Chapter 23
I have talents you can’t put on resumes.
—Text from Hollis to Quincy
HOLLIS
Icontemplated staying at Quincy’s place.
But, once all of his laundry was done, and I’d been twiddling my thumbs because he had no charger there for me to charge my phone—what kind of psycho used an Android?—I had no other recourse but to leave.
Plus, I had my own laundry to do, and I needed to look into my parents’ situation.
Iwas just finishing a call with Tay of all people, who’d let me know that he was staying with a friend, our parents were in jail, and he hadn’t seen Humfrid in days, when another call came through on my phone.
“Tay,” I said as he wound down about what kind of dumbasses our parents were. “I gotta go. But call me tomorrow. We’ll talk about your living situation, and then we’ll talk about fixing up your resume so you can start applying for some jobs.”
“Okay,” Tay sighed. “Have a good one, Hollis.”
Afterhanging up, I switched over to Quincy, my stomach filled with butterflies.
“Well, hello stranger,” I said smoothly. Carefully.
Quincygroaned. “I would like to say I’m sorry for being a complete dumbass.”
Ismiled down at my lap. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not,” he disagreed. “ButI’ll try to do better. I’ve been doing this for years, not having to check in with anyone. But now that I have you, I’ll call. I’ll make sure to keep you updated so you don’t worry.”
“I didn’t have time to worry,” I admitted. “I went to the store to get some feminine products, then I ran into your brother, and he let me back into your apartment. Then he told me where you were and what you were doing.”
Hemade a noise under his breath.
“Can you, uh, come back?” he asked, sounding tired. “I’d come there, but I’m fucking exhausted, and the thought of driving makes me want to vomit. ButI’d really like to see you.”
I’dreally like to see him, too.
Itwas surprising how I’d become so dependent on seeing him, even if it was just a few glimpses here and there while I was at work.
Icontemplated saying no for all of two seconds before saying, “Sure.”
“You remember the code?” he asked.
Isnorted. “Quincy, you never gave me the code to remember.”
“Oh, that’s what you meant by my brother let you in.” He was quiet for a few long seconds before he said, “I’m an idiot.”
Iwasn’t going to disagree with him.
“I’ll buzz you in. Then give you the code when you get here,” he promised.
Iagreed, then started the drive back to his place, which took me quite a long time due to an accident.
Bythe time I got there, I’d already contemplated opening the box of wedding cake three times.
Therewas only so much patience I had, and I’d spent the majority of the day denying myself because I wanted Quincy to have it with me.
Sofar foodwise I’d had two cookies, a Danish, a bear claw, and a couple of cinnamon doughnuts.
Bythe time I arrived, I was salivating and couldn’t take it anymore, so I reached for the brownie that I thought to save for him.
Ringingthe buzzer, I was let in immediately, and made the short trek down the hall toward his apartment.
Apparently, he and three of his brothers lived in same building, while the rest of them shared a complex a couple of blocks down.
Iwalked past what I knew to be Gable’s door and started to knock on Quincy’s door. It opened before I could get my knuckles to the wood.
“You’re here,” he breathed.
Ismiled shyly at him, taking in the rumpled clothes that I’d seen him in yesterday.
Helooked worn out.
Andsexy as hell.
Iwondered if he was wearing underwear under his clothing.
“What,” he said as he stepped back and allowed me into his apartment, “is that?”
Igrinned and held out the large bakery box.
Iwas halfway through a brownie with powdered sugar dusted over the top of it.
“This?” I asked, pointing at the box.
“Yeah,” he jerked his head to the hand where the wedding cake sampler box was.
“This,” I said as I pointed, “is our dinner.”
“What is it?” he asked as he peered inside.
“A wedding cake sampler box,” I answered around a bite full of brownie. “I went to this new place after I grabbed a box of tampons from Walgreens around the corner. It’s called PieHard. One of her signature ‘things’ is a wedding cake sampler box. She said that they’re very popular right now, and it was one of her suggestions. SoI grabbed it. It has seventeen different icings, twenty-four different types of cake, and the cutest little spoons.”
“How about we order in,” he suggested. “And maybe get you some real food instead of just sugar? Then when we’re done eating, we can let that digest for a few hours, then we can dig into your wedding sampler box.” He paused. “Gable saw you today with that and accused me of not telling him that we were getting married.”
Isnickered. “I didn’t intend to get it, to be truthful. But apparently these are all the rage right now. Inspired, I got one.”
Hetook the box from my hands and placed it gently on the coffee table, then went about pulling out every single takeout menu there was in his drawer next to the trash can and showed them to me. “Which one?”
Ithought about what sounded the best, then told him my honest answer. “If it’s all the same to you, I just want to keep eating this.”
Iheld up what was left of my brownie, then pointed at the cake.
Hiseyes warmed, and he dropped them all on the counter before coming my way.
“You on your period, darlin’?” he asked.
Inearly rolled my eyes. “What gave it away?”
Hislips tipped up at one corner before he said, “I have two sisters. Had. Shit. Anyway, I know that they like their sweets when it’s that time of the month.
Ileaned into him, stealing his warmth.
“Yes, I’m on my period. AllI want to do is collapse onto your couch, steal the blanket off your bed, roll myself into it and veg in front of the TV before we go to bed.”
Hesifted his long fingers through my hair before saying, “Done.”
Sothat was what we did.
Wesat there, watched mindless TV, and I had the time of my life.
Ihad no clue it would be so freakin’ great to just… be.
Andthe cake.
Ohmy God, the cake.
Hourslater, after the last bite was finished, I felt like a full tick ready to pop.
“Chocolate with caramel for your groom’s cake,” I teased.
Hechuckled, patting my distended belly gently before saying, “And vanilla with buttercream for the wedding cake.”
Ifelt a burst of pleasure at his words.
Ifonly…