuckled. “We haven’t decided yet. Any requests for takeout?”
Quinn returned the bottle of juice to the refrigerator before turning around and resting her hips against the counter as she glanced between us. Sasha’s cheeks had gone pink as soon as Quinn described us as lovebirds.
“That calzone was good, and so was the Thai food. I trust you now, so make it somewhere good and new. We need to expand our eating horizons,” she said.
“Okay then, your mom and I will decide. Glad to know you trust my opinion on food.”
Quinn shrugged nonchalantly. “You’ve done well so far, so don’t screw it up. Now, I need to go do my homework.” She pushed away from the counter. “What time will you be home, Mom?” she asked when she stopped in the archway leading out to the living room.
“Before bedtime,” Sasha replied quickly.
“Are you spending the night?” Quinn’s eyes bounced to me.
My brain stalled at that question. The silence in the room felt loaded.
“Quinn!” Sasha sputtered.
Quinn pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. “I’m not stupid. You two spent a whole week alone together over the Christmas holidays. Don’t even try to pretend you didn’t get it on.”
I wasn’t much of a blusher, but wow, Quinn knocked me back on my heels, and I felt the heat creep up my neck.
Her eyes moved to me. “You seem like you really like my mom.” Suddenly, she wasn’t joking. “If you hurt her, I’ll make things really uncomfortable for you. But it’s okay if you spend the night. I’m not gonna freak out about it.” A teasing hint entered her tone again.
At that, she twirled away, waving her fingers over her shoulder. “I’ve got homework to do. I’ll be in my room.”
Sasha and I waited in silence until her door clicked shut. Sasha sagged into a chair by the kitchen table. “Oh, my God,” she said slowly.
“She seems to enjoy embarrassing us.”
“She enjoys trying to make adults feel foolish,” Sasha offered with a shrug.
I crossed the kitchen to stop in front of her, resting my hands on either side of the table, caging her in my arms. “It’s fine. She’s just being a teenager. I feel like I just won something,” I murmured, right before dipping my head and brushing my lips over Sasha’s.
“What did you win?” she whispered when I lifted my head.
“Permission to spend the night.”