34. Garden
Garden
W hile the mansion was stunning and luxurious, it was nice to get out and explore the rest of the island for the day. We had spent the rest of the day yesterday getting drunk at the pool from Dorian’s cocktails. After Cooper had left, we had laughed and played pool games together. We had a blast! You could definitely feel the excitement in the air at our freedom.
After breakfast, we headed out front to the car. I was expecting a large SUV like we had the day after the party. Instead, a six-door candy-red Jeep Wrangler waited with its soft top pulled down and the doors taken off. Quinn winked at me before putting on her sunglasses. She held her hand out for me to use to step into the Jeep. Once I was seated, Quinn buckled me in, kissed me, and made her way to the driver's side. As soon as she got in, she put her hand on my knee, the warmth and electricity from it was better than anything the sun could provide. I laced my fingers through hers when I placed them on top.
With everyone inside and buckled, we took a ride around and through the island. Daylily Isle was close to Bermuda, but you would never find it on a regular map. Just like Blackbell, it was magicked to be hidden away from human eyes and couldn’t be accidentally found for the safety of the water-beings who lived there.
As secluded as the island may have seemed, it was bursting with life. Along with the daylilies making up the perimeter of the island, lush green palm trees and thriving flora and fauna were everywhere. Ultramarine blue waters lapped at pink sandy beaches, begging for visitors to sink into its salty coolness. The streets of the city called just as loudly. Full of colorful buildings, brick roads, and sidewalks, the town on the island was bustling with activity of all sorts. After we had driven around the island and seen the streets and houses, Quinn parked the Jeep for us to explore.
Simone, Maisie, and I had been visiting Daylily Isle around this time of year essentially since we first met. We had been to this town countless times. Yet, it was never the exact same experience. There were always new shops open with new styles of clothes, new things to do, and new food for us to try. There were always new smells all over the town from something sweet or whatever new fried good was being made. New residents and old ones walked around the pastel stone streets. Now, too, there were Quinn and the cousins here to explore and laugh with us.
Walking the streets, I could tell I wasn’t the only one happy to have them along. Most of the old townsfolk knew this already, but Simone wasn’t one to throw her title around. Yes, she was a princess, but she never used it as a power play against others. It made her uncomfortable since she had done no work to earn the title, praise, and admiration. So, when the newcomers recognized Simone, she would politely play along, greeting them and then gently telling them that they didn’t need to bow or curtsy or address her as anything but Simone. I knew from our past conversations and just watching how stiff her spine went and how uncertain her smile was just how much she hated this whole affair. Usually, Maisie or I would pull Simone away when things started to obviously get too much for her. But now, she relaxed into Cole’s hand at the small of her back and Cole’s voice after she had introduced him and Cole’s laughter at being called “Her Royal Suitor” and “Her Royal Consort” even after the sixth time it had happened. I had never seen Simone so at ease while being swarmed by the islanders.
We visited clothing shop after clothing shop. Thanks to Simone, every shop in town carried every size from straight to mid to deep within the plus size to ensure no one went to a store and couldn’t find something they loved in their size. She also selfishly did it to make sure we could always have a fashion show when we came to get the latest and best in sea-creature fashion. The island had the cutest dresses, lingerie, and tops. After our show for Quinn and the boys, I had tried to pay for what I was getting, but Quinn would beat me to it. After the fourth shop where this happened, Nat nudged me with her elbow.
“You should give that up, honey.”
“I’m sorry! I’m not used to this. I’ve always paid for everything on my own. I don’t want her to think I’m just dating her for her money.”
“Trust me, Quinn doesn’t think that at all. She loves how independent you are. This is just one of her love languages. Quinn likes taking care of her girls. She does this with her mom, with me, with her aunts. She’s a giver.” Nat shrugged.
“Oh?” I smiled at Quinn. In that moment, my heart fluttered. She was so radiant and stunning. I wanted to give her everything to keep that smile on her face, to always feel like this. I adored her. No, I?—
“Are you two talking about me?” Quinn asked as she added the new bags to the other ones she was carrying for me.
“Yeah, I was just telling Byrd about that one mole in that one spot you should get checked,” Nat said, winking at me.
I laughed as they started trading digs at one another. It was laughter all afternoon and into the night. After shopping all day and snacking on some light local treats, we headed back home to prepare for dinner. There was a new restaurant that had opened that Simone had begged us all to try. It was fancy enough to not allow jean shorts or bathing suits but casual enough that us girls could show some skin. As I was making my way to Simone’s room for us to get ready, Nat shyly called out to me from her doorway down the hallway.
“Hey? Do you all mind if I get ready with you? I kind of hate getting dressed alone,” She murmured.
“Oh, my gods, of course! Please! I’m so sorry we didn’t invite you sooner!”
“Well, I also didn’t want to impose or anything?—”
“Oh, hush! You could never! All we do is girl-talk, anyway! Come on over!”
“Okay! Let me get my bags!” Natassa gleefully leaped into her room and returned not a minute later with her makeup bags and an outfit in hand.
As we entered Simone’s room, I announced. “We have an honored guest, ladies!”
Simone squealed. “Oh, my goodness! Stassi!”
“It’s about time.” Maisie smirked.
“I didn’t want to intrude!” Natassa apologized.
“You? There are some things you could intrude on, but this isn’t it.”
“ Marceline! ” Simone and I said at the same time to her and Nat’s laughter.
We each sat at a mirror in Simone’s room: Simone sitting in front of the standing full-length mirror near her balcony window, Maisie seated at a mirror near the bathroom door, Nat taking the backlit vanity, and I on the bed with a magical lit-up mirror floating in front of me. We chatted while we put on our makeup and did our hair. It was just like we were back home in my condo. Nat was a welcome addition, too, bouncing off of Maisie’s snark, Simone’s perkiness, and my general chaotic energy very well. She felt like a younger sister to me, and I’m sure the other girls felt the same..
While the girls were doing their hair, I went ahead and put on my dress. My makeup was already done with shimmering golds and a red fairy blush across my nose and cheeks. I had quickly styled my hair in two small pigtails at the top of my head tied off with yellow ribbons with the rest down. The look was gorgeous. Once I shimmied into the navy blue satin dress, I was blown away. The dress was thin and short, falling just barely below my butt. The cowl neck dipped low into my cleavage, making my necklace’s chain sink into it. The entire thing hugged my curves in just the right ways that I loved. The blue color made my skin and scales sparkle. I twisted my hips to see how the dress flowed around them.
Gods, it was perfect .
“That dress is insane on you. If Quinn doesn’t beg to stay and rip it off you, I’m available as a rebound.” Nat winked.
“Oh, no, you're not. You are my rebound, ma’am,” Maisie said, making Nat laugh.
“Isn’t that the dress that Quinn was drooling over?” Simone asked, curling her hair into beachy waves while she turned around to admire the dress.
“You already know it is,” I smiled at my reflection in the mirror, remembering how Quinn had stopped talking mid-sentence when I came out of the dressing room. Her mouth had gone slack, but her eyes were ablaze. I thought she was about to take me back into the dressing room and continue what she started this morning.
“We should do some shots!” Nat bounced in her chair.
“Before dinner?” Simone wrinkled her nose.
“As opposed to when else?” Nat leaped up and opened the door before any of us could protest further. She looked up and down the hallway. Suddenly, there was a door slam before she waved at whoever was there. “Oh, great timing! Can you go get Dorian?—?”
“I’m not your fucking busboy, Natassa.” I heard Cooper’s voice. Immediately, Simone, Maisie, and I made eye contact for a brief moment and ran up to be behind Nat.
“Jeez, who spit in your cereal this morning? What’s your problem?”
“Cooper!” Cole emerged to chase after Cooper. “We were just talking?—”
Cooper cut him off with a sneer. “I’m done talking to you people. You don’t listen .”
“Why did you even come if you were going to be pissy the whole fucking time?” Nat asked, crossing her arms.
“Because, unlike you pussies, I know what my duties are, and I’m loyal to my family,” He spat at Nat and Cole. “You are a fucking disappointment. All of you. I’m out of here.”
Cooper stormed away. It wasn’t long before we all heard the front door slam hard enough to shake the whole house. I flinched.
“Ohmigods, what was that all about?” Simone asked. “Are you okay, Coco?”
Cole nodded and gave his girlfriend a reassuring smile. “I’m fine, but I’m so sorry you had to see that. Cooper’s just…He’s just throwing a temper tantrum. Why don’t y’all finish getting ready? Cody, Quinn, and I will meet you downstairs.”
“Ooh, since you are headed down there, can you have Dorian bring up eight shots?” Nat asked.
“Damn, Natty-Light, you know the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.” When she stuck her tongue out at her brother, he laughed but agreed to send him up.
As we made our way back into the bedroom, Simone shook her head. “I don’t understand what his issue is. He has been so weird this whole trip. Like, is something wrong with him?”
“How much time do you have for a full answer to that?” Nat raised an eyebrow as she slipped into the new emerald green dress Quinn had bought her today.
“Okay, but seriously,” I asked, sitting on the bed to put my heels on. “Where is all this animosity coming from? Did I or one of the girls do something that just offended him?”
Nat looked at herself in the mirror, turning this way and that. She took so long to answer the question I thought she wouldn’t. Finally, just when I was ready to give up on her answer, she sighed. Under her breath, I could hear her say, “I’m going to get in so much trouble about this, but fuck it honestly.”
Then she turned around to face the room. “So, how much have they told you about the family business?”
“Y’all know that Cody is just my fuck-buddy, so absolutely nothing at all,” Maisie answered, applying mascara.
“Cole has only told me bits and pieces. Honestly, I learned more that one breakfast after the party than he ever told me directly.”
My black stone became incredibly interesting. “Quinn has told me enough to put some stuff together, but I have never told anyone any of it. I just always thought it was something Quinn would tell me when she was ready.”
“That’s the thing, sugar,” Nat said. “We can’t.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“This shit runs deep . We are born into this, created for this. It’s all we know. Our family believes this is what we were made for. Okay, those who drink the proverbial Kool-aid believe that. Most of us don’t. But I guess I should back up a bit to explain this whole thing better. Fuck, it would be much easier if I wasn’t sober?—”
A knock interrupted her as Dorian appeared right on time with a tray of shots and chasers. Nat clapped her hands before letting him in. “Oh, Dorian! My guardian angel! Thank you so much!”
“Of course, Miss. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you.”
“Oh, there’s plenty you can do for me. Are you free tonight?” Nat smiled.
“We’ll see.” Dorian winked. “I know where you’ll be.”
After he left, Maisie got up to grab her shot. “So, if I don’t get in on that, you are committing a hate crime, ma’am.”
Nat laughed and handed me and Simone our shots. We toasted and took our shots. The tequila burned immediately, but my Vanilla Coke cooled the worst of it. I felt tingles from the booze flow down and out to my fingers as the alcohol started loosening me up. After collecting our cups, Nat started again, flicking her purple bangs back from her face.
“Okay! So, what do you know from what Quinn told you?”
I worried my magical dark red lip between my teeth, unsure of what to say – what I could say.
“Hey, it’s okay. Quinn isn’t going to be upset about you telling me. Also, this isn’t just her story. It’s mine, too. The thing about all of this is that we can only talk about what you already know. If you don’t say it, we can’t say anything to confirm or deny. So, I have to know what you know.”
“That is… an odd set of rules.” I furrowed my brows.
Nat shrugged. “I agree. It’s allegedly for our protection and survival, but it is stupid.”
I nodded and tried my best to swallow my anxiety. “Well, Quinn has said that y’all do contract work similar to what my Uncle Everett does. So, security detail, PI work, and the like? She mentioned that she… well, that you guys are kind of supernatural, too?”
Simone’s and Maisie’s jaws dropped at the same time. I shrugged apologetically to them. “I’m so sorry for never telling you both, but it just didn’t feel right. She told me in confidence, and I felt horrible at the idea of breaking that.”
“It’s okay, Bee, we totally get that. Honestly, I’m less shook about you not telling us and more shook that my Coco is a supernatural.”
“Honestly, it makes sense. No human could fuck like Cody does.”
“Ew, Marceline. That’s my brother .” Nat made a face. “But yes, we are supernaturals. It’s hard to explain because I can’t explain it, but we do the work we do because of what we are. Our work goes back generations in our family. We work with supernaturals, and it is similar to what Byrdie has described. There’s more to it, of course, that you will have to figure out before any of us can explain it more. But our work is dangerous. It’s very no nonsense. It has to be because it’s the type of job where the wrong choice or call gets you killed. That’s what happened to my dad.
“He was on an assignment about some rare supernatural creature. The crew had no idea what they were getting into. Instead of taking a second, observing the situation, and making an educated decision, he was rash. He was stupid. He made a bad call, the wrong one. So, he lost his life. If you had Cooper tell it, our father went out a ‘hero’ who was smart and fast to save his team. Sometimes, I wonder if we were raised by the same father.
“Our dad was selfish and neglectful. He grew to hate our mother. He resented her for having kids, for marrying him. He never wanted any of that. He only wanted to be in the business, to make some quick money, and have power and status. He died a greedy fucking dumbass. Cooper, though, always looked up to him because he bought into his crock of shit. When Dad died, Cooper took it the hardest of any of us. Still does. He has this chip on his shoulder. He wants to be just like our father—Well, the version of him that he admired. So, he researches supernatural creatures, especially the rare ones. He’s obsessed with them. I think he thinks that if he learns everything he can, he can avenge our father and make him proud. Who fucking knows? He has no tact, and he’s blunter than a baseball bat.”
“This is the same father that had proven himself ‘incompetent,’ right?”
Nat nodded to Maisie’s question. “When my mom and Aunt Addie got married and they started having us, it’s tradition in our family to choose who’s going to be the leader once they die or are deemed unfit to lead. Whoever they choose, their eldest will be trained to take their place. It’s messy and, again, stupid. Typically, a matriarch is chosen along with her daughter, but Grandma January was nothing if not slightly untraditional.” She rolled her eyes. “Grandma Jane didn’t have any faith in her daughters, so she chose from their husbands instead. I believe her exact words about my father were ‘he’s so lazy and dumb that the greatest weapon he could wield is his incompetence.’”
We all laughed. That was the best roast I had heard.
“That was when my Uncle Diego was chosen, and thus Quinn once she got of age. Cooper has always felt it should have been our father and thus Cooper since he’s the oldest of his kids. He thinks he should be the leader. He technically is second-in-command, but he takes all of this as a personal affront that he isn’t the real deal. Our family has a lot of asinine systems, beliefs, and values. One of them is leadership. You have to respect the chain of command. Quinn is our leader. When it comes down to it, we answer to her for our job.
“The crazy fucking thing is that Quinn never throws it back at us or anything. She never wanted it in the first place. She doesn’t like being a leader. She has her own shit to deal with, considering how much of a prick her father is. Cooper always wanted to be the leader, and he resents Quinn for not wanting what he does so desperately but getting it, anyway.”
“Gods, he has such incel energy. Please tell me I’m not the only one who sees it,” Maisie said.
“You definitely aren’t!” Simone agreed.
I latched onto something Nat had said. “You said that her father was a prick? She never talks about her father.”
“With good reason,” Natassa said.
“I know it isn’t your story to tell, so you don’t have to say anything if?—”
“Shut up, honeybun.” She smiled at me. “It isn’t my story, but he’s my uncle. I can tell some of it, and Quinn can fill in the gaps, if she wants to.”
Nat continued. “Uncle Diego is a lot of things. He’s considerate and sweet. He spoils his girls in every way he can, which is where Quinn gets it from. But he has a temper and a mean streak that are both miles long. Quinn got parts of that, too. His mood can change out of nowhere, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Uncle Diego is just… Growing up under his leadership, we never wanted for anything, except a happy childhood honestly. Uncle Diego demanded discipline, silence, and everything to be just the way he wanted it at all times.
“Quinn took the brunt of it if things weren’t just so. She did it not only because she’s his only kid, but she also wanted to protect me and my brothers. Quinn is just that type of person. She would rather take the worst than have anyone else take it. When he was on one of his rampages, Quinn would take it. He never hit her because Aunt Addy would have beat the shit out of him for even raising his hand. But she did work a lot, and he would yell at Quinn a lot . It was always over stupid shit, too. He has thrown her stuff out of the house or broken it in anger, yelled at her over how she even held a pencil, and called her everything from a dumbass to a loser. He took a lot out on Quinn. That’s just what I’ve seen. I’m sure she has some worse skeletons in her closet that she would prefer to forget.”
My heart crumbled and broke. My Quinn, no… How could anyone do that to her? How could her own father do that to her? I was ridiculously lucky to have a two parent household full of love and joy, even if it was for a short time. I knew how rare that was. Simone’s father was a shithead. Maisie’s was nonexistent for most of her life before revealing how much of an ass he was. The cousins’ father seemed to have been a total loser. But my father had been loving, gentle, and kind. I couldn’t be more grateful for that.
No one deserved to be abused, especially not a child.
Especially not my starlight, my pumpkin, my Queenie.
Nat must have noticed my teary eyes that I tried hard to blink away. “I don’t want you to think I’m saying any of this for you to take pity on her. I mean, I know you aren’t, obviously. I’m telling you all of this because I know for a fact that she never will, and it’s crucial for you to understand this to truly love her—don’t look at me like that.” Natassa pointed at me when I opened my mouth to protest. “I have seen how you two look at each other. Y’all love each other. Plus, y’all are so adorable together. It’s what I want for myself one day. Anyway.”
Before I could consider what she had implied, she continued. “Quinn will do anything for those she loves. She will take whatever is thrown at them to shield them. She’s so loyal to those who are loyal to her. She is more powerful, cunning, and stronger than even she realizes. I know that’s part of the reason you are falling for her. I also say all of this to say that our family is complicated and weird. Cooper… Well, he is the strangest of us all. I’m not telling you to cut him slack. He’s my own brother, and I say fuck him with a chainsaw always. If anything, I would just be careful with him. Cooper is always treating everything like it’s chess. He’s always trying to think steps ahead. His only weakness is Quinn. She’s responsive, spontaneous, and instinctive, using all of that to her advantage to get the upper hand.”
“You talk about them both like they are fighters in a ring or something,” I said.
“Old habits die screaming, just like Taylor Swift said I guess,” Natassa said under her breath with a shrug.
Suddenly, before I could ask her what she meant, Cody slammed the door open without knocking or anything. “Are you beautiful heifers almost ready?”
We all gasped. Then purple magic grabbed his pants, pulled them down to reveal his pug boxers underneath, and took his shirt to pull it over his head. It shoved him away from the door before closing and locking it. I raised my eyebrows at Maisie who answered me silently with a shrug.
“I see why everyone is obsessed with y’all because same.” Nat smiled devilishly.
Soon, Maisie and Simone announced they were ready for dinner, and Nat declared it was time for another shot. We cheered and took our last shots together before taking some selfies and heading out the door to meet the others.
With the group assembled, we headed out to the restaurant. Simone had hired a chauffeur for the evening, so we could all drink without having to worry about driving. We talked the whole very short ride there and after the hostess had sat us. It was obvious even before Quinn, Cole, and Cody pulled out seats for their partners who was with who. Cody’s dark purple dress shirt and pants matched Maisie’s two-piece set. Both Cole and Simone had the same shade of red in their outfits. Even Nat’s green dress matched the waiter she was flirting with.
But Quinn?
Quinn looked so delicious I wanted her served up as a course. She wore a navy blue silk button down that matched mine perfectly. It did wonders for her complexion and the gold in her eyes. She had it unbuttoned down to her boobs, a gold chain around her neck on perfect display. The shirt was fit so gloriously snug around her muscles I was surprised that it didn’t rip when she moved. Her hair was down in that gorgeous mane of curls that I loved and parted to one side. She smelled so good. Gods, I couldn’t stop staring at her. I couldn’t stop inhaling as deeply as possible to cement her scent in my brain. Based on the fact that her eyes were like embers and she hadn’t taken them off of me from the time she saw me, I could tell my outfit had the same effect on her. That and the fact that we hadn’t been able to keep our hands off each other since I had come down the stairs. She was always holding my hand, had a hand on my bare knee, or had her arm around my bare shoulders like she had right now. Our chairs were right beside each other. My body buzzed with the power of Quinn, and I was getting drunk off of that before the alcohol.
The whole group talked throughout dinner, but we were all in our own bubbles when the group conversation died down. The dinner was multi-course, with different drink pairings served alongside tastings created by their head chef. You could decide if you wanted a spirit, wine, or mixed drink to pair with your plates. I had chosen wine along with Cody and Simone, but Quinn and Cole chose bourbon and Maisie and Nat chose tequila. It was fancy as fuck, like something from a reality show. It was also scrumptious.
At one point between the seventh and eighth course, while the servers were taking our plates, Quinn’s fingers reached the back of my neck. They feathered the chain of my necklace before pulling it around. Her other hand lifted my necklace from my boobs to rotate the chain, her knuckles grazing my boobs that were spilling from my strapless bra. She righted the chain, making sure the enclosure was behind my neck. She was methodical, slow with it, but also so gentle. Something about her touching it… Combined with her touch, it was so much heat, so much lightning, dancing all over my skin. I was breathless. When Quinn was done, her eyes stared into my own. Her smolder was in full effect as she smirked at me. Her eyes sparkled and danced between mine. I wanted her to always look at me like that. She looked at me like how I felt about her. Like she was the most precious diamond in the world. No, like she was water in a dessert. Valuable. Cherished. Loved.
I was just so in love with her.
Wait, did I just say that?
I had.
And I had meant it.
I had fallen in love with Quinn Garcia.
I was in love with Quinn Garcia.
I loved Quinn Garcia.
The realization gave me such peace and joy all at once. I wanted to scream it to the heavens. I wanted to tattoo it on the little bit of skin I had without ink. I wanted to tell her. I wanted to say it to her over and over and over again until I lost my voice. I wanted to say it to her in every language. I wanted to show it to her every day. I loved her.
But what if she didn’t say it back?
What if I was misreading this like I had done so many times before? What if I was wrong? I had had high hopes for so many, only to be disappointed. I had read things so wrong before because I wanted affection so bad. I had given so many the benefit of the doubt instead of seeing it as a sign. I had imagined loving so many girls before. There, I had said I love you countless times. In reality, I had never told anyone I loved them. I had been in relationships with girls since high school, but none of them had gotten serious enough to say it. It had never felt right. Most had left after I said I liked them, leaving me heartbroken for what could have been. What if that happened here? What if I said those three words and destroyed the rest of this vacation? I mean, Quinn had feelings for me. It was obvious in all she did. But did she feel for me that way?—?
Quinn leaned in, her lips close enough to kiss my ear as she whispered in her smokey voice. “Do you wanna get out of here?”
I was so overwhelmed by my emotions of love for her and fear of rejection all I could do was nod.
Without breaking eye contact with me, Quinn leaned back and downed it. I watched, mesmerized by how her lips formed around the glass, how her throat moved as she swallowed, how smoothly she sat the glass back down on the table without looking. Then still looking at me with her eyes afire in the lowlight of the restaurant, she addressed the whole table, “I think Byrdie and I will walk back. Enjoy the weather and the city.”
“Are you sure?” Simone asked. My eyes never left Quinn so I only heard her words. “We still have a few courses left, but if you guys are ready to go now, we can—Ouch! Maisie, why did you do that?”
Cole laughed. “You two get out of here and have your moment. I will make sure everyone gets home safe.”
“Thanks, Cole, you’re the best.” Quinn got up and pulled my chair out for me to get up with her, taking my hand immediately.
“No, I just get it, dude.”
“Get what? Ouch! Maisie, quit it!” Simone cried out.
Their argument faded away as we left the dining room and the restaurant.