Quinn 2.
Ice pack on my throbbing hand, I sit in my living room in my favorite recliner and stare at the ceiling. What the fuck happened tonight?
“Ford…I like you.”
He grins, his eyes teasing, “I like you too, Quinn.”
I laugh nervously, “No, Ford. I like you; I’m attracted to you. We’ve been friends—”
Ford swallows hard, “Best friends.”
“Yes!” I nod emphatically, “Yes. Best friends. And I think…I want more. The boys love you, and you are so good to them. I just feel…when we met, it was like being struck by lightning. I knew instantly that you were going to be important in my life.”
“You are important to me too. And those boys…they’re good kids.” He stalks across his bedroom, his hands behind his head when he spins around. “You’re standing in my room, Quinn, professing your love to me.” My chin dips once, bile rising in my throat. This isn’t going to go the way I wanted it to. “And I just fucked Taffy and Belly in here not two hours ago.”
“Oh.” I knew that. I mean, not that he’d done it two hours ago, but I know he’s been with the lobbyists. I’ve watched him walk up here with them enough times. And it stings. Each and every time. The charity gala was fucking rough. I was his date, and he left me to fuck some random chick in the bathroom, then dragged me onto the dance floor with her lipstick on his neck. God, I’m a fucking idiot. But I had to give it one last try. I’d kick myself if I didn’t tell him how I felt.
“You’re Quinn. My Quinn. But…I don’t want to fuck you. Like at all.” I hold up my hand to stop him, but he doesn’t stop. No, he completely decimates me instead. “I fuck the lobbyists, two or three at a time. Women come onto me everywhere I go, and I greedily sample what the world has to offer. I love pussy in every color, but I don’t love fat pussy.” I’d hate to think how he’d treat me if I wasn’t his best friend.
“Ford—”
“I can’t get it up for pussy that’s spit out three kids. I ain’t never had a female friend before, Quinn. But I knew you would be the first because I don’t want to see you naked—”
“You’ve made your point, Ford. And I thank you for your brutal honesty.” Closing my eyes, I will the threat of tears to retreat. Opening them, I meet Ford’s stare. I’m not sure what he sees right now, but his entire demeanor changes. He softens, though a little apprehensive.
“Quinn, babe—”
“Enjoy your evening. I’ll see you around.”
“Quinn-“ I shut his bedroom door behind me, blocking out whatever he was going to say. And I make it to the bottom of the stairs into the clubroom without him following me.
“Hey, girly, wanna join us for a drink?” Audrey yells out to me, smiling from her seat next to Stacy, Betty, and Chastity. I force a smile in return, loving how they include Chastity, even though she’s a lobbyist and not an ol’ lady.
“Thanks, but I’m gonna head out.” I blow air kisses, smacking my lips against my hands and waving them about until the women chuckle. “Have a good night!”
Outside the clubhouse, I’m almost at my car, when a strong hand grips my shoulder, spins me around, and crushes me to a solid chest. “He’s a fucking idiot.” Adams whispers harshly in my ear, rocking us back and forth.
“About a lot of things, but not this. He’s right, this… crush was stupid on my part. He isn’t the right man for me. I see that now.”
“That bullshit about your weight—”
“Ha!” I choke on a laugh and step back. “You heard all that colorfully descriptive sentiment? Lovely.”
“You are fucking beautiful, Quinn. And don’t let him or anyone else diminish who and what you are.”
“I’m Quinn fucking Palomeni.” I tell him honestly. The good part about being surrounded by narcissistic assholes most of your life, is developing a thick skin. “And I’m gonna start dating.”
Adams rears back, his eyebrows scrunched, and it makes me smile. I reach up and smooth the wrinkles out with my thumb. “What?”
“I’m gonna put myself out there. I clung to the first man who showed me any interest, even if it was just platonic. I mistook friendly affection and maternal gratitude for romantic interest. I allowed my neglected and overgrown lady garden to do my thinking for me. Ford isn’t attracted to me, but someone else will be. Just gotta start fishing.”
“Fishing? What are you talking about?”
“I’m gonna cast into the dating pool and see who else is out there. What do you think I should use as bait?”
Adams grins devilishly, his eyes roaming up and down my body. Throwing my arms out, I spin around in a circle, letting him see it all. “Your tits. Make sure your profile pics include a great view of your rack; you’ll be reeling them in.”
Tears fall down my cheeks, as I remember one of the worst nights of my life. What Ford said hurt. But it was a wakeup call. He and I aren’t right together. Any man who can look me in the eyes and say the things he said…we don’t have a future together. I deserve a hell of a lot better than that fuckboy.
And I deserve more than Big Sturgill and the like, too.
It might have been one of the worst nights, but Adams salvaged what was left. He took me for a ride on his bike, then he had me laughing as he made me pose all over the park, taking pics of me to use for my online profiles. And honestly, a few of them turned out really good. Then we went to a late-night diner for milkshakes.
For every Ford you encounter in life, there is an Adams not far behind, reaffirming your faith in your fellow man. I hope, I pray I have not lost Adams. That would be a tragedy.
I glance up at my front door when someone knocks softly. It’s nearly 10 o’clock at night…who would be at my door? Shit, what if Joe brought the boys back? I push the recliner down, hissing when I put too much pressure on my hand, then rush to the door. Swinging it open, I come face to face with Polk. Well, face to torn shirt and bruised face.
“Polk? What are you doing here?” I reach up instinctively and lightly touch the bruise forming around his left eye. “What happened?”
Polk smiles softly, careful of his split lip, and raises his medical bag. He’s a veterinarian, but doubles as the club doctor when needed. “I’ve come to check your hand.”
“Oh.” I step back, and wave him in. “You didn’t have to do that. I’m icing it, and if it’s not better, I’ll go to urgent care tomorrow.” Turning to follow him, I stop just inside the living room. “Safe to say, that’s probably my first and last punch.”
He grunts, gesturing to the couch for me to sit. And I know there is no point in arguing, so I sit in silence, as he sits next to me, lifting my hand gently, and carefully inspecting it. It’s already swollen, my knuckles twice their normal size. I wince and suck in a few harsh breaths during his exam, but when he flips my hand up and massages his thumbs into my palm, my body melts into the couch with a moan. He chuckles but doesn’t stop.
“Not broken. Keep icing it and take some anti-inflammatories. Some stretching exercises won’t hurt. And when the swelling is completely gone, you will meet me at the gym, and I’ll teach you how to properly throw a punch.”
“What?” I shake my head at him, “I just told you I’m not going to punch anyone again. That shit fucking hurts.”
“It can, but it’ll hurt less if you know how to do it right.” He levels me with a hard stare, “And I imagine the urge to punch Ford in the face again won’t take long to surface.”
Sadness overwhelms me momentarily, before I rally like I do with every setback in life. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem, since I won’t be returning to the Congressionals clubhouse. I won’t be seeing Ford again.”
“You’ll be seeing him next Sunday.”
“The hell I will,” I respond. Polk leans back against the couch, making himself comfortable.
“After you left…and what an epic exit it was, by the way,” I nod in appreciation. I think it was movie worthy, but what do I know? “Wilson announced his engagement to Tilly, she smacked him, then Madison ordered emergency church…after I was pulled off of a limp and unconscious Ford.” He glides his thumb over his lip where he was hurt. “He got a few good shots in before I knocked him out.”
“Why…why would you do that? He’s your brother.”
“Ain’t no brother of mine,” he spits out. I’d never seen Polk angry before. Granted, there hasn’t been much reason for anger in the time I’ve spent with him since I started hanging out with the MC last year. “I’m not the only one who feels that way. We voted, and Ford has received several sanctions. Including, having his member patch revoked, and demoted to prospect.”
“Holy shit.” I sat back, wide-eyed and surprised. I really thought they’d close ranks around him, I didn’t think he would be punished. At least not for me. “What he said about Adams was out of line.”
“Uh…” Polk sits up, leaning toward me until we’re inches apart. “Yeah. But what he said about you was worse.”
I wave his words off, “I’m not a member—”
“No, you’re not. But you are an important part of the Congressionals MC family. And regardless of how we feel about you, none of us tolerate speaking to a woman like that. Nor disrespecting the lobbyists like he did Chastity. Fuck, I pulled Langley off Ford, so I could get my own hits in.”
I whisper, “I don’t know what to say,” slumping in my seat. “I never meant to cause dissension in the ranks, or chaos.”
“Quinn,” he sighs, resting his forearms on his thighs. “You didn’t do this. Ford did. He is the only one responsible for what happened tonight. It’s not the first time we’ve taken exception to the shit he spews. He isn’t someone…I don’t respect him anymore. And that’s why Madison issued sanctions.”
“But he’s been a member for more than a decade.”
“And that’s why he hasn’t been kicked out and stripped of his cut completely. Madison is giving him a chance to earn our trust back.”
“By cleaning toilets?” Polk laughs, his face lighting up with the sound.
“By cleaning a hell of a lot more than toilets.”
“Thank you.” My voice is broken with emotion. I never expected this outcome. “Thank you for coming here, checking out my hand.”
“You are important to us, Quinn. Hell, Adams was pushing for you to be patched in and Ford kicked to the curb.”
Warmth floods my veins. “That’s not necessary. I love riding on the back of the bikes, but I don’t want to operate one on my own.”
The lightness in Polk’s features hardens slightly. “You’ve ridden on someone’s bike? Ford?”
“No. Adams.” That doesn’t seem to appease him, but I’m not sure why it would bother him. “He first took me out when I…uh, I was having a rough night.” I’m not about to tell him all the gory details of Ford’s rejection. “And he’s taken me a few more times since then. It’s fun. But I don’t trust myself controlling something without doors and airbags.”
“Hmm.”
“And…thank you for not giving up on Ford. It would devastate him irreparably to lose his place in the club.”
“You care about him? Still?”
“I care about him as a person, as someone I once called my friend. I don’t know if that is something he and I will be able to mend in this lifetime, but I don’t wish him harm. More than a broken nose, anyway.”
His eyes scrutinize me as his head tilts to the side, a smirk pulling at his lips. “You are an incredible woman, Quinn Palomeni.” I throw my head back and laugh, feeling lighter than I have in hours.
“That’s what I keep trying to tell people!”
He stands, straightens his cut, and grabs his bag. When he meets my eyes, his smile is gorgeous. He’s an all-American kind of guy; light brown hair buzzed short, a little stubble, bright blue eyes, a little over 6 feet tall and built well. The fact that he cares for animals for a living is just an adorable bonus. “They know, Quinn. It’s hard to miss.” It takes me a second to remember what we were talking about.
“Aren’t you sweet?” I chuckle, rising to my feet and walking him to the door. “Thanks again for checking in on me.”
“I started to tell you earlier. Next Sunday, we’re having a cookout at the clubhouse. You’ll be there.”
“I don’t know…” I’m not sure I want to face everyone after tonight. Plus…my epic departure would be ruined.
“President’s orders.”
A genuine grin stretches my lips obnoxiously, “Well, if Madison insists—”
“We all do. See you then.” He pushes open the screen door and walks down the sidewalk to his bike. I stand in the doorway until he pulls away from the curb, his hand waving over his head as he rides off.
I close the door, lock up, and shut down my house for the night as I make my way to my bedroom. Tonight was weird. And painful. And kind of wonderful.