22. Sutton #2
“Theo was fine with us being out, just pissed that I hadn’t answered when he started calling, and then Ash riled him up, convincing him that something was off even though he had my location.
He said he would have put off work and come out with us tonight if I had asked.
He thought maybe we’d left the club without my phone or something.
” She had a dopey smile on her face. “I love that man. He got a tattoo for me the other day.”
“I’m not surprised.” I let out a snort. “That man doesn’t take his eyes off you. He’s obsessed. What did he get?”
“A bouquet of lilies on his ribs because they’re my favorite flower.”
My heart melted right alongside her. Knight may intimidate me but there was no denying how much he loved Quinn.
“How did you know?” I rolled my head against the wall to look at her. “How did you know you loved him?”
“I told you a little about my relationship before Theo. He was terrible, emotionally abusive, but I got out. I did therapy and sorted myself out but I’d sworn off dating. When I met Theo, I wasn’t ready for him. I rejected him, twice, before he even got me to go for coffee.”
“Made him work for it.” I smiled and she returned it.
“I definitely did.” Her face had gone all dreamy.
“It was more how safe he made me feel. I usually needed to be in control but when I was with him I could turn that off and trust that he had me. It was an incredible feeling. And honestly the man just knew me in a way that no one had before. I could be completely myself and I never felt like he was going to judge me for that. It’s hard to describe but there was just this certainty. I’d never loved someone like that.”
I swallowed because…some of what she was saying sounded like how I felt around Asher.
Calm, secure, settled.
“That sounds lovely,” I replied in a low voice, my eyes feeling a little misty.
She looked over at me and held up a finger. “You can’t cry because then I’ll cry.”
“It just sounds really nice, loving someone like that.” I waved a hand in front of my face.
“I’m really thankful you’re in my life, Sutton. Not just at work. I think of you as one of my best friends and I can’t imagine not having you with me.” Her eyes had gotten a little misty too.
“Don’t do this to us, Quinn!” I said as she started flapping her hands in front of her face as well. “I’m so lucky to have you too.”
Just as I rested my head on Quinn’s shoulder, the door flew open. Asher came into the bathroom with a scowl on his face, Knight behind him.
“This is the ladies room.”
Quinn snorted at my comment as Asher came to tower over us on the floor, crossing his arms over his chest. Both of us had to tilt our heads up to look at him and I squinted so I was only seeing one of him.
“What are you doing on the floor?” Knight asked, coming up beside his best friend, looking more amused than pissed off.
“I had to pee,” Quinn answered like that explained it.
“And I came with her.”
“Because girls pee together,” Quinn added with a nod.
“And then I realized I was tired from dancing and my feet hurt in these boots so I sat down.”
Knight shook his head with a smile at my comment.
“Who the fuck were you dancing with?” Asher growled as Knight patted him on the back.
“Have fun with that. Arthur is here for us—you can take my truck.” He slapped keys into Asher’s palm and then held out his hand. “Come on, love, let’s get you home.”
“Alright, fiancé.” Quinn had a goofy smile on her face as he helped her off the floor, his arm going to her waist to pull her into his side.
“I had fun, Sutton. Text me when you get home!” She winked at me and let Knight walk her out of the room.
“I guess I should probably call a cab.”
Asher shook his head and mumbled something under his breath that I didn’t catch, but he did help me off the floor like Knight had done for Quinn.
“You’re not taking a fucking cab.”
“You don’t have to be so cranky, Grizzly.”
His brows furrowed as he looked at me. “What are you wearing?”
Quinn had gone through my closet and picked an outfit for me.
I hadn’t worn either piece since before I was pregnant.
I was in a short black leather skirt with a black strapless top that was cropped, showing a bit of skin, as well as a pair of high-heeled black boots.
Since I was still breastfeeding my boobs were big but Quinn assured me they looked good and the wiring in my top helped keep them in place.
My hair was down and curled into loose waves thanks to Quinn and I had more makeup on than I would normally wear.
“I thought I looked nice.” I glanced down at myself.
“You look way too fucking nice,” he grumbled as I smiled.
“There you go, swearing again.”
He shook his head at me as he took off his suit jacket and helped me slip my arms in. It was like being cocooned in his smell and I wasn’t going to complain.
“Let’s try and get out of here without me killing anyone.” He put his hand on my lower back and pushed me out of the bathroom and back down the stairs. He kept me close as we navigated the busy club floor and I yawned as we stepped outside.
“I’m a little sleepy,” I mumbled as he led me to a black truck right up front that looked just like his. He lifted me by the hips into the truck and buckled me in before I could do it myself. I bit my lip at the sweet gesture and then slumped against the car door while he got in.
I turned my head to look at him as we started driving.
His hands were clenched on the wheel, his knuckles and jaw tight.
There was quiet music playing. I pulled his jacket in a little closer to keep me warm.
I was for sure going to wake up with a wicked headache tomorrow but at least I had a good time.
“I thought you said you weren’t mad at me,” I blurted out after only a few tense minutes. I figured the drive wasn’t all that long; I needed to get him talking.
“I’m not mad at you. I’m fucking jealous.”
“Jealous?”
“Yeah, Sutton, I’m jealous. Because you spent the night at my club having fun and I wasn’t there. And then you were there looking so fucking beautiful and dancing with guys and I don’t like that idea at all.”
I laughed but quickly put my hand over my mouth to stop myself. He looked over at me and glared, clearly unimpressed with me.
“I spent the night dancing with Quinn, the only man near me was Wade, and he took a page from your book and just glared at anyone who came close.” We stopped at a light and he looked over at me like he was trying to decide if I was telling the truth.
I could tell the moment he realized I wasn’t leaving anything out because his jaw relaxed, just a little.
“Still at my club without me.”
I shrugged. “Mmm, sorry,” I mumbled. “It wasn’t planned, promise.”
The rest of the ride was quick and quiet. I was surprised that he parked in the lot and not out front. He got out of the car and was around to help me before I could say anything. He was quiet and contemplative as we got to the front of the building.
“You don’t have to walk me up.”
He shot me a look but didn’t say anything as he waited for me to get through the main door before we climbed the stairs together. I walked into my apartment to find Iris sitting on my couch reading a book.
“Hi, hon,” she said in a low voice. She finished the sentence she was reading, closed her book, and looked up. Her eyebrows rose in surprise as she smiled at Asher.
“Thanks for staying here tonight.” I tried not to sound drunk, but I didn’t think it was working. “How was Sophie?”
“She was a sweet little angel as always.”
“S’good.” I let out another yawn.