“He said he’s going to buy us a chess set as a wedding present.”
“We already have a chess set each.”
Quinn shrugs. “I don’t think that matters.”
We return to the lounge, where most of the rest of our housemates are, except Rory, who I guess has gone to work.
“Hey, Rubin, have you got a moment?” Quinn asks.
Rubin throws his hand up as he skids off the track in the game he and Hendrix are playing. His pixelated car crashes into the barrier. “I do now.” He looks at us. “What’s up?”
“We got engaged.”
“Wait? What? Really?”
Quinn nods and holds his left hand up.
“Fucking hell! That’s awesome!” Rubin barrels over to Quinn and hugs him. A second later, he tightens his grip on Quinn to hold him up. “I’ve got you, bro.”
Quinn nods and presses his forehead to his stepbrother’s shoulder. I catch Rubin’s eye, but he shakes his head, telling me he doesn’t need my help.
“Is there something in the water?” Hendrix asks. “Or are all of the rest of you taking something I’m not?”
“What do you mean?” Theo asks.
Hendrix gestures at all of us. “Everyone is hooking up except me.” He pouts. “I feel left out.”
“I don’t think Rory’s seeing anyone,” Preston says. “I’m not one hundred per cent sure, though.”
Hendrix folds his arms. “I still feel like the odd one out.” He lifts his chin and looks away from us. “Congratulations. You should go and fuck now. To consummate your engagement or something like that.”
“You consummate a marriage,” I tell him. “Not an engagement.”
He shrugs. “Whatever. Go fuck.”
Quinn rights himself and steps away from Rubin. “Maybe we should?”
Rubin puts his fingers in his ears. “Too much information!”
Quinn uses his head to motion towards the stairs.
I don’t need more of an invitation than that. “We’ll see you all later.”
No one really pays attention. Hendrix and Rubin have gone back to playing, and Theo and Preston seem to find watching the TV more interesting than whether or not Quinn and I are disappearing to have sex. I take Quinn’s hand and lead him upstairs.
25
QUINN
We kiss as we undress each other and then tumble onto the bed in a mass of arms and legs. The only thing we’re wearing is our engagement rings. Mine feels warm and solid on my finger, a constant reminder of the love I have for Stefan. I’ve only had it for an hour, but it already feels like a part of me, just like Stefan feels like an extension of my soul.
“Lie on your side,” Stefan says in a semi-commanding tone.
I obey, and he spoons me from behind, stroking my hip and kissing my neck.
“Pass me the lube and a condom.”
My bedside table is within easy reach. I open the top drawer and pass him the bottle of lube. When he tries to pluck the condom from my fingers, I hold on to it.
