Chapter 2 Quinn
I loved October when the air turned cooler at night but was still pleasant in the daytime.
The autumnal colors of orange, brown, and black dominated, and the aroma of pumpkin spice drifted lazily through the air.
Leggings and mid-thigh sweaters were calling to me, and I could use my long hair like a scarf to protect me from unwanted prying eyes and the chill that was creeping in.
Sitting on a wooden bench between the cafeteria and the stadium, I had a textbook open on my lap as I stared out over the campus, sipping my coffee. Students bustled to and from classes, and I relished people-watching as I made up little stories in my head about the people as they passed.
“Hi,” Ava said to me as she approached.
Was she cautious? I made my smile brighter to appear more welcoming. “Hey.”
“Can I join you?”
“Of course.” My hand patted the bench, and she sat down beside me. “How’s your day been?”
“So far?” Ava gave a small laugh. “The professor from hell roasted me, once again. The professor who thinks I’m a jersey chaser pities me, and I had too much chocolate at lunchtime and feel sick.”
“Just a normal Monday then?” I asked her with a smile, and she laughed along with me.
“Yeah, although on the bright side, Ash protects me mostly from Leitch, and Jett just grins at Professor Matson every time she looks like she wants to save me from myself.”
“Ash protects you,” I murmured as I picked invisible lint from my leggings.
“Yeah.” Ava shifted uncomfortably. “How has your day been?”
“I had a two-hour practical this morning. I massaged and rubbed down two volunteers, although I think I may have dug too deep into my second guy’s calf.” I grinned at Ava as she listened. “He started getting a hard-on when I was doing his legs, so a little bit of pain is the best fix.”
Ava barked out a laugh as she looked over the campus. “Does that happen often?” she asked me with a wide smile.
“More than I would like to admit,” I told her as I shrugged. “I mean, it’s natural, and I will always have to accept it as part of the job, I guess, but the guy was so busy eye fucking me, I had to remind him who I was.”
“Pain will help with that.” Ava’s eyes danced with laughter, and I nodded.
“Yeah, I find it does. My consolation is that proper athletes are going to be too exhausted to get junior up or will have an actual sports injury they need me to fix.” I sipped my lukewarm coffee. “Horny college guys, or girls, are not what I’m going to be dealing with on a daily basis.”
“Girls?” Ava asked me as she turned toward me curiously. “I never even thought of the girls,” she said with a bemused smile. “I mean, wow, how sexist am I?”
“Meh, it happens. My hands are enough to turn anyone horny,” I told her with a wink, and she laughed out loud, drawing several pairs of eyes our way.
“Mia and I are going into Cardinal tonight. Atticus Dawn is playing, and Wade likes support.” Ava tugged her ponytail. “Mia was kind of dating the lead singer, and it’s a bit awkward, but Wade is our friend, and I wondered if you wanted to come with us?”
I had nothing to say. I was sure my face showed my surprise, which irritated me, as I was used to being a blank mask. “Um.” I swallowed. “You’re asking me to go with you?”
Ava didn’t even notice my hesitation, or she chose to ignore it. “Yeah, I think you’d enjoy a night with the girls, no lurking Devils, and I want to get to know you better.”
She did?
“Why?” Subtle, Quinn.
“You’re important to Jett, you’re his best friend, Jett’s important to me, and I think you and I, well, we got off on the wrong foot, and despite that, you still went out of your way to smack our heads together.
” Ava nudged me gently with her shoulder.
“I think you’d be a good friend to have.
And plus, I think you need a night out listening to country rock and letting loose. ”
“You think I would be a good friend to have?”
“Maybe?” Ava grinned at me impishly. “And I’m legit awesome to have as a friend. I don’t judge, I forget secrets, and I punched Gray Santo and lived to tell the tale.”
My giggle was so ridiculously girly that if I had been an observer, I would have rolled my eyes. “Jett told me,” I said as I regained my composure. “I would have given anything to have seen it.”
“They had me pressed between them like I was the meat to their sandwich.” Ava scowled. “Cocky bastards.”
“They are,” I agreed. “They have to be.”
“Because they’re Devils?” Ava asked me curiously as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms as if she were cold, despite her lightweight jacket and the warmth still in the air.
“No, because they’re athletes. Their mindset is already switched on to being the best and winning.
Sometimes they forget they can fail.” My smile dimmed, and realizing I had sobered the mood, I closed my textbook.
“So,” I said with bright cheeriness, “country rock, not my first choice, but I like live music. I’m in. ”
Ava’s worried frown at my earlier words cleared as she beamed at me. “Really? Yay!”
With a slight tilt of my head, I searched her face. “You thought I would say no?”
Ava pulled her sleeve nervously before lifting her shoulder in a half-shrug. “Honestly? I wasn’t sure.” Standing quickly, she picked up her book bag. “But I hoped you would say yes. We’ll pick you up. Seven?”
“Sounds good.” I nodded in acceptance, and with a wave, she said goodbye and headed to her last class of the day.
Picking up my own stuff, I headed to the Sport Sciences building.
I had time to work on my spreadsheets and notes for my assignment.
Doubting myself was not new to me, but I still felt self-conscious when I texted Jett.
Me: Ava asked me to go see her friends band tonight
Jett: She never told me, where?
I hesitated. Did I tell him, or did I just ask if he had a hand in it?
Me: Did you ask her to ask me?
Jett: Why the fuck would I?
Jett: Did you say no?
Jett: Queeny?
“Jesus, calm down,” I muttered as I replied.
Me: You’re right, why would you? Sorry, guess I’m not used to your hookups being friendly
Jett: Get used to her, she isn’t going anywhere
Me: Good
Pushing my phone back into my purse, I headed into the study rooms. I settled into a secluded booth before setting my work on the desk and getting headphones. Selecting Shaman’s Harvest, I put their albums on shuffle and concentrated on my work.
Two hours later, I was packing back up and contemplating dinner. Checking my phone, I had a message waiting.
Gray: Girls night?
It was unlike him to text like this. Debating whether I should reply or ignore him, I opted for the easier option.
Me: Seems so
He didn’t reply, and I didn’t expect him to. I thought things would be easier now, but who was I kidding? It would never be easier. I broke any chance of easy we had when I was eighteen, and then whatever salvation may have been there for us was taken from me.
Pushing the ugly memories back into the box I kept them in, I did allow myself a small smile.
Our bridges may be rubble between us, but he still cared.
The simple two-word text message was Gray’s way of knowing where I was and who I would be with, and I knew that when I went home tonight after being out, I would have a text message ensuring I was home.
Now, I just need to know what to wear. What did you even wear to a country rock gig? Were they country or were they rock? I remembered the night that Jett and the others went to check out the band to see if Wade was shady, and then I saw them at the party later.
Ava had on a skirt, and her friend was in jeans.
Scowling at my wardrobe, I decided that jeans were an “all occasion” item.
Nights were cool now, so I opted for a long sweater and dark blue jeans.
Knee-high boots and a loose silk scarf were casual but gave me enough of an “evening” vibe.
They sometimes found a party later, and even if it was a Monday, I needed to be armed and ready for anything.
Ava was nothing if not punctual, and at seven, I got a text saying that she was outside.
Why did I feel nervous? I was almost twenty-one years old for fuck’s sake.
Squaring my shoulders, I headed down to meet them and was delighted that Ava was in skinny jeans, a loose sweater, and a light jacket.
A battered pair of Chucks were on her feet, but then I noticed that with Ava, she usually had them on.
As I got into the cab, I nodded at Mia in recognition.
She smiled. We weren’t friends, and I didn’t think we ever would be.
She looked at Ash with more interest than I liked, which was completely fucking hypocritical, but I had made enquiries and discovered Mia was a frequent flier in the dating pool of Cardinal Saints.
Although I didn’t think she was loose sexually, she was well-known for moving from one guy to another with not much time between them.
There were girls like that, afraid to be alone, and she had that look.
Her long auburn hair and pale skin tone made her stand out. She was gorgeous, and I had seen Ash spend too long looking at her, too, but he had taken in the dynamic of the friendship of the girls, and knowing Ava was with Jett, he hadn’t done anything more.
I guess one really fucking awkward ex relationship in the “group” was enough.
“I haven’t seen you much since the football game.” Mia smiled at me, and I realized she was trying to break the uncomfortable silence.
“I didn’t realize that so much time had passed,” I lied with a smile.
“Time flies when your bestie has abandoned you for hot abs and a killer throwing arm.” Mia tried to make her tone light, but I saw the flash of guilt on Ava’s face and the sadness on her best friend’s face.
“Young love,” I murmured with a pitying smile. “Are you seeing anyone?”
Well, now I just looked like I was propositioning her.