Chapter 20 #2
“I don’t date my teammates,” Quinn reminded her. This was true. It was a rule she’d had since high school, when she’d watched too many of the couples from her team tank meets because they were too distracted by relationship drama to focus on swimming.
“You just said you’re not dating anyone,” Emma shot back.
“I’m not marking up, or being marked up by , any of our teammates,” Quinn promised.
“Well, I’m at a loss, then,” Emma said, and for a moment, Quinn was overjoyed. Maybe this could be the end of the conversation. Maybe Emma would let this go. “The only other person that you spend any real time with is Liv.”
And the problem here was that Quinn wasn’t a good actress. She didn’t like to lie, and she wasn’t good at coming up with a story on the spot, not when the truth was so easily accessible, right there for her to take it.
But she didn’t need to say anything at all, because Emma read the expressions crossing her face. And her face dropped. “Quinn. You didn’t.”
Before she understood what was happening, Emma grabbed Quinn’s arm, pulling her through the gym and planting her on the bench that sat between the two locker rooms.
“Tell me everything,” Emma ordered her.
“It’s not a big deal,” Quinn replied. When Emma just snorted, she continued. “We have an arrangement.”
“Say more,” Emma demanded.
“Super casual, we’re not dating, not together, it’s just…physical.” Quinn waited for Emma to reply, but her friend just gaped at her. “It’s really good, and we both understand that it’s not ever going to be anything more.”
And that, too, was good, Quinn silently reminded herself.
“What if you develop feelings?” Emma asked. “What if you fall in love with her?”
“I already love her,” Quinn replied, and Emma gasped dramatically. “She’s my best friend. I love her, just like I love you. ”
“Uh huh, just like you love me,” Emma replied, her eyes dancing. “You know that’s not what I meant.”
“It’s not that complicated,” Quinn assured her.
“It sounds pretty fucking complicated,” Emma squeaked back. “How long do you think you can keep this up without it causing problems in your ‘friendship,’ Quinn?”
“Well, we started sleeping together three months ago, and no one has picked up on it until now,” Quinn answered, appreciating the surprise on her friend’s face. “So, I think we’re handling it well, all things considered.”
“That is wild,” Emma responded simply.
“Again, it’s really not.” Quinn wasn’t going to let her think that this was some crazy situation. It was just two friends meeting each other’s needs. With orgasms. And so much kissing. “And it’s working for us.”
“So, you two are hooking up.” Emma said. It wasn’t a question, but Quinn still nodded. “But you’re not in a relationship?”
“That’s correct,” Quinn answered.
“What could possibly go wrong?” Emma deadpanned.
“Nothing is going to go wrong,” Quinn said. “Can you please not make a big deal about this?”
“I’m absolutely going to make a big deal about this,” Emma told her honestly. She thought for a moment before adding, “For the record, I love you too.”
“I know,” Quinn responded, and she reached out to squeeze Emma’s hand.
“Can we skip stretching and go back to your dorm?” Emma asked. “I would like to check in with your girlfriend on this as well.”
“She is not my girlfriend,” Quinn hissed.
“God, you’re both so pretty and so, so dumb,” Emma muttered under her breath .
They grabbed their stuff from the lockers, and after she took a moment to send Liv a warning message so she knew what was about to walk in on her, they walked back to Quinn’s dorm.
“So, this is where the magic happens,” Emma said upon entering their room.
Quinn felt herself turn bright red, but Liv, to her surprise, sputtered out a laugh.
“Something like that,” Liv told her, before she turned and winked at Quinn, melting away the irritation that Quinn was feeling towards Emma.
“All good?” Emma asked Liv, whispering as if Quinn couldn’t overhear, even though they were all standing within a few feet of each other.
And that, too, softened her annoyance. Because Liv had Emma to check in on her, to make sure that she was okay, and, truly, in that moment, Quinn felt unbearably lucky to have both of them in her life.
“So good,” Liv murmured, and Quinn could hear the smile in her voice.
“I want to know everything,” Emma said, speaking at her normal volume.
“I’ll call you over break,” Liv promised, and Quinn caught the wink that Emma shot Liv.
And oh, Quinn wished she could be a fly on the wall for that conversation.
“We’re all just going to act like this is normal, then,” Emma stated. Quinn and Liv just shrugged, so Emma shook her head. “Well, does this at least mean that porn is on the table for movie night?”
They all laughed, but it was Quinn who replied, “Only if it’s ethically produced.”
Liv’s gaze bounced to Quinn’s, eyes flashing. Quinn winked in response, happy to tease.
This was good. They were good, and this was fun, and it was normal. It was a mantra in her head, Quinn’s reminder, that this was what she wanted. It was all she could have, and it was plenty, because It. Was. Good.
And Quinn could continue trying to sell that to herself.