Chapter 26
QUINN
JULY — FIVE WEEKS TO WIN OVER THE FACULTY
Colton was right about me hiding. I was acting like a coward, and that’s not who I am. So I decided, for this week at the very least, I’m going to put myself out there.
I start by meeting up with my friend Juliana and her family.
We met when she and her now-fiancé came up to Boston to recruit students for their internship program.
They work closely with the faculty in the architecture department and have somehow charmed all of them.
If there’s anyone who can help me win Dr. Keck over, it’s these two.
Jules and I are sitting against a tree enjoying the shade while Ben and their girls are out in a canoe on the small, artificial lake.
Her youngest, Sophie, stands up in the boat, throwing her arms wide and calling out that she’s queen of the world.
Ben intentionally rocks the boat, and Juliana jumps to her feet when Sophie almost topples over the side.
“Ben Thomas, don’t you dare,” Jules calls out to Ben, and he shoots her a wink over his shoulder, sputtering when the ten-year-old splashes water in his face, her sisters cackling on the other side of the boat.
Juliana settles back on the grass next to me. “Those two are going to be the death of me.”
She can grumble all she wants, but it’s so clear how much she loves the bond Ben’s developed with her kids.
“Are you sure you’re good to watch the girls tonight?” Juliana asks, chewing on her lip. “They’re… a lot.”
“Of course. You and Ben deserve a date night while on vacation. Inez and I already got all the snacks and have movies queued up. We’re gonna pump them full of sugar and borderline inappropriate content before we send them back to you two to manage.
I told Colton it was a girls’ night and to find something to do. ”
“Oh, yes,” Juliana says, her eyes sparkling. “The famous Colton.”
“Jules…”
“The elusive best friend”—the emphasis on the words show how little she believes them—“I’ve heard so much about.”
“Yes, my best frie—”
“Whose name you say all breathily now. That’s not how you said it a couple years ago.” She takes a dramatic breath. “Oh, Colton.”
“It’s a hundred degrees today. I’m panting from the heat.”
“Yeah, I believe you’re in heat.”
“Juliana Ryan,” I say, all mock outrage. “Your children are ten feet away.”
“Don’t try to be all moralistic now,” she says, nudging me with her elbow. “You asked me if I was sleeping with Ben when they were only five feet away, so that leg you're standing on looks a bit wobbly.”
“Yeah, but I’m the irresponsible auntie type. You’re a mother.”
“Mothers like to hear about their friends getting their brains banged out as much as the next woman.”
I laugh, covering my face as I lean back against the hard bark. “I’m not gossiping about my sex life.”
“So there is sex.”
I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. “Again, I’m not talking about my phenomenal, mind-altering sex life.”
Juliana hollers and claps, earning a questioning look from Ben.
“Such a perv,” I say.
“Hey, it’s been a tough summer for you, and there’s nothing better for stress relief than a steady stream of orgasms.”
I have no doubt she gets plenty of those if the way she eyes Ben’s back—muscles shifting under his shirt as he rows their boat back to shore—is any indication. He gracefully hops out of the boat, helping each of the girls onto the dock, and Juliana sighs.
Ben drops onto the blanket next to Juliana, pulling her onto his lap while the girls run off into the open field. “What are we talking about?”
I open my mouth to change the subject, but Juliana gives me a devious smile and says, “Quinn’s sex life.”
Ben groans, dropping his face into the crook of Juliana’s neck. “Are you going off about Colton again?”
I gesture toward Ben, glaring daggers at Juliana. “How does he even know Colton exists?”
Juliana narrows her eyes. “What’s the big deal if he’s just a friend, Quinn?”
I narrow my eyes right back, but can’t come up with a response.
Ben places a soft kiss on Juliana’s cheek. “Lay off, baby. For all you know, Colton’s ugly.”
“He’s really not,” I say, sighing wistfully, to which both Juliana and Ben laugh. “But it’s nothing serious. Just sex.”
Ben scoffs, and Juliana reaches over to pinch his side.
“Do you have something to say, Mr. Thomas?” I ask, crossing my arms.
“Just that I’ve heard that before,” he says, turning to Juliana. “How’d that work out for you?”
She lifts her left hand, twisting it this way and that so her engagement ring catches the light. “Worked out great, I’d say.”
His smile softens, and he pulls her in for a kiss, whispering I love you on her lips.
I groan, dropping back on the blanket and tossing my arm over my eyes. “I get it. You’re in love and adorable and you can fuck right off. Will you guys just tell me how to win over this professor so I can go enjoy my spinsterhood in peace?”
“Which professor is it?” Ben asks as Juliana slides off his lap.
“Lynn Keck.”
He nods, running a hand through his thick, dark hair. “I went into her class when we were up there in April. She’s into classic designs and wasn’t excited about a program in Orlando because she thinks the buildings are too austere. Anything classic or unique might soften her up.”
I light up. “I could take her class out to the Villa d’Este!”
He clutches his chest. “Oh damn, I fucking love the Villa d’Este. That’s perfect.”
Juliana glances between us. “What is it?”
Ben’s eyes light up, going full architectural fanboy. “It’s a Renaissance palace with these incredible gardens. A literal architectural masterpiece. You have a connection there, Quinn?”
I shrug. “No, but I’m sure my friend Tomasso does. The museum world is small. And there’s no school-sanctioned trip this weekend, so if I could set it up…”
Ben nudges Juliana. “You should go with them.”
She guffaws. “What?”
“Seriously,” he says. “You’d love it. And you can help soften up Lynn.”
My eyes go wide. “Oh my god, yes please.”
Her mouth opens and closes, looking between us. “What about the kids?”
“What’s an afternoon away in the scope of a two-week family vacation?
I can handle the kids for a few hours,” he says with an eye roll.
On cue, Clara starts screaming about something Sophie did, and he grimaces.
“It’ll be fine. I’ll take them to that gladiator school thing you were looking at and go get an espresso. ”
“Sophie with a sword? Lord save us,” Juliana says, rubbing a hand over her forehead. “But okay, let’s do this.”
“Thank you thank you thank you,” I say, throwing my body into hers and tackling her onto the blanket.
She laughs. “We’ll see if you still want to thank me after Sophie conquers the city.”
My friends are the best. Tomasso was able to get us a last-minute private tour for the Villa d’Este and Juliana’s sacrificing her vacation to help me, even if she insists being away from the kids for a full afternoon is a vacation in and of itself.
We have about an hour until I’m supposed to meet Juliana, Dr. Keck, and the two dozen students who decided to join us. Just enough time for me to pop over to the school to print off an attendance list, but when I enter the office, I stop in my tracks.
My father’s set up behind the desk to the left, a pair of reading glasses perched on his nose.
He didn’t need reading glasses the last time we spoke—fights not included—and the reminder of how much he’s aged during our estrangement makes my heart tighten.
No matter how much he’s hurt me, he’s still my father.
He glances up and startles when he spots me. I’m clearly unexpected, and the rare break in his exposure shows a flash of pain. “Good morning, Quinn.”
“I just need to print something off really quickly. I can use the other printer,” I say, turning to leave.
“How’s the class going?” he calls at my back. His words sound sincere, and when I look back, I don’t see any sarcasm or disdain.
I pause, wondering how much I should say. We’d been so close when I was younger, and the child inside me still believes he loves and cares.
“It’s going well,” I say, smiling slightly.
He huffs. “I knew you had it in you.”
I bite my lip to distract from the moisture filling my eyes. This is by far the most praise I’ve received from him since the day I told him I wasn’t going into the PhD program he picked out for me. “Thanks, Dad.”
He smiles, always a small thing, but meaningful nonetheless. “Would you like to come to dinner with me tonight?”
My stomach swoops, and I let myself imagine what reconciling with my family would look like.
I’d never be able to trust them fully or pick holidays with them over spending them with Colton and Gerry—my true family—but the truth is, I miss them.
I miss my dad’s gruff commentary on life and the way Christian and Joshua would roughhouse.
I miss hiding underneath Dad’s giant desk after I pulled a prank on one of them while Bradley pointed them in the wrong direction.
I even miss Mom, the cold shake of her head when we were out of control.
I loved them all so much, and maybe reconnecting could heal something in me, the part of me that broke when I realized how easily I was thrown away.
“Sure,” I say. “That sounds great.”
His smile grows. “Perfect. You remember Dr. Livingston?”
My own smile falls in response. Of course I remember Dr. Livingston.
He’s one of the half-dozen friends of my dad’s who offered me a spot in their graduate program after Colton won the fellowship.
A part of the same group Dad used to trot me out in front of when I was in elementary school to list all the Roman emperors in order.
A fun little party trick to entertain his friends.