Chapter 14 #2
He’s light to my dark, sunshine to my rain cloud. He’s brave when I’m a fucking coward, and strong when I feel at my weakest.
But I don’t want to think about that now. It’s too deep. Too intense. I’ll stick to the sex fantasies. At least those are something I can attain. I’m pretty sure true love—like the kind Leaf and Thorne have or the kind Robbie found with Thom—isn’t for me.
Leaf knocks on the table, the vibrations catching my attention, and I look up and realize that Quinn is standing between him and Thorne.
‘When did you get here?’ I demand.
‘Two minutes ago. Where is your head at?’ he asks with a smirk.
I flip him off instead of answering him and turn my attention to Leaf. ‘What?’
‘Quinn wants to know if you’ll help him load up his car when you’re done eating.’
I don’t even bother asking what for. I just shrug, then nod and go back to my plate. I can feel Dex staring at me, but I refuse to blink first.
If this is a game of chicken, he will lose.
‘How long will you be gone?’ Dex is asking Quinn.
My gaze flickers over to Quinn, who shrugs, his cheeks bulging like Michael, but with a baguette instead of zucchini. ‘Six weeks, I think. This is a more complex case.’
I forgot he was doing the PI thing now with Thorne. ‘You sure you want him on this?’ I ask Thorne. ‘He’s always been the most chaotic one of the siblings.’
Thorne laughs and shakes his head. ‘He’s got good instincts. And I think I like a little chaos.’ With that, he leans over to kiss Leaf, and I try not to groan.
I can’t help but wonder if we’re talking about the same Quinn. The guy who didn’t realize his own sister was pregnant until she was eight months along and they were throwing her a baby shower.
He told everyone he thought she was just gaining weight.
But who am I to judge, really?
I thought I was fucking a dude who was engaged and didn’t have the willpower to stop myself.
Still, my protective instincts are kicking in. I have no idea what an actual PI does. The shit in movies tends to be dangerous. They always fuck with the wrong people, and heads end up in random boxes in the desert.
Quinn is like a brother to me. I will not stand for that happening.
I like his head right where it is, thank you very much.
‘Are you sure it’s safe?’
Quinn doesn’t just roll his eyes—he rolls his whole body. ‘Yes, Dad. I’ll be fine, Dad.’
‘Whatever. Don’t call me when you’re naked, tied up, and stranded on the side of the road,’ I tell him.
‘Don’t threaten me with a good time,’ Quinn fires back.
Dex waves at me, and reluctantly, I glance over. ‘How many times has that happened?’
‘We don’t talk about that,’ Quinn signs quickly. He brushes baguette crumbs off his hands and stands up. ‘Come on. Help me.’
I haven’t eaten much, but I told them I’d help, so I stand up and determinedly do not look over at Dex as I follow Quinn into the front room.
There are three plastic bins on the sofa—all three annoyingly heavy—but luckily, I’ve been keeping up on arm day, so I’m able to grab two while he gets the last one and walks me out to his car.
We shove them in the back seat, and then I turn and look him up and down. He’s not the na?ve college freshman who used to follow me and Robbie around to bars, but I worry as though he still is.
‘Be careful.’
He reaches up and gives my cheek a patronizing pat. ‘I will. This case is easy. Not as bad as the last one.’
I frown. ‘The cheater?’
He shrugs. ‘The guy was weird. He had bad connections and a lot of money. He was very angry when he was exposed.’
That doesn’t make me feel great.
‘This one is some guy they think is stealing from a retirement home. It’ll be easy.’
‘Robbie will kill you if you die on a job,’ I tell him.
He bursts into laughter. ‘I always bounce back. Have fun. Don’t get too worked up about Dex.’
I freeze. ‘What?’
He shakes his head like I’m the biggest dipshit in the world. ‘I see you two. I know. Can tell. Deaf eyes never miss.’
Fuck, I hate him so much. No, I hate myself.
No, I hate Dex.
‘It’s nothing.’
He pats my cheek again. ‘Change your sign name to liar if you keep that up. Have a good night,’ he adds quickly, then gets into the car. I take several steps back as he puts it into reverse and backs out of the long driveway.
It takes me a while to realize the sun is almost down, and I’m also no longer alone. I can sense Dex like I was born to, like I have something in me that always knows where he is.
Turning slowly, I meet his gaze in the fading dusk and then look him up and down. Fuck it. Fuck propriety. Fuck my resolution to stay away from hearing guys.
I want him.
I take a step closer, and he doesn’t move, so I take another. Then another. The space between us is shrinking. Soon enough, I’ll be able to touch him. To hold him.
To kiss him.
To shove my hand down his pants and feel the weight of his cock in my palm.
My mouth waters, and just as our chests are about to bump, he presses one hand against mine and shakes his head.
‘No?’ I demand, outraged. He shrugs and looks so nonchalant that I wonder if maybe he’s done with me. The thought that I might be too late scares the actual piss out of me. ‘What do you mean, no? You don’t want me anymore.’
He takes a deep breath, then makes space between us to sign properly. ‘I want you, but I also want a…’ He makes the sign for dessert, and for a moment, I wonder if that’s what he wants.
Is he still hungry?
Then he signs it another way, and my eyes widen. Not dessert.
Date. What the fuck does that mean? There’s not enough context in that single sign, and it pisses me off. But then he keeps going.
‘The two of us. You-me-go on date.’
He wants me to take him on a fucking date? The question must show on my face because he huffs a huge sigh before answering my unsigned question.
‘You’ve been screwing me around since we first met. You got into my car and followed me home, you sucked my dick, you let me suck yours. You followed me into the shower and made me see god. You promised to stay, and then you left. Three years you were gone, no text, no note. Ghost.’
Yeah, I was wondering when he was going to bring that up. Shame coasts up my spine, and I swallow heavily. I don’t apologize though. Why should I?
Even though it feels like he deserves one.
‘You come back three years later and pounce on me in the shower. You think I’m cheating and still fuck me,’ he adds.
My ears are flaming hot, and my cheeks are mottled pink. He’s making me sound like the worst, and shit, maybe I am. Maybe I have been the villain all along.
‘You want me?’ he asks.
He deserves honesty. At least this once. So I nod.
He looks satisfied. ‘Then work for it. You want my dick? Show me how badly you want it.’
I stare. Okay. I can do this. I can date him. It’ll be fucking easy. It’s not my strong suit, but how hard can a couple of hours of mediocre food and conversation be if it means I get into his pants again?
I square my shoulders and nod again. ‘Okay. Friday. Six.’
His brow furrows like he’s considering, and then he lifts his fist and nods it. ‘Yes. Pick me up at my house. I’m sure you remember where it is.’
Fuck me, but yeah, I do.
‘See you then,’ I finally collect myself enough to sign.
His mouth stretches into a smirk, and I want to pin him to the side of his car and kiss that expression right off his face. But I can’t. I have to wine and dine him first.
Which I can do. No problem.
I’ll give him what he wants, and then I’ll get mine.