Chapter Fourteen So Now I Have a Real Date? #2
Quinn is wearing navy swim trunks with an open white linen shirt, and his golden bronze chest is defined and toned.
Honestly, Quinn is too otherworldly hot.
He looks like he just stepped out of a modeling shoot, but it’s almost like he’s too perfect.
Even his personality—the rest of the group will be goofing off, and he’ll be deep in thought.
I remember what Liv said, that he’s intense, but she didn’t mean it in a bad way.
Overall, I’m not sure what to make of Quinn, but he seems like a good guy.
I smile at Quinn to thank him for standing up for me.
“You totally don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” he says, “but I’m curious. What is it you all are doing in the park every day?”
“Sprucing it up.” I chuckle at my tree pun, but no one else seems to get the joke. “We were weeding and pruning trees last week. This week we’re working on some garden beds near the entrance. Next I think we’re restoring the old music stage.”
“There’s a stage in that park?” Kaitlyn asks.
I nod, surprised that she didn’t know about it. I remember Noah’s comment the day I met him, about people who don’t cross the river.
“Yeah, it’s supercool,” I say. “It’s inspired by Victorian bandstands.
It’s kind of falling apart now, but apparently, they used to hold free concerts on it years ago.
” I don’t tell them that my stepfather used to sing there, because I’m still kind of shocked by that piece of information.
“That’s where that folk singer from here was discovered.
Maybe when we’re done restoring it, the concerts can happen again.
” Judging by the number of people in Donut Den on open mic night, it would be popular.
Kaitlyn grins. She’s in an orange bikini. All the girls are in two-pieces. Maybe I should have asked Mom for a two-piece instead of a one.
“Yes!” Kaitlyn says. “When your dad becomes mayor, tell him to start those concerts again. Maybe get that scout to come back. I still can’t believe the scout wasn’t in Donut Den on Friday. What a waste of time.”
I don’t think it was a waste of time at all, because I got to see Noah perform for the first time. I sigh. I really need to stop thinking about Noah every thirty seconds.
“Jason might not win,” I say. It’s so strange that my family’s business is common knowledge. I guess it can’t be avoided since Mom married a public figure.
“He’ll win,” James says. “People are done with Peter McCrae.”
“What’s wrong with Peter McCrae?” I ask. Mike Jacobs said he was a good mayor.
Liv shrugs. “He’s… old. The city’s changed a lot since he was first elected. This whole subdivision didn’t even exist back then. My dad says that your stepfather is the first viable competition McCrae’s ever had.”
“And speaking of your stepfather,” Kaitlyn says with a teasing grin, “what’s this I hear about you bringing that burnout Noah Jacobs to a club party?”
My eyes widen. Since Liv and Sadie weren’t able to make it, Noah and I were pretty much the only teenagers at the party.
And Sadie and Liv promised not to tell anyone about my fake dating Noah.
Maybe Kaitlyn’s parents were there? “Um, yeah. My mom said I could bring someone, so I brought Noah. I know him from the park program.”
Kaitlyn laughs. “You’re a legend, Meera. I mean, it’s iconic to bring someone with an eyebrow piercing to the club. He was probably stoned out of his mind, right?”
I shake my head. “Noah doesn’t do drugs. Or drink, actually.”
“He’s full of crap,” James says. “The Jacobs boys had whisky in their baby bottles. Once a burnout, always a burnout.”
“He’s not a burnout,” I say. “Noah’s not really like his brother.”
Kaitlyn looks suspicious. “You two aren’t, like… together, are you? Or talking? I mean, he’s hot, but you know he’s, like, major trouble, right?”
I glance at Sadie. I don’t like how Kaitlyn and everyone else judges Noah like this, but I know defending him won’t really help. “We’re friends. He’s cool. You heard him at Donut Den. He’s a talented singer.”
Kaitlyn rolls her eyes. “I mean, anyone can scream heavy metal. It wasn’t even an original song like mine. I’m sure your father wouldn’t approve of you spending time with drug dealers and criminals.”
“It wasn’t heavy metal,” I start, about to defend Noah again, and then I shrug. They have already made up their minds about Noah. And actually, Noah’s bad reputation is why I brought him to the party. “I admit, I really brought him to ruffle my mother and Jason’s feathers a bit.”
Reagan grins. “Iconic. Like Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker. I wish I’d been there to see the faces of the old men at the club.”
I bite my tongue, thinking about how it seems like Kourtney and Travis are genuinely in love with each other. Do Reagan and the others really think that people who seem wildly different can’t be happy together? Kaitlyn doesn’t look as impressed. “Still. I wouldn’t even be friends with the guy.”
“You’re such a snob, Kaitlyn,” Quinn says. He turns to me. “Don’t listen to her. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be friends with Noah. And yeah, he was unreal on the guitar.”
Kaitlyn glares at Quinn. “You’re such a bleeding heart, Quinn. Not everyone is down on their luck with a heart of gold. Drug dealers and criminals are terrible people. They’re breaking the law.”