Chapter 34 Quinn #2
“I should have made you tell me where we were staying,” I muttered as I looked up.
“Why? So you could try and convince us not to put you up here?” Noah asked, coming to stand beside me.
“Don’t waste your time arguing with us,” Oli added. “We already had a block of rooms booked. It would actually cost us money if you turned it down.” He smirked as I tried to figure out if he was telling the truth or not.
They all knew I wouldn’t like them spending so much on me, that I could’ve booked a room myself or found somewhere else to stay. But I wasn’t about to do it if it meant it would cost them. As we stepped inside, someone moved forward, as if they had been waiting for us.
“Mr. Lawson.” The man headed for Asher who stepped out from beside me. “We have your rooms all set up and your luggage will be brought right up.”
“Thank you,” he said with a nod.
“Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable. We’re happy to have Knight Enterprises staying with us,” the man sputtered enthusiastically. “I’ll show you up.”
We rode up to the twentieth floor of the hotel and again I was shocked by the wealth these men were used to.
We were being shown around one of the best five-star hotels and the man seemed nervous about it.
We had six rooms side by side, somehow I end up in the middle with Asher and Noah on either side of me.
My room had a large king bed with white bedding, grey floor to ceiling curtains on the windows on either side of the bed, and a few steps at the back of the room lead to a terrace with enough room for a small table and chair, with a great view of New York.
“Will these do, sir?” the man with the hotel asked Asher who came with me to my room.
“Yes.” They nodded at each other and then the man slipped out. “Don’t bother saying it’s too much.”
He was right, I was going to say that.
“When are you guys going out?” I asked as I sat in one of the chairs.
“Theo is meeting us in about forty-five minutes.”
“Any suggestions on where I should go shopping?” I hadn’t been to New York before and I was feeling scrambled.
“The car is waiting for you downstairs. Noah called ahead to Bloomingdale’s, they have dresses pulled. You can pick one. Here.” He held up a black card between us. I looked down at it then back to him.
“I’m not taking his card.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“It’s not his, it’s mine.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not taking yours either.”
We stood there for a moment, glaring at each other before he put the card back in his wallet.
“Doesn’t matter, the store already has my card on file.
” I glared at him but the hard set of his jaw meant I likely didn’t have a chance of going somewhere else for a dress without pissing him off. Plus, I just didn’t have the energy.
“Can you let me know if something happens and he comes anywhere near here?” I hated that I felt like I was hiding. But now that I was here, I was seriously second guessing my choice.
“He’ll want to see you, Q,” Asher grunted. “He’ll be grateful that you’re here.” Asher didn’t wait for a reply. He simply nodded and walked out of the room.
I pulled out my phone and before calling my mom opened the group text, the one they removed Theo from and added me back to both times I tried to remove myself. I’d muted the chat so I didn’t notice how many missed messages there were. I didn’t bother reading through them.
Me
I’m back… don’t exhaust me with messages (@Noah)
I need to be eased back in gently.
I pulled up my mom’s number and dialed, ignoring the ping of texts that came through.
“Hey sweetie. All ready for the movers?” Her voice sounded chipper through the phone even though I know it was after midnight in Italy.
“I’m not coming,” I said quickly.
“What?!” Her voice raised a few octaves.
“Theo’s dad died, I just landed in New York.
I’m going to stay for the service tomorrow then fly home.
I’m not sure when I’ll get to you, I’m delayed by a few days at least.” I expected her to pipe up but the silence was loud on the other end of the phone.
“Mom?” I asked to make sure she was still there and we hadn’t gotten disconnected.
“Are you okay?” I closed my eyes at her question.
“Yeah.” Even though I felt sick with the swirling emotions in my gut.
“I think you did the right thing.”
I raised my eyebrows in shock. “You do?” I hadn’t told her everything, but she knew enough to be pissed at Theo on my behalf.
“Yes, hun. I might not have met him, but I can tell that you care about him and the other people he brought into your life. It doesn’t matter what happened because regardless of his relationship with his father, he just lost him.
“It will probably bring up some stuff with his mom.” I’d told my mom a brief highlight of what happened to Theo, it didn’t feel right to tell her the specifics.
“He shared that with you, sweetheart, and even if he walked out, he trusted you enough to tell you that. I think he’ll be glad you’re there.
” I still felt unsure, but it was too late to turn back. I was here now.
“Guess I have to go buy a dress.”
I looked in the full-length mirror in the bathroom and pushed half of my hair behind my ear.
Shopping had been pretty painless yesterday.
I’d shown up and was ushered into a dressing room with five dresses waiting.
I chose the second one I tried on. It was packed up and handed to me in a garment bag.
I was able to sneak downstairs to buy some heels and a little black purse without anyone stopping me.
It felt odd to get this dressed up so early, but it was almost a two-hour drive to the Kane estate in Northampton. From the texts last night I learned that Theo’s stepmom had planned an elaborate celebration of life at the house, followed by a short service.
The great Warren Kane didn’t want anyone to have to stand around a depressing cemetery, so they would do the service in the yard, with the man already buried in a large plot, Theo didn’t tell them where.
My black dress was fitted around my chest and waist and then loosened at my hips, flaring out to my knees.
There was a V-neck slip underneath, a delicate lace floral appliqué covering the dress that also created the cap sleeves.
The lace finished a few inches below the end of the slip.
It was simple and classy, a pair of classic black pumps finished the outfit.
I’d left my hair down in loose curls and kept my makeup simple. My stomach felt like it was eating itself, my nerves had kept me up for most of the night.
A knock sounded at the door. I took a deep breath, grabbed my small purse and went to open it.
“You look nice,” Asher said. He was in a simple black suit with a white dress shirt, something I’d seen him in a thousand times. Except today, rather than the confidence he normally exuded, he seemed subdued.
“Thanks.” I stepped out to the hallway where everyone else was coming out of their rooms. “How was your night?” I asked as we all made our way to the elevators.
“Do you really want to know?” Oli asked skeptically.
“I don’t know…” No one said anything as they gave me time to decide what I wanted. We walked quickly through the lobby to the waiting SUVs.
“He’s not doing well,” Noah started as he climbed into the car beside me. “He was quiet and sullen.”
“Isn’t that how he always is?” I tried to joke but Noah’s face stayed serious.
“He hasn’t been that way in months and you know that.” I hated the glare on his face so I turned to look out the window, Asher sitting quietly in the front. I knew I should have gotten in the car with Oli, Will, and Jaxson. At least they might’ve left me alone.
“Stop acting like I’m the one in the wrong here,” I said finally. “This wasn’t my decision. I didn’t do this. He broke up with me.” I turned to look at Noah. “So how he’s doing or how he feels isn’t on me, he made sure of that.”
“He’s an idiot.” Noah sat up straighter.
“Noah,” Asher warned from the front seat. “It’s not your place.”
“If he doesn’t tell her—”
“Enough,” I cut him off. As much as I was dying to know what they all keep dancing around, I couldn’t do it.
Because unless Theo was the one who told me, not a damn thing would change once I knew whatever it was.
“It doesn’t matter. Let’s get through this service and then I’m moving on. That’s what he wanted me to do anyway.”
I turned to look back out the window, shutting them out, letting them know that I was done with this conversation.