Chapter 10 – QUINN
QUINN
“That’s the dude you had your epic one-nighter with and have been talking to since?” Skylar is incredulous.
“You’re gawking,” I chastise. “And shouting. Why don’t you wave a red flag at him to make sure you really get his attention?”
“You mean because he’s a red flag for you?
” She laughs. I don’t. “That’s not a dude,” she continues, though she does lower her voice.
A little. “That’s a man. And he’s certainly not a red flag, or maybe he is in a good way.
Wow.” She fans her face. “Girl, my props to you. He’s freaking gorgeous.
Like next-level hot. I mean, if I weren’t pregnant and married to another man I’m in love with… ”
I flash her a glare, and she holds up her hand before resetting it on top of her large belly.
“Right. Never mind. He’s your brothers’ coach and works for your dad.” She snorts a laugh. “God, that’s such a good story you can never tell them. Good thing you never told Crew his first name or any details.”
“You can’t tell Hayes or Forest when they get here either. Or Aston at any point.”
She gives me an affronted look. “I would never. But we can tell Brae, right? And swear her to secrecy so she doesn’t tell Roman. I mean, she knows about him already, just not all these fun new details.”
I huff out a breath. “Obviously. And they’re not fun details.”
“No. I suppose not. Juicy details but not fun. Sucks.” Her head twists to me. “He really said he wasn’t done with you? That he was just getting started?”
I chew on the corner of my lip and nod.
“And why can’t you fuck him again? What? Don’t look at me like that. I’m legit asking.”
“Um, how about for all the reasons you already know why it can’t happen?
Legit, I didn’t want football, and now I have to deal with this.
There’s a reason I have a no-athlete policy and why I’d never date my brothers’ teammates.
That now extends to coaching staff.” I pan my hand in his general direction, which to anyone else would appear I’m remarking on the team or my brothers who are on the field with their coach.
“Hey, Quinn, sexy lady!”
I flip off Flores, who has been playing with Mason for years. He laughs. Again, I don’t. I’m in no mood.
“I don’t need complicated men in my life and definitely not football men. This is my job. My career. I’m a resident, which means I have to be flawless. I mean, is it really so difficult to find a decent guy who doesn’t compromise me in some way?”
She snorts. “Do you not remember my ex?”
“Yeah, but you’re married to an incredible man now.”
“Who happens to be my older brother’s best friend. We’ve known him our entire lives and it’s not as though we didn’t come with a boatload of drama. Same with Braelyn and Roman. But it is easier when you already know the guy and their history.”
I glower. “If you’re about to suggest I date Hayes or Forest—”
She makes a gagging sound. “God, no. Though if you married Forest, that would make you my cousin by marriage.” She waves that away. “Love is stressful. Look at me. I’m pregnant with my horrible ex’s baby and married to another man that I married out of convenience.”
“I want love again. I want sex and passion and fun and excitement. Maybe even a kid or two at some point. But I’m young and still a resident, and I’m honestly not in a rush.
I loved a guy, and that didn’t work out.
That happens. But he fucked with my trust, and it’s like I’m snake-bitten or something.
Now I can’t get out of my own way. I’ve gone into every date either already knowing it’s bad from the start or having such low expectations that if it’s not, I sabotage it.
Except for the first time, I wasn’t doing that with Rhett.
I was going with the flow and allowing it to happen.
We had graphic, all up in my vagina, video sex.
I was letting my guard down because I really liked him. ”
Now I’m pissed and upset and resentful.
She squeezes my arm with a sad look twisting her features down. “I’m sorry. It truly sucks, and I wish it were different for both of you. You deserve all the hot sex. Video or in person. And he’s hot too so that’s something. I wish I could fix this for you.”
“Same. Now I have to face him on the days that I’m here, which blows. But it doesn’t matter because this is my job even if right now it’s not the one I want.”
“But think of it this way: one of those boys out there could tear a ligament or break a bone and require your surgical expertise.”
I give my cute, perky friend a fisheye. “Is it bad that I’m hoping for that so I can leave here and go back to the hospital?”
“Yes. This is why you have the nickname you do.”
“Only in the hospital, and it’s not like I’m tripping players or anything.
Orthopedic surgeons are violent, stabby people.
This doesn’t surprise you. We use crazy tools and break bones for a living.
It’s the best. But instead of doing my dream job, I’m standing outside in the hot July sun, watching football, and forced to face the guy I can’t have but was starting to like a little too much. ”
“I get that, but why do I feel like something else is bothering you too? I get you being upset over him and the situation, but you’re ragey about this.
Yeah, you hooked up with him and have been talking since and he’s hotter than that ghost pepper sauce Roman made me try once that blew out my entire GI tract, but this feels extra for you.
” She taps her bottom lip and moves in front of me so she can study me. “What aren’t you saying?”
Damn her for being so perceptive and knowing me so well.
Russel called again this morning while I was on my way to the stadium. Evidently, he’s serious about getting in touch, and I’m not in the mood. Not for any of this. No more men. Before I can tell her, Mason’s wife, Sorel, and their son, Nolan, interrupt us.
“Hey!” Sorel greets us both with a hug. She and Skylar are cousins. “Look at you,” she says to Skylar. “You look gorgeous.”
“I look huge.”
“You’re pregnant, which is beautiful.”
“Thank you. I look beautiful too,” I deadpan before I reach down and pick up my nephew. Sorel rolls her eyes at me as she shifts her shirt that says, The only thing better than the ’90s is number 11. I snort. “Nice shirt.”
Sorel is obsessed with all things ’90s, and Mason’s team number is eleven. “You can snark all you want. Mason had it made for me. No shocker there.”
“Truth.” I bounce Nolan in my arms. “How’s my favorite guy?”
He gives me a wet slap on my cheeks and an adorable toothy smile. “Qwinn.”
“Hey, handsome. I didn’t expect to see you today. This is the best surprise ever.”
“I worked a half shift this morning, and we thought we’d surprise Daddy on one of his lighter days. Also—and this has to stay between us right now—I’m pregnant.”
Both Skylar and I gasp. “You are? Oh my gosh!” I’m crying. “I’m so happy for you. And me of course since I get a new niece or nephew.”
“How far along are you?” Skylar is choked up too, but that girl cries at everything.
“Only ten weeks, which is why we’re not saying anything yet.”
“Mazel tov!”
I burst out laughing, and so does Sorel. “Sassy pants,” I tease.
Skylar shrugs. “What? It fits.”
“You’re going to be a big brother. That’s a big job. Just ask your daddy.” I kiss Nolan’s chubby cheeks. This is what I needed. Sometimes a boy is way better than a man.
“Mason told us that you’re working with the team this season.”
I flicker over to Sorel as I tuck Nolan on my hip. “It’s the only reason I’m here.”
She laughs. “He was happy about it even if you’re not.”
“How does he feel about the new coach?” Skylar asks with an innocent smile I see straight through.
“I don’t know,” Sorel admits, tucking her shoulder-length blonde hair behind her ears. “He said the jury’s still out. I think it’ll take some adjusting—whoa. Is that him?”
I sigh.
“Yep!” Skylar rubs her elbow against Sorel’s arm.
“He’s, well, impressive.”
“Right?” Skylar shrieks. “Like I would blow that man’s whistle—”
“Oh my god!” I cry out. “Stop it! These pregnancy hormones are making you nuts. You sound like Braelyn.”
“And Serena.” Sorel giggles. Serena is her twin sister who lives in Paris and works as a fashion designer.
“I was just getting a temperature for things,” Skylar defends with her hand up.
“Well, quit it.”
I glared. She nodded, finally getting it.
“Dada!” Nolan shouts so loud it rattles my eardrums, and it calls the attention of the players on the field.
“Oops. That’s likely not good.” Sorel winces sheepishly.
Mason doesn’t seem to care. He jogs over and takes his son from my arms as he plants a deep kiss on Sorel. “My favorite people.” He kisses Nolan’s nose before he tosses him high up in the air and catches him, making Nolan squeal in delight.
“Hey, Reyes,” Coach calls out. “Not break time yet!”
“Sorry, Coach. Coming.”
Mason sighs with regret, kisses both of them again, and hands him back off to me. Only he doesn’t get far before Coach Jones is beside him. “You must be Sorel.” He sticks out his hand to shake hers.
“Yes. Hi! It’s so nice to finally meet you. Sorry for interrupting your practice.”
He waves her off. “Is this your son? He’s beautiful.” Rhett has his eyes glued to Nolan.
“That’s my guy,” Mason tells him, his voice oozing with pride.
“He looks happy in his aunt’s arms.” Except he doesn’t look at me. Not at all. And his tone is cold. Clinical.
“Hi, I’m Skylar.” She juts her hand out for him to shake, practically knocking Sorel out of the way. Super smooth. “I’m Sorel’s cousin and Dr. Reyes’s best friend.”
“Nice to meet you, Skylar. We better get back.”
“Right.” Mason ruffles Nolan’s hair and jogs onto the field.
“It was nice to meet you both,” Coach says generally before he’s gone.
Skylar throws me a side-eye, and I return it with a raised eyebrow that says, what the fuck was that?
I mean, I’m not expecting anything. But he didn’t even acknowledge I was here.
So what was all that it happened stuff if he’s going to pretend as though I don’t exist now?
Whatever.
Maybe that’s the easier play with this. No harm, no foul.
An arm gets tossed over my shoulder, and I start only to smile when I see it’s Hayes. He drops a kiss on my head, then Nolan’s. “Look how big you’re getting.”
“You better not be talking to me,” Skylar jabs.
Hayes snickers. “I’d like to keep my spleen and my balls. I meant this big guy. Obviously.”
He ruffles Nolan’s hair. “I leave for a couple of weeks and by the time I come back, he’s grown like ten inches.”
“Did you see Serena when you were in Paris?” Sorel questions.
Hayes tenses and shakes his head. That’s it.
I don’t know what happened between them.
All I know is that Serena is no longer working for Monroe Fashions, which is Hayes’s family’s company, and it seems as though there was a falling-out between them.
They used to have a casual thing a while back, but now it’s all cold.
“Are you still dating that woman?” I ask.
“You mean Helene?” he deadpans.
“Yeah, we know her name,” I snark. “Doesn’t mean we’ll use it.”
“Whatever.” He rolls his eyes at my dismissive tone.
No one likes her. Probably not even Hayes.
“Yes. We’re still dating.”
Sorel shifts her weight, and yeah, something I don’t know about happened there.
“Damn, it’s hot out here.” Forest joins us, tucks his phone in his back pocket, and rolls up the sleeves of his work shirt, revealing his dark ink as he tactfully changes the subject. “Are you okay in this heat?” he checks with Skylar.
“I’m fine. I’ve been hydrating.” She holds up her massive pink metal water bottle. “I likely won’t stay too long.”
Hayes tries to steal Nolan from me, and I won’t let him. “Come on. My turn,” he whines. Nolan thinks it’s hysterical and giggles as he clings to me.
“See. He’s mine.”
Hayes pokes my ribs, making me squeal and laugh since I’m legit the world’s most ticklish person, and he snatches Nolan from my arms.
“Hey! No fair.”
I playfully jab Hayes’s shoulder when a sharp, shrill whistle pierces the air. All of our focus whips over to the field in time to see a play being called dead. I guess that’s what that was. But a moment later, a player goes down and grabs his foot.
The training staff runs onto the field.
“Looks like you’re up,” Forest says to me. Great.