Chapter Thirty-Four Guilt & Bets
While Quinn got started on the cooking, after Tenn assured her that whatever she needed to use, she could use, and to dig through everything to find what she needed, he headed up to get started on the mess in the spare room.
The first thing he did was open the window, hoping to air out some of the Eau de Viki in there, a mixture of her dirty clothes and perfume, because she hadn't cleaned a thing. Dirty and clean clothes were all over the floor, and makeup and hair products were left everywhere. He kept his promise, threw it all in garbage bags, took pictures, and brought them to the garage. In a fit of petty anger, he texted Viki with pictures of all her things in garbage bags and told her they were in the garage. If she didn't get them before the garbage went out on Monday, they would go out for the trucks, and she would only have herself to blame. Then he put her on “do not disturb.”
After a couple of missteps, he got into the groove of patching the walls, and it didn't take him as long as he thought it would. While he waited for the spackle to dry, he unscrewed the broken mirrors from both the dresser and makeup table and carried them down to the garage. Back upstairs, he changed the sheets on the bed, cleaned the main bathroom, painted over the places he had to patch, and went down to help Quinn.
“How are you doing?” Tenn kissed her temple as he passed her.
“Great!” She smiled up at him. “All the different doughs have been made and are either rising or chilling. The sauces are done, the barbecue pork is in the slow cooker, and everything that needs to be chopped or diced has been chopped or diced. The Creme Brulee Cheesecake bars just went in the oven, and I'm about to start on the brownies.”
“You're amazing. What can I do to help?” Tenn shook his head. Quinn was a force to be reckoned with.
“Could you empty the dishwasher and reload it, please? Everything on that counter can go in. Everything in the sink needs to be hand-washed because I’ll use it again soon.”
Tenn got started and noticed again that they seemed to move seamlessly around each other. When he was finished, she put him to work spreading the dough for the pizza and adding sauce and ingredients. Rilla and Bishop arrived a few minutes before six and got to work helping out immediately, with Bishop hooking up the Switch in the basement while Rilla carried things downstairs. Tenn was loading up the dishwasher for the last time while listening to Quinn tell him about Quill's girlfriend coming to see her.
“I have no idea if I massively overstepped and ruined things or what. Quill hasn't said anything, and I haven't heard from him; usually, he calls or texts.” She frowned, her expression worried.
“It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong to me; she came to you; you didn't hunt her down to fix it,” Tenn reassured her. “From what you said, it sounded like someone had to step in.”
“Maybe. But when we talked before, he said he was kinda done. It might have been a case of too little, too late.” Quinn finished putting the last of the cheesecake squares on a plate. “This is why I need to be introduced early in the relationship, to interpret Quill for them.”
“It was a friends-with-benefits thing, not a relationship, remember?” Tenn smiled. “In this case, I don't think you overstepped. She came to you, and you explained things so she would be comfortable keeping the tires, and good on you for that because the old ones were an accident waiting to happen. If you had gone to her and inserted yourself, it would have been overstepping.”
“I thought about doing that.” She admitted. “Quill deserves someone who appreciates him.” She looked at the clock and picked up the plate. “Come on, let's go join Rilla and Bishop.”
Tenn took the other plates and followed her down the stairs. Rilla and Bishop were in the middle of a game, so they set the food on the coffee table and sat down. “Have either of you heard from Quill?”
“Sorry, Q. He's been dark since Wednesday night.” Bishop stretched out and grabbed her hand, pulling her in to kiss her cheek. “Food is incredible, as usual.”
“Thanks.” Tenn watched as she curled up on the couch, pulled out her phone, and sent a text, the slight worried frown still on her face. “I think I need a drink. Rilla, want a Gilligan's Island?”
“Oh! Yeesss, please!” Rilla nodded eagerly. “Need a hand?” Quinn shook her head.
“I got it. Do you two want a drink? I picked up Sam Adams and Guinness.” Tenn and Bishop nodded, and she got up and went upstairs, clearly needing something to keep her busy.
“So, I heard you met my dad.” Bishop grinned at Tenn. “Made quite the first impression too.” Rilla giggled as Tenn put his head in his hands and groaned.
“Yeah, first kiss, first impressions, first time on Martha's Vineyard... Just a day full of firsts.” He laughed sheepishly. “It was honestly the best fucking first date I've ever had. I don't know how I'm gonna come close, never mind topping it.”
“Oh, we've got your back, Hun.” Rilla winked at him. “We know her better than anyone except Quill, and he'd probably help too if you asked.”
“Thanks; I'll be taking you up on that.”
“I wonder where he is.” Bishop frowned. “It's not like him not to respond.”
“He hasn't responded to you guys?” Tenn frowned. “She thinks he might be mad because she met Chrissy.”
“Q went to talk to her?” Bishop raised an eyebrow. “Cause yeah, if that's the case, he would be mad. They have an unspoken rule not to insert themselves into friendships until they're invited in.”
“No, she turned up at Quinn's, trying to get her old tires back and return the ones Quinn gave her.”
“Oh, that's different. Nah, he wouldn't be mad about that. It's rare for Quill to get mad at her and blow up or give her the silent treatment. Maybe twice since we've known them.” Hearing voices, the three of them looked up as Quill and Quinn came down the stairs.
“Sorry guys, my phone died at work today. I was working on something and thought I was enjoying a rare quiet afternoon.” Quill handed Rilla her drink and put Quinn’s on the table, then turned to help her with the glasses and beer cans in her hands. “I didn't even realize it was past six until the security guard asked me if I was planning to stay much later.”
“Why would that matter?” Tenn asked as Quinn curled up next to him.
“We have sensors on the doors that set off silent alarms when they're opened after hours, and I set them off when I got up to go to the bathroom. He came running in, taser drawn. We both got a bit of a scare. He was going to deactivate the alarm system until I left.” He held up his phone. “Does anyone have a charger for a Samsung? I was in a rush this morning and forgot to grab it.” Tenn stood up and went to grab the one in his office.
“Did you sleep in?” Quinn teased. “It's not like you to be rushed like that.”
“Yeah. Chrissy asked to grab a coffee yesterday after work to talk. Apparently, my twin sister convinced her to have tea with her and made her realize she'd been uncompromising and inconsiderate of my feelings, and she'd like a chance to fix things. Of course, this was after said twin told me I should end things if I'm unhappy.”
“And I stand by that.” Quinn immediately looked nervous. “I also stand by what I said to her. You didn't tell her I'm a librarian and I rent my house from you for a lot less than market value. She thought I was rich and looking down on her by giving her the tires for free! It's hard to date someone above your tax bracket if you're a good person; she didn't want you to think she was using you. She has the full story now and wants another chance; only you can decide if you want to give it to her.”
Quill just looked at her with no expression on his face until she started fidgeting. Tenn came back into the room with the charger and opened his mouth to say something, wanting to step in for her, but Bishop shook his head subtly. “Well, she said to tell you thank you. Kaia chose gymnastics and dance.”
“Good.” They continued to look at each other, Quill still expressionless and Quinn looking guilty and nervous. Tenn glanced at Bishop and Rilla. Rilla pointed at Quinn and held up five fingers. Bishop nodded, and they shook hands. “Look, I'm sorry, okay?” Quinn burst out a few minutes later.
“Yes!” Rilla said loudly and held out her hand to Bishop. “Pay up.” Bishop groaned and pulled out his wallet.
“Really, Quinn?” He pulled out a five-dollar bill and handed it to Rilla. Quinn ignored him and went over to Quill, putting her arms around his waist and her forehead on his chest.
“Don't be mad at me, Porcupine.” She mumbled. Quill smirked and put his arms around her shoulders.
“Pest.” He kissed the top of her head. “I'm giving her a second chance. Just don't interfere anymore unless I ask you to.”
“Because you don't interfere in my life at all.” Quinn rolled her eyes and sat down.
“Big brothers are supposed to interfere.” He shrugged and took the charger from Tenn. “Plugin?”
“Right next to the end of the sofa.” Tenn nodded in its general direction. “What was that?” He asked Bishop in confusion.
“Oh.” Bishop laughed. “That whole thing -” He waved his hand in a circular motion at Quill and Quinn, and Tenn grinned; Bishop was a lot like his father. “- Happens whenever they get upset with one another. Rilla and I make bets on who will cave and apologize first.”
“I knew it would be Quinn. She was already feeling guilty.” Rilla smirked.
“Yeah, but usually Quill can't hold out for very long when he knows he's making her feel bad.” Bishop countered.
“She knew I wouldn't like it. She even told Chrissy that I might be upset.” Quill shrugged as he sat on the couch and leaned forward to grab some food. “How are we playing this? With five of us, we're gonna have to round-robin it.”
“Two go up against each other; the winner takes the next person. Top three times battle it out.” Bishop said quickly. “Quinn and Rilla are up first.”