38. Eleanora
eleanora
. . .
“ H e’s hot and sexy,” Susannah whispers as I return to stand next to her. I smile and try to focus on her, but my mind is back on Quinn, and Kellie, who I’m going to maim. I’m going to fly back to California just, so I can do her bodily harm.
“Hurry up and get hitched, will ya. Sorry, Tanner,” I say to my friends.
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. I’m sure he saw red when Quinn made his little outburst. I spot Roy, staring at me. I think now he realizes why I won’t get back together with him, at least I hope he does.
“You may kiss your bride.”
Tanner bends Susannah back and kisses her, much to the delight of everyone. I hand her back her bouquet and she holds it high up in the air. Music starts, and they take their first steps as husband and wife. I follow behind with Tanner’s best friend asking me what’s going on.
“Long story for another night.”
As soon as we’re at the end, I veer off and go back to where I left Quinn. He’s still there like I hoped he would be. “Can we talk?” he asks when I approach him.
“Follow me.”
I ignore everyone as I take Quinn out to the pond, which anyone else would call a lake. My great-great-great grandfather dug it out by hand when he found a natural spring flooding his land. The boathouse is the only place where we’ll find some peace and quiet.
Quinn helps me open the door, and I lead him to the end where we can sit on the dock. “How’d you find me?”
“Kellie,” he says as he helps me sit down. “She came to see me this morning.”
“This morning?” I look at him, wishing immediately I hadn’t. He’s so damn sexy, even when he’s sweating.
“Found me at the Bean Song. It’s weird, I went there looking for you.”
“You did, why?”
Quinn shrugs. “I don’t know. These past few days have been really odd for me, you’ve been on my mind a lot and?—”
“You’re always on my mind.”
“Because of the baby?”
I laugh and shake my head. “I’m not pregnant, Quinn. And no, I’m not just saying that, so you’ll leave and in ten years get a call about a mystery baby. Kellie suggested I take a test to be sure, and I did yesterday, but it’s negative.”
“Oh.” He looks away. I expect him to get up and leave. It’s what he should do. Instead, he picks up my hand and plays with my fingers. “A few things have come to light.”
“Such as?”
“Sofia. She told me everything, I think. I don’t know. But I know you didn’t bring them into my life, at least not intentionally.”
I’m thankful that he knows that, but it doesn’t change things. “I’m sorry for not telling you about Roy.”
He laughs. “Kellie said you called things off with him the day I called?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because I liked you and I’m not going to act like Roy. He’s the one having a baby, with another woman.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, bumping his shoulder into mine. “I’m sorry about a lot of stuff. Most of all not trusting you and for the things I said that night. I let the anger speak for me.”
“And I’m sorry for not telling you my name and about all of this,” I say, spreading my arms out. “I wanted to be someone else and when I met you, I had no idea we’d have such a connection. Can we start over?” I ask, but he shakes his head no. “Oh.” There’s defeat in my voice. He’s only here because he thought I was pregnant.
“I’m in love with you, Eleanora. God, it feels amazing saying your name and telling you this. I don’t want to start over because I don’t need to get to know you. I want to pick up from where we left off, minus that fateful night.”
“You do?”
He cups my face just as my fingers brush against his cheek. “You shaved.”
“Which do you prefer?”
“A little bit of both,” I tell him.
“May I kiss you?”
“Whenever you want.”
He closes the gap and presses his lips to mine. Fireworks go off, scaring the crap out of me. I jump and feel him smile against my mouth and go back to kissing him.
“As much as I’d love to get carried away, people are watching.” He motions toward the other side of the pond where my dad is standing.
“That’s my dad. Do you want to meet him?”
“Yes,” he says. “And your mom, although… I’ve never met parents before. This is a big step for me.” Quinn helps me stand, and as he does, I notice how underdressed he is. Poor guy is going to stick out like a sore thumb. “Eleanora,” he says, pulling me to him. “Is there really no baby?”
I shake my head. “Did you want there to be one?”
“I don’t know. When Kellie told me, all I could think is that I had to get to you, so you knew you wouldn’t be alone.”
“I would’ve found a way to tell you if I were. I was planning to fly to Los Angeles to talk to you, to tell you my side of the story. I didn’t want you to think I used you or was playing you.”
“That’s a relief.” Quinn kisses me again, it’s soft but has so much meaning about it. I suppose I should be upset and angry, maybe even yell and scream at him, but I can’t. My heart won’t allow it.
“Elle, she said some things to you?”
I nod. “It’s fine.”
“Maybe, but she’ll apologize. We’re close and they know what I’ve been through. Over the past couple of months, we’ve had some heart-to-hearts. She’s sorry for what she said. So am I.”
“I think making up is the fun part of a relationship, right?”
Quinn smiles. “So, I’ve been told. Honestly, though, I don’t like fighting. It’s not who I am.”
“Me neither.”
He takes my hand as we walk back toward the house and reception. My parents are there waiting. “Mr. and Mrs. Boone, I’m Quinn James, and I’m very sorry for interrupting earlier, I was under the impression it was Eleanora getting married.”
“And you came to save her?” my mother asks.
Quinn looks down at me. “I suppose, but it’s her who’s saved me.”
I lean into him and kiss his shoulder.
“Sir, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to ask permission to date your daughter and have her come back to California with me.”
My eyes go wide at his request. I look at my father who’s very stoic right now. “What’s wrong with here?”
“My job, it keeps me there. I can commute, but it would mean only seeing Eleanora once or twice a month, if that. If she’s in Los Angeles, I’ll see her every day and I’ll make sure to look after her, treat her how she deserves to be treated.”
My dad holds his chin and rubs his finger back and forth. He’s trying to look mean, but he’s not fooling anyone, especially me.
“Oh, stop it, Daddy.”
He laughs and sticks his hand out for Quinn to shake. “It took Eleanora some time to open up about what happened, but when she did, she couldn’t stop talking about you. As long as she’s happy, we’re happy.”
I let go of Quinn’s arm to hug my dad. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“So, Quinn, my daughter tells us you’re in the music business.” My mom takes hold of Quinn’s arm and walks him toward the reception while my dad and I follow. When we reach the tent, Roy steps up. Quinn turns and looks at me, it’s like he knows who this guy is. I shake my head, letting him know everything will be fine.
“I figured it out.”
“What, that Jessica is pregnant with your child?”
“No. You won’t take me back because you’re in love with that guy.” He nods toward Quinn. I lean to the side and smile at him.
“Partly right, Roy. The truth is, college changed me, it changed us. You did things that I can’t forgive, and then there’s Jessica. She needs you, and if there’s one thing I know, that baby is going to need both parents.” I pat him on his chest and go to Quinn, reaching for his outstretched hand.
We join Susannah and Tanner on the dance floor and quick introductions are made as my friends promise to catch up with us later, which I’m fine with because right now, I want to look my guy in the eyes and fall deeper in love with him.
Quinn James is the love of my life. It took me less than a week to figure that out. Some call it love at first sight, and some don’t believe in it at all, saying it’s lust. I call it life slapping you in the face to wake you up, to remind you to stop and smell the roses, to let your heart lead where your mind may drift.
It doesn’t matter because the end is the same. I’m standing here with the man I thought I lost, thinking about a future I know I’m going to have, all because of a friend or two.