Chapter Nineteen
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Around the corner from the club was an all-day diner. They slid into a booth and ordered coffee, tea, and stacks of pancakes. Kya was cutting into her homestyle stack when a response from her group text came through. Her brother was notoriously bad with text messages, and it was no surprise that Hugo replied first. His reply, though, was surprising.
She stared at her phone.
‘What?’ Quinn asked.
‘A message from Hugo,’ Kya replied.
‘Say hi.’
‘Sure,’ Kya said coolly. ‘He says happy birthday.’
‘Oh.’
Oh? Was that all she was going to say?
Quinn buried her nose in her big, steaming cup of English breakfast tea.
‘Why would he say that?’ Kya prodded.
Quinn lowered the cup onto the saucer with a clatter. ‘Maybe because it’s my birthday.’
‘Quinn!’ Kya cried. ‘When were you going to tell me?’
‘Likely never,’ she admitted. ‘It’s not a big deal.’
Kya wasn’t buying it. ‘Who doesn’t celebrate their birthday?’
‘I celebrated with a sunrise set,’ Quinn explained. ‘I could have played at Space any time. I picked today.’
‘I mean celebrate with friends and family,’ Kya said. ‘And a real cake, not a pancake stack!’
‘My friends are scattered all over the world,’ she said. ‘It’s not reasonable to think they’ll fly in for a party. Plus, this is nice, pancakes with you.’
‘That’s sweet, but it’s not enough,’ Kya said. ‘I want to give you a gift. What would you like for your birthday?’
‘Time. Stay longer.’
‘I wish I could,’ Kya said, while quietly wishing the opposite. There was no way she was staying in Miami a second longer than necessary. Although she wasn’t proud of the way she’d skipped out on Quinn the other day, she recognized the wisdom of her actions. Getting far away from Quinn was a good idea. Her career was off the rails. She had to focus and strategize to get it back on track. The last thing she needed was to lose her head over this girl.
Kya’s phone buzzed with another text, another bombshell that took her out. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me!’
‘What is it this time?’ Quinn asked.
‘My flight’s been cancelled!’
‘No way!’
‘Due to weather conditions?’
Kya looked up from her phone in disbelief. A radiant blue sky mocked her through the diner window. What weather conditions? she wondered. Quinn, meanwhile, was in stitches. She bumped her shoulder. ‘Don’t laugh! This is serious!’
‘I agree. It’s a sign, and signs are very serious.’
‘A sign to call the airline and book the next available flight?’
‘Or extend your stay.’
‘Quinn …’
‘Music Week starts Monday! You won’t want to miss it.’
It was such a simple request. Time … more time together. Her stomach dropped at the thought. The day she met Quinn, she’d boarded a rollercoaster and there was no getting off. But how could Kya say no?
She picked her phone off the table and called Hugo. ‘Guess what? My flight is cancelled.’
‘Does that mean you’ll stay?’ he asked.
The entire world wanted her to stay in Miami. Who was she to fight the world?
‘I’ll stay a week,’ she said. ‘Happy now? You win!’
‘I always do,’ Hugo said.
Judging by the look on Quinn’s face, she’d won, too.
‘Your brother will be happy,’ Hugo said. ‘Let’s celebrate. What would you like for dinner?’
‘We should celebrate Quinn’s birthday, too,’ Kya said.
Quinn flicked her with a napkin.
Hugo was game. ‘Should I get a cake?’
‘You should,’ Kya said. ‘What’s a birthday without cake?’
‘Maybe invite a few friends?’ Hugo suggested.
‘Knock yourself out.’
Kya ended the call.
‘What did you do?’ Quinn asked.
‘I got Hugo to throw you a party. Invite Ivy and Victor and whoever else you’d like.’
‘Will you let me contribute something?’
‘Please don’t. Let Hugo be Hugo.’
‘Fine! As long as you’re staying for Music Week.’
‘Is this a fair exchange?’ Kya wondered aloud. ‘It’s your party and your big concert. What’s in all this for me?’
Quinn smiled as if the answer was obvious. ‘Me, of course.’
‘A party ain’t a party until a couple breaks up!’
Kya didn’t know the redhead who’d dropped that gem, but she was wiser beyond her twenty-odd years. When Ivy and Victor broke up, once again, and with their usual flourish, those thoughtful words put it all in perspective.
The shouting match erupted just as soon as Quinn blew out her candles. Victor stormed out this time, leaving Ivy in tears by the edge of the pool. Quinn handed her a tissue and reminded her of her inherent greatness. ‘You are a badass babe. Don’t you dare let that man take you down!’
Ivy took a few deep breaths and wiped her eyes. A round of vodka shots later, the party resumed. Some didn’t budge from the terrace, which was the de facto dance floor. Others stretched out on the lounge chairs and stared up at the moon. It was a warm night and a few stripped down to their underwear and jumped into the pool. Kya took Quinn to her bedroom to search for swimsuits.
‘Do you think this is the end for Ivy and Victor?’ Kya asked.
‘No,’ Quinn said flatly. ‘I don’t think that.’
‘I hope the drama didn’t ruin your birthday,’ Kya said soberly.
‘No! Never!’ Quinn exclaimed. ‘Your brother might not recover. The good doctor looked stricken!’
‘He hates conflict.’
‘Will he be all right?’
‘He’ll be fine.’
Kya switched on the light, only to wish she hadn’t. Her bedroom was a mess, crammed with her luggage and computer equipment. Quinn didn’t seem to notice. She circled Kya and shut the door. Leaning against it, hair fanned over the bleached wooden slats. ‘I had a great birthday. Thank you.’
Kya’s heart melted. Was a birthday even a birthday without a kiss? No. Never. She stepped forward and brushed Quinn’s lips with her own. Quinn wrapped her arms around her neck and dragged her into a deeper kiss. When Kya pulled away, only slightly, the air around them was electric.
Quinn smiled cheekily. ‘Guess it happened again.’