Chapter 24
The scent of coffee wakes me up, and the call of hot, caffeinated bean water is too strong to ignore.
Opening my bleary eyes just enough to search the room, I replay last night in my head. Sprawled across the other side of the bed is Priest, snoring softly, and Colt passed out down at the end. Quinn, however, is missing.
She was fucking amazing last night. Her first instinct when something spooks her is still to hide, but getting away from under her mother’s thumb is doing good things for her confidence.
I knee Colt on the way out of bed and he takes a swipe at me without opening his eyes, going straight back to sleep after.
Someone’s moving around, opening and closing cabinets out in the living area, which answers my question.
I fucking hope we didn’t accidentally end up with a morning person.
It would be worth it if it meant keeping her around, but still.
Grabbing some clothes out of my dresser, I pad into the shower to rinse off before joining her.
My towel’s damp, so I’m guessing Quinn did too. I’ll have to show her where I keep the clean ones, though the thought of her using my stuff isn’t exactly a turn-off, even after last night’s workout.
I push aside the heavy curtain that divides my sleeping area from the rest of the room.
When I come out into the living area, she’s sitting on the couch in one of my fucking shirts with her legs up underneath her and her phone propped up on the coffee table.
As if on cue, it rings. She glances up at me and smiles before tapping it to answer.
“Hey, cutie. Where are you?”
Quinn squirms a little. “Roger! I can’t believe you’re up this early on a Saturday. You must be feeling better.”
“Not enough for them to let me out yet, but you know me. I always need something to do, otherwise I’ll go stir crazy. I just read the draft for the article.”
“What do you think? I thought she did a good job working around some of the trickier details.” Quinn’s eyes flit to me just as I finish filling my mug. I raise it to her in a silent ‘good morning’. “The reporter is just waiting on my go-ahead to publish.”
“Well, it could be worse.” There’s a bit of an edge to the man’s voice that isn’t exactly disapproving, but makes it clear he isn’t happy. I’d go ahead and drop down on the couch next to her to see his reaction, but I know this Roger guy is someone important to her.
“What does that mean? I know it’s not a good situation, but I didn’t choose any of this. Take it up with my mother.”
“Trust me, I have,” Roger says with acid in his tone. “I can’t believe even Sheila would do something this reckless. She’s been different since the series got picked up.”
Quinn nods and takes a sip of coffee. “I… Don’t tell her I said this, okay?
But I think it might be her new boyfriend.
She’s driving a fancy car, signed the lease for the apartment without asking me, and she told me he gave her the money to hire Greg Cook.
She was always worried that I’d end up with someone who would use me, but maybe that’s what’s happening to her? ”
Roger grunts, unconvinced. “She’s old enough to know better than that. You know how I feel about her still being your manager. I think you’re outgrowing her and she doesn’t know how to handle being left behind.”
I think I might like this guy.
He continues. “Either way, what you need to decide now is where you see yourself in three months. The article paints you in a positive light. Maybe a little na?ve. You come across as a young, inexperienced actress who got duped by a scammy production company that broke the law. I know you’re trying to avoid throwing your mother under the bus, but it doesn’t really explain why you would go along with something like this. ”
“I wasn’t the one—”
“I know, Quinn, but I know because I know the dynamic between you and Sheila. To everyone else, you look like a risk.” Roger sighs. “Especially if you deny having anything to do with what happened, while continuing to visibly associate with a criminal element.”
Quinn’s lips pull into a tight line. She’s not happy.
“They’re listening right now, aren’t they?” Roger asks.
I sit down next to Quinn. “Hey, I’m Sinner.”
“Ah, the young man from the photos. Can’t say I approve, but all considered, I’m glad you were there. Good job.”
“Thanks,” I respond, thrown off by the compliment.
“I assume you’ve heard everything. Do you disagree?”
Quinn looks insulted on my behalf. “Of course he does!”
I shrug. “Eh. I want to tell you to fuck off, but I’m not an idiot. We probably aren’t good for her career. The reporter is my sister, by the way. We don’t advertise it, but if anyone really started digging they’d find out.”
“Thank you for telling me. I’d rather know so we aren’t blindsided later.”
“Do I get a say in all this?” Quinn asks.
“I want to publish the article and let Mila help with keeping friendly press on the top of the news cycle. I know it means some of the inquiries might dry up, but I’m done letting what other people think steer my career, whether it’s my mother or some executive that’s never even met me. ”
I expect Roger to argue, but he smiles.
“Good. It’s about time. Let me know when you’re ready to start officially transitioning away from your mother’s management.
I actually don’t think this is as bad as it could be.
You happen to be getting famous at the moment for playing a demon who hangs out in bars with bikers.
It fits with your branding well enough that a lot of people might assume it’s a deliberate choice, and unless you really go off the deep end, you’ll be locked in for any new seasons of Saving the World.
There’s no need to make a decision right away on how this works long term. Do you understand, Quinn?”
She glances at me and gives a tiny nod. “I know. I’m having dinner with Mom on Monday. I don’t know what will happen, but I need to start somewhere.”
Oh, fuck him, implying that she can always ditch us later. But he’s her agent, and someone who should be first and foremost on Quinn’s side, so it’s not bad advice.
Priest and Colt come out of the bedroom, looking sleepy but keeping quiet to not disturb Quinn’s call.
I hold up my mug, offering coffee, but Priest shakes his head.
Keeping his voice low, he says, “Gonna head back to my place and shower. Gonna grab some food after. I can let you know when I’m going. ”
“Sounds good.”
Colt just nods with a yawn and points a thumb at Priest. “What he said.” They slip out quietly, leaving just me and Quinn. Well and our good friend Roger.
“I’ll deal with that if it comes to it,” Quinn says, standing firm.
“Okay. It’s your decision and your brand.
I’ll be here to help you figure it out whichever way things go.
” He glances off screen and the sound of typing comes through the speakers.
“I’m going to make a few small suggestions for changes and then I’ll tell your friend’s sister to go ahead with the article.
I like that you’re taking more initiative, but can you try to stay out of trouble for a bit, Quinn? ”
“I’m not the one that went looking for trouble,” she says indignantly.
He looks at me and lets out a brief chuckle. “If you say so.”
She smiles fondly at the screen, like he’s her favorite uncle. “I’ll call you after the weekend, okay? Maybe I can come visit without Mom this time.”
“Sounds good, Quinn. Take care of yourself.”
“I will.” They hang up and Quinn locks her phone.
I hold up the coffee pot. “Warm it up for you?”
“I’m good, thanks.” She takes a sip and smiles.
I push back the curtain to the bedroom to get in more light now that it won’t bother anybody, and sit down on the end of the bed.
“Hey listen, you’re a big girl and you can make your own choices, but I gotta fucking say this, okay?
I don’t know much about movies or TV other than to watch them, but I know reputation is important.
If your dream is to make it to Hollywood and become stupidly rich and famous, I’d feel like shit if you threw it away on account of my sorry ass. ”
She blinks at me with those ridiculously pretty eyes. “I won’t.”
“Well… good. Yeah. You shouldn’t.” I knew she’d have to leave at some point, it shouldn’t be surprising.
“No, Sinner, not like that. I mean Roger’s right.
I need to make decisions for myself now.
” She takes another sip, not really looking at anything.
“And I’ve never really wanted to be a movie star.
Not that I don’t want my projects to be successful, but I’m not in it for an infinity pool in Beverly Hills. ”
“What the fuck’s an infinity pool?”
“It’s—never mind. I just mean I want to act, and I want to live my life, and if living my life means there are some roles I don’t get offered, I’m okay with that.
I love playing Desdemona. The series is tons of fun and I love all the cheesy action and getting to pretend to be a kickass demon with an angel best-friend she doesn’t know what to do with.
I don’t care about Hollywood. I never dreamed of becoming a huge star.
That’s Mom’s dream. I want to try voice acting, and be in a stage production.
I love being in projects like Saving the World that someone is making because they’re passionate about the material, not because they’re trying to make the movie of the summer.
And I can’t imagine not being able to walk around in public without everyone recognizing me.
That kind of life would be so depressing.
” She stops to draw a breath. “Sorry, I’m dumping everything on you. ”
I stand up, putting my mug on the table and crouching down in front of her.
“You’re already a star, demon. Shit, that sounds so fucking corny but it’s true.
I lost so much fucking time in prison, so if there’s one thing I know, it’s that time is the one thing you can’t take for granted.
Every second that ticks is a second you’ll never live again.
So when the end comes and you’re looking at all your seconds and what you did with them, you wanna be able to think, ‘fuck yeah, that was amazing’ “
“That’s… that’s a good way of looking at it. I like that a lot, actually.”
“Roger seems pretty cool, but you’re going to need to accept that people like your mother are never going to get it. They might think it is, but if their love depends on you doing what they want, that’s not love.” I kiss her on the top of the head.
She looks up at me, just as I’m about to kiss her again, and I’m not missing that opportunity.
The next one goes right on her soft lips.
Fuck, I swear she tastes sweeter and sweeter every fucking time.
And she gives back as good as she gets, wrapping her arms around my neck as she lets me pull her back onto the bed.
She pulls back and smirks as she wiggles her hips right over my stiffening cock. “I think I can feel your support right now.”
“Yeah. Well, I’m gonna show you some other things it can do.”