“I’m not sure. She and Jordan were walking towards the beach,” Madison said, her voice tight. Her friend folded her arms over her chest. Quinn had clearly fucked up more than she even realized if Madison was angry with her. Madison always took her side. But one look at her friend’s face told Quinn that Madison was disappointed.
“Listen, I know from your perspective I really messed up. But I promise that everything that happened between Rory and I was innocent. At least on my part.”
“I’m not the one you’re going to have to explain yourself to. Autumn is.”
Madison’s attitude hurt more than it should have, but Quinn knew it was fair. As disappointed as Madison was, Autumn was likely feeling worse. The guilt Quinn felt sat deep in the pits of her heart. She had hurt Autumn, no matter how unintentionally. Now she had to find her and do whatever she could to make things right.
Quinn searched but she couldn’t find Autumn or Jordan on the beach. Eventually she just felt silly running in a line up and down the beach. There weren’t more than a handful of people walking along the beach, all of whom eyed her antics with suspicion.
When it was clear that Jordan and Autumn weren’t on the beach, Quinn made her way back to the bar. She found Madison sitting on the outdoor patio. Madison’s arms were folded across her chest, a clear sign that she was upset. Quinn’s heart sank but she took the open seat next to Madison.
Madison barely waited for Quinn’s butt to hit her seat before she began her lecture.
“What on Earth were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that I was one dance away from finally getting my necklace back,” Quinn admitted.
Madison sighed so loudly that a table of women next to them turned to look at her. Quinn felt a hot blush spread up her neck.
“Keep it down,” Quinn shushed.
“Oh, don’t you tell me how to behave. I’m not the one who was dancing with my ex tonight. Of all the bad decisions. And with Rory of all people. You know you didn’t owe her anything? You could have literally just demanded your necklace back. She would have had to give it to you.”
“I know. I was trying to be cordial.”
“Trust me, what we all saw tonight was a little too far on the friendly side of cordial,” Madison bit the words out. She clearly wasn’t going to let Quinn off the hook for this one.
“I get why Autumn’s angry. But why are you so mad at me?” Quinn asked.
“Because I’m tired of watching you make the same mistake with the same woman. Rory isn’t good for you. She’s never been good for you. She’s never going to be good for you. She cheated on you and held something you love hostage until you agreed to meet with her. Which is deeply manipulative. And you still played right into her hand.”
Madison sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“You’re a good person, Quinn. I hate to watch you being manipulated by someone who clearly doesn’t have your best interests at heart. Rory saw you moving on, saw you buying this bar and dating this new woman and probably just wanted a piece of the action. I’m upset that you let her into your personal space.”
“What did you want me to do? I didn’t want to fight with her in the middle of my bar. So I made the decision to give her one final dance.”
“I wanted you to tell her no. I wanted you to tell her to give you back your necklace and get out of your bar.”
“I think we both know that’s not something I would ever do.”
“Fine. You don’t have to be so vocal. But you don’t invite your current girlfriend to meet you and then be dancing with your ex when she shows up.”
Quinn’s mouth snapped shut. There was no argument she could make to that. Any way she looked at it, what happened tonight would be rough in Autumn’s shoes. Quinn stood abruptly, the move was sudden enough to startle Madison.
“Where are you going?”
“I need to find Autumn and apologize,” Quinn stated. She opened the patio gate and began walking towards her car.
“Wait just a minute,” Madison said, jogging up beside her.
“For what?”
“At least text her to let her know you’re coming.”
Quinn groaned but complied with Madison’s suggestion.
“I hate this,” Quinn grumbled.
