“I think it’s mostly mental or emotional. It’s just rare for me to feel so connected so quickly. But with Quinn, connecting has come so easily. Which is great. It’s amazing to feel so open with someone. But it’s also very new and I don’t want to risk rushing through things too fast.”
Piper reached out and lay a hand against Autumn’s arm.
“There’s nothing wrong with taking the time to enjoy the journey. It sounds like the two of you have amazing chemistry. And Quinn obviously makes you feel safe. By all means take your time, friend.”
Autumn shot Piper a smile. Her friend seemed to understand exactly where she was coming from.
“You know, I do have an idea for you and Quinn,” Piper grinned.
“What’s that?”
“Bring her over here for dinner. I’ve been dying to have a dinner party.”
Autumn sighed but smiled at her friend.
“Come on there are worse things than making sure Quinn gets along with your friends.”
“I’m pretty sure Quinn gets along with everyone. But sure. If you want to have a dinner party, I’ll invite her,” Autumn laughed.
“Fantastic. Let’s get everyone together in two days,” Piper suggested.
“It’s a date,” Autumn laughed.
Autumn felt a growing warmth in her chest. She liked the idea of having Quinn get more familiar with her friends. What was more, Autumn knew instinctively that Quinn would love the idea. There was something about Quinn that made Autumn want to hand her heart over. All she could hope was that Quinn would take care of it.
Chapter 15
Quinn had attempted to get some work done this morning. She’d finished cleaning the bar. Last night once the grand opening was over, she’d sent her staff home fairly quickly. Which meant this morning there was some definite tidying up to do. She wiped down tables and took the garbage to the dumpster out back. All the while her mind had escaped back to the previous night with Autumn.
Autumn had been a knockout in her gold dress. The sight of Autumn in that dress would live rent free in her mind and dreams for the rest of Quinn’s life. Her body still held the pleasant soreness from everything they’d done the previous night. There were going to be recurring flashes of their night together running loose in Quinn’s mind for a while.
Quinn hurled a bag of trash into the dumpster. From the pocket of her baggy jeans her phone dinged with a message. A smile widened across her face. Autumn had promised to text her later. She opened the message and stood staring for a long moment. The name on her phone wasn’t Autumn’s. It was Rory’s. Quinn forced herself to read the message.
Rory: We really need to talk.
Quinn rolled her eyes at the phone. She shut the bar’s doors behind her as she came back inside. Quinn sat herself down at one of the booths and sighed. It would be preferable if she never had to talk to Rory again. But it would seem her ex wasn’t going to make that an easy option.
Quinn: What could we possibly have to talk about?
Rory: For starters, I found this.
Quinn opened up the image that Rory sent along with her message. She cursed under her breath. Her grandmother’s opalite necklace hung from a well-manicured hand, that she knew belonged to Rory. Fuck! Quinn had been searching for that necklace ever since her move.
Quinn: I’ll send you the address you can send it to.
Rory: I want to come talk to you. I can give it to you in person.
Quinn was so frustrated she banged her hand down on the table. The absolute last person on the face of the earth she wanted to talk to was Rory. Though it seemed like she might not have much of a choice. Quinn put the phone face down on the table. She ran a hand through her hair. Why after all these months did Rory want to come talk to her? Quinn let out an agitated groan. She picked the phone back up and decided to try one more time.
Quinn: You cheated on me. You’re with someone else. We broke up. I don’t have anything left to say to you. Please mail me the necklace.
The message was far more blunt than anything she’d usually send. In this case she saw no other option other than to be very clear and direct.
Rory: I made a mistake. I should have chosen you.
Quinn was pretty sure she was about to see red. Hurt and anger threatened to bubble to the surface.
Quinn: But you didn’t choose me. Mail the necklace.
