19. Quentin
I woke up on Christmas Eve in my parents’ guest bedroom and pulled back my sleep mask. Light filtered through the sheer curtains, stinging my eyes, so I quickly pulled the mask back down.
For the first time in a long time, I’d slept terribly. Not because of the bed, but because my mind wouldn’t quit replaying my date with Rei. My fingers itched to pick up the phone and call her, beg her to put me out of the misery of this waiting game.
But I tried to follow Bryce’s advice, getting up for my regular morning swim. My parents had an indoor pool. Glass arced over the walls and ceiling, creating a warm greenhouse-style room despite the cold, gray weather outside.
I dipped into the warm water, did my stretches, and started swimming my laps. Moving my body helped get me out of my head. Reach, breathe, pull, kick became the chant in my head drowning out everything else.
But then something or someone disrupted my swim, sending a splash of the salt water straight down my throat. I stood up, water hitting chest level as I coughed and croaked, trying to see what had happened.
Did Simon’s kids somehow know that I was the next one to get married?
Was this how it ended?
But as water sluiced from my face and my vision cleared, I glared at Tyrone’s grinning face. “Big brother’s home!” he yelled out.
I splashed water at him. “What the hell are you doing in the pool?” I looked around, finding a pile of gray sweats at the water’s edge and my parents laughing as they watched nearby.
I stared at them. “I thought you’d get in later tonight?” My voice was still rough and croaking.
Tyrone back floated, spitting water up like a deformed dolphin. “Had to come back early to witness you taking a day off! It’s a Christmas Miracle!”
I rolled my eyes. Mom clapped her hands together like she agreed with Tyrone, and Pops said, “You do work a lot. Not that that’s a bad thing.”
Looking at Tyrone, I said, “You just played yesterday. Shouldn’t you be tired?”
“I’m not as old as you.” He stuck out his tongue.
“You’re just a year younger, dumbass.”
Mom said to Pops, “It’s just like when they were kids.”
Pops grunted. “We didn’t have a pool when they were younger. Just now that they’re rich.”
She chuckled and then hugged his arm. He leaned his head over to rest it atop her curls.
I looked away from them just in time to see Tyrone doing a handstand in the water. I rolled my eyes and shoved his legs to tip him over.
Mom laughed.
Pops said, “Don’t hurt our star player now.”
“You didn’t say it was dangerous when he was drowning me,” I muttered while Tyrone lifted himself out of the pool, sitting on the edge, dripping wet in his boxers. I got out too, wrapping a towel around my waist. Mom always had the big ones that could cover more than just my left thigh.
“Don’t be testy,” Pops grunted.
Mom patted my shoulder. “You go shower and get dressed for the day. I’ll change and make some brunch. I want to hear all about how things are going for you.”
Tyrone added, “Make enough food for me too.”
“You know I always do.”
While Mom and Dad walked back toward the living room, Tyrone followed me down the hallway. He nudged my arm and said, “Hope you’re ready for a Mom-style interrogation.”
My eyebrows arched. “Why’s that?”
He huffed a chuckle. “The second you told her you were staying at our house, she demanded we come home. You had her in a panic.”
I shook my head, annoyed at how perceptive she was. Pops would have just let me sulk in peace. “Seems like panic was warranted, considering you almost drowned me out there.”
Tyrone laughed. “All in good fun.”
I shrugged, thinking I didn’t really know fun until I spent time with Rei. I knew blowing off steam, taking a break from work to clear my head, recovering from a hard workout. But fun? That was new to me.
Tyrone and I parted ways, and I took my time showering and getting ready, knowing Mom and her all-seeing eyes were about to have me under the microscope.
All too soon, Mom and I were sitting at the kitchen table while Pops and Tyrone watched game highlights and commentary on the living room TV. The people looked life-size on the screen.
“Tell me what’s bothering you,” Mom said as she put a plate of food in front of me. I looked down to see a heaping club sandwich and a side salad made with my favorite dressing.
“Nothing’s bothering me now,” I replied. “This looks delicious.”
She gave me a you’re-not-fooling-me look, like I was telling her I missed curfew because of midnight “traffic.” “You never stay over,” she said. “Ever.”
I frowned. She was right, but I also didn’t know how to answer without divulging more than I should. “Work’s just been a lot,” I finally said.
“When isn’t it?” she asked. “You burn both ends of the candle like you need it to keep you warm.”
My lips twisted to the side. “That’s just part of the job.”
“I remember when you worked with Claire,” she said with a sad sigh. “She picked up so much of the slack before...” She shook her head. “It’s too bad what happened.”
My stomach twisted at the memories that brought back. “My controller does a good job,” I said. “This is just a bigger company. More to manage.”
Mom gave me a look like she wasn’t buying it. “If it’s business as usual, why are you here? Not that I don’t love having you here, but I can’t remember a Christmas Eve when you weren’t working, even when you were at the bank.”
My eyes trained on a little Christmas tree standing on the counter. It was a palm tree with a little Santa sitting on top in swim trunks. “I wish you would drop it, Mom.”
Her eyebrows furrowed at first, but then she smiled. “There’s a girl, isn’t there?”
“Mom,” I said, my gaze snapping back to her.
“Tell me I’m wrong.” She folded her arms across her chest, covering up her apron that said Santa Loves Curvy Girls.
I couldn’t tell her she was mistaken, especially because my stupid face was giving me away, equal parts tortured at the thought of Rei walking away and joyful at how well our date had gone. My cheeks felt hot even as I bristled at her prying. “Can’t you just let it go?” I pleaded weakly.
“Oh, honey, I’ve been waiting for this! When can we meet her? Is everything going okay? You’re not breaking up, are you? Is that why you’re here? I’m sure you two can work it out. I—”
“Mom,” I said, stopping her roll. She gave me a guilty smile, letting me talk. “I just wanted to be around family while things sort themselves out with her. Is that okay?”
Although she looked me over with concern, she relented. “Fine. As long as you eat. You’re looking thin.”
I looked down at myself and then arched an eyebrow at her. “No one’s ever accused me of being small.”
“Compared to usual,” she said. “A mom can tell. Must be all that stress you’re under ‘at work.’” She winked at me. “Have you heard of yoga? Tyrone says he does it with the team and it really helps them recover from injuries too. With your hip, I could see it being good.”
“Yes, I’ve heard of yoga.” I picked up the sandwich, taking a bite if only to give myself a break from the conversation.
Mom got up, moving about the kitchen, bringing sandwiches to Dad and Tyrone. I sat in silence, eventually pulling out my phone to check emails and messages. I responded to a few emails and asked Daniel to bring all the files I’d need to my house once he was back from the Christmas holiday.
Bryce had texted to let the founders know that Simon’s treatment was progressing well. The doctor told him she was hopeful he could be released from the hospital in a week or two.
A new message slid across the screen, interrupting my scroll.
Rei: Can we talk?
I ran a napkin over my face, needing to be presentable even though she couldn’t see me. I’d run through traffic just to talk to her again. To see her smile at me before that light fled her eyes.
Quentin: I can call if you’d like.
Rei: In person would be better.
Quentin: Tell me when and where. I’ll be there.
I didn’t care if I sounded desperate. Because I was. The thought of finding someone else to marry made my stomach turn. Even though I didn’t know Rei well, she was the only woman I’d enjoyed spending time with since Claire.
Despite all my doubts, despite my past with Claire telling me no one could be trusted, I looked forward to our conversation. I hoped things with Rei would be different.