“Fire her?” He stops talking for a second. “No, she’s not fired. Why would she be fired?”
“Because she left.”
“I don’t blame her. I was out of line.”
I nod because I don’t know what to say to that. “You don’t know Quinn. If you did, you’d never say something shitty like that to her again. She’s the kindest, most loyal—” I get choked up again. “Don’t treat her like you do everyone else.”
He stares at me for a second. Then he reaches out and moves the hair that fell out of my bun away from my face. Using his thumb, he wipes away one of my tears. “I’m sorry, honey.” His voice is so soft, I barely hear him. “No, I don’t know Quinn very well, but I do know she’s special. I knew the second the words left my mouth it hurt her. But I was proud of her. She stood up for herself. She let me have it.” He chuckles. “She has balls.”
I like what he said, but I’m still not happy with him. “Don’t do it again.”
His hand drops from my cheek, and it makes me a little sad. I hate to admit, I like the warmth. “I’ll try.”
I’m not sure trying is enough, to be honest. Dylan tried not to cheat on me, and look where that got us. This seems like it’d be a no-brainer, but maybe it’s too hard for Luke. So I tell him, “You’lltrynot to be a jerk to the sweetest girl on the planet?”
With a chuckle, he remarks, “Who we talkin’ about now? You or Quinn?”
I roll my eyes. “Quinn.” I’m not sweet. I’m sour.
* * *
“Didyou make him not fire me?” Quinn asks with an arched brow.
I’m driving my best friend home from the hospital after she was run off the road on her scooter. She called me from the ER and asked if I could pick her up. Duh. God, I was so scared when she called to tell me what had happened. I did my best to remain calm on the phone with her, but I let that shit out on the ride to the hospital.
“No. He said he was an asshole and that he was proud that you stuck up for yourself.”
“Before I left, I told him I was going to tell on him… to you.” She giggles, then winces.
My poor bestie is in pain. “Well, he beat you to it.”
“So, what’s wrong?”
“Dylan.” I roll my eyes, but she can’t see me because it’s dark in the car. “He wants me back.”
“Of course he does. But you’re not taking him back, right?” The car is silent while I think about it. “Tay?”
No, I’m not taking him back, but I’m still sad. “We were together for so long.”
“And?”
“He’s—”
“A cheating bastard. Besides, what about Luke?”
“Luke has his head up his ass.”
“How so?”
“He can’t see past just hooking up. I mean, I should probably go along with it, since I was in a serious relationship for so long. Ishouldhave some fun. Honestly, things with me and Dylan have been over a long time. We just drifted apart when we got up here to Ames, but neither one of us did anything about it.”
I hear a snort from Quinn. “Dylan did something about it.”
“True.” We drive in silence for a few minutes. “No.”
“No what?”
“No, I’m not taking Dylan back. I’m also not going to be some guy’s hookup. There are plenty of girls who want that. I’m just not one of them.”
