Chapter 35 – QUINN
QUINN
“I’m putting down that I think the baby is going to look more like Aston than you,” a woman who works with Skylar says as she marks that off on her Baby Predictions and Advice sheet.
“Though maybe that’s wishful thinking for you.
He’s gorgeous and not round so that’d make delivery easier for you. ” She tinkles out a laugh.
The baby isn’t technically Aston’s. It’s Skylar’s horrible ex’s, so that’s honestly just adding insult to injury. Not many people outside of our world know about that though. Aston is all in to be this baby’s dad, so as far as Sky is concerned, the baby is Aston’s.
I scrunch my nose in disgust at the woman.
“Did you know you have something big and green in your teeth? You must have also sat in chocolate or something. Either that or you shit yourself and didn’t know it.
Unrelated, and I’m not a dermatologist, but you really should have that thing on your neck looked at.
I mean, I’m sure they have lasers or something that could tackle that bad boy. ”
The woman turns bright red and runs off, and Skylar high-fives me.
“God, I hate her. Why my mother made me invite all the nurses as if it were a kindergarten birthday party is beyond me. This is somehow worse than the fake wedding party they made for us, and that was horrible.”
“But think of it this way: the cake is really good, and so is the food. Your grandmother knows how to throw a party.”
“She does. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but that wall of presents is really intimidating, and everyone keeps touching my belly without consent and asking the worst, most personal questions.”
“Like what?”
“Like if I have hemorrhoids, or if I’m afraid of tearing my vagina since I’m so small and Aston is so big. And I can’t drink, so there’s that.” She brushes her shoulder-length blonde hair behind her ear.
I squeeze my friend’s shoulder. “Cunt asses. They’re just jealous because you got the hot doctor and are beautiful, and they pretty much suck at life and know it.
It’ll be okay. We’ll go through the presents later, but for now, Braelyn and I can flank you like bodyguards and smack hands when they try to get touchy. ”
“I might take you up on that.”
“But not with your grandmother, of course.” Octavia Abbott-Fritz in all her regal elegance, joins us. She’s wearing a pale pink suit with a diamond-and-emerald brooch on the lapel, and her blonde bob is immaculate.
“Never with you, Grandma. You get unlimited belly rubs.”
She smiles and reaches out to touch Skylar’s large belly. “My dear, you look stunning. Are you holding up okay? I know these events can be… taxing.”
Skylar places her hand over her grandmother’s. “I’ll make it through. I might need a truck and a forklift to get all those presents home. Then a bigger house to fit them all in.”
Octavia laughs lightly. “The one I had when I was pregnant with your uncle Kaplan was monstrous. He was the first Abbott-Fritz son so you can imagine. I refused further showers until I was pregnant with your mother.”
“I can’t say I blame you,” I add.
She turns her green eyes on me, her smile growing. “Quinn, dear, your mother tells me you’re nearly done with your residency. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. Two more years, so not quite done yet, but it feels like I’m getting closer.”
“Your mother was an angel and fixed up my wrist when I fell.”
“I remember. You seem to be all healed up from that,” I note.
“Yes.” She twists her wrist around. “It’s as it was before I fell. I can hold a martini without spilling a drop.”
I burst out laughing, and she winks at me.
“I must say, my dear, you have an extra glow about you.”
That pulls me up short. “Really?”
Her gaze casts about my face. “A sparkle in your eyes and a secret smile on your lips.”
“Oh, really?” Skylar arches an eyebrow. “A secret smile.”
I sigh. Here we go. I hadn’t mentioned Rhett to her or Braelyn. Not yet. I wasn’t sure I would, given how we decided to keep our relationship a secret. But as always, Octavia Abbott-Fritz has a way about her and misses nothing, even at her age.
“I can’t imagine it’s that Russel person making you smile this way.”
Jesus, she’s really going in for the kill.
I take a sip of my champagne. “No. It’s not.” Because I can’t lie to her. I’ve known her my entire life, and she would see through my bullshit anyway. So would Skylar. My ears would turn red the moment I lied, and that would be that.
I get a knowing nod. “Didn’t think so. There’s some gossip going around about the two of you from some of the women here. And I also believe you're next in line for the matchmakers in the room, so be warned.”
I grimace. “Yikes. Thanks for the heads-up.”
“Always.” She pats my cheek before she goes back to Skylar.
“Give it another hour, and then we can say you’re tired.
That’ll be my excuse as well. Only when you’re pregnant or old can you get away with that.
” She leans in and kisses Skylar’s cheek.
“I can’t wait to meet your girl. She’ll be as magnificent as you are.
I’m thrilled for you and Aston. He’s a wonderful man and very lucky to have you. ”
Skylar beams. “Thank you, Grandma. I love you.”
“Love you, my girl. And Quinn, keep up the secret, but don’t let it stay only that. Someone who makes you this happy needs to be front and center in your life.”
With that, she walks over to the next set of people.
I blow out a breath. I really need to work on my poker face.
Was I that unhappy before? I don’t think I was.
Honestly, I would have considered myself to be a pretty happy person.
Maybe it’s just the spark I was missing.
That extra something to round out all my sharp edges.
“Yeah, we need to have a conversation about this.”
“You know who it is. I told you about him back in the spring when we were only texting.”
“Yes, but then you told us you weren’t going there.”
I shrug. “Oops. You can’t be shocked.”
“I’m not shocked. I’m happy.” Her head leans against my shoulder. “It’s just that the last time we talked about it, you told us that you were keeping your distance because nothing could happen. Has that changed?”
“Yes, in that we’re no longer keeping our distance. I have no clue what can happen given all that we’re up against. That stuff is still unchanged, and Crew and Mason know nothing about it. No one does.”
“But it’s more than sex,” she says with assurance. “Are you in love?”
“Skylar, questions like that won’t earn you extra chocolate cake when all of this is over.”
“Fine. But only because it’s really good cake.”
“Dark chocolate sucks.”
“Says everyone with no taste.”
“Ah, but you met him, so you know that’s not the case.”
She giggles, but we’re interrupted by Braelyn, who understood the assignment and shows up with a fresh glass of champagne for me and some pink, fizzy drink for Skylar.
“Dude, the women at this event are no joke. I’m sweating like a whore at the Vatican. Can you see my pit stains?” She lifts her arms, revealing the underside of her green dress.
“No,” I tell her. “You’re good.”
“How come the men and kids get to go to an end-of-season baseball game, and we have to go through the story of our lives fifty times before we even reach the buffet line? It’s like the Hunger Games with these women, and they’re all out for blood.”
“Women are vampires,” Skylar states as she sips her pink drink. Everything here is pink, and while you’d think that was gross or tacky, it’s so Skylar no one argued it. “They like to suck your blood to steal your soul to make their lifeless selves feel better.”
“Wow. Bitter much, gumdrop?”
She shrugs at Braelyn. “So it would seem.”
“You’re not wrong, but what’s up?” Brae questions. “The party is a lot or is it more than that?”
“Who knows. My back hurts, and my ankles are officially cankles and having sex is like nearly impossible with how big I am. Plus, the snarky comments are grating on me today. But on a brighter note, Quinn is screwing the coach.”
Braelyn’s eyes pop out of her head. “You are? You didn’t tell me that. I mean, you had that smile going again, but I didn’t want to assume because it makes an ass out of u and me.”
I drink down half of my champagne before I grab another from a passing tray and double-fist it.
Brae fans her face, looking far too pleased. “Oh, there’s tea. Spill it.”
“They’re keeping it a secret,” Skylar supplies for me.
Brae scrunches her nose. “Because of Russel? Who cares about that dick?”
My eyebrows lift. “Um, how about his father?”
She shrugs and sips her champagne. “I guess I get that. But Russel would do the same thing without batting an eyelash or having second thoughts.”
“It’s true,” Sky agrees, shifting her weight and putting her free hand on her lower back for support.
“It’s more than that,” I state, finishing off my glass and setting the empty down on a table. “I don’t want to be a team distraction. I don’t want to cause drama. It’s a big year for my brothers and father. It’s not only Russel who’s a factor here. Plus, I’m a resident and working for the team.”
“So keeping it a secret was your idea?” Braelyn checks.
I glance around, making sure no one is around us.
Like my mother. “Neither of us knows what to do so we’re giving ourselves time to see what this is and waiting until the end of the season.
We don’t want to make the news or throw the team off course.
And besides, neither of you is in a position to give me crap about secret relationships. ”
“Fair,” Braelyn agrees, holding up a hand. “Fine. We love and support you, and if you’re happy with the hot coach, then we’re happy for you. Clearly, the sex is good because you have that look about you.”
Skylar snorts. “Oh my god! That’s exactly what my grandmother said to her. Though she didn’t mention the sex, just the glow.”
Brae’s phone vibrates with a text, and she pulls it out and frowns.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
She peers up at me with an apologetic grimace. “You’re not going to like this.”
“What?”