And thatwasgood.
I wanted that forher.
I’d simply hoped, for far too long, it wouldn’t come at the expense ofus.
But it was done.
All I could do now was plan the next move. Search for any alternative path to secure our victory and take it. Instead of holding onto the one filled with loss.
My hands shook as I straightened my spine. “You were right to give her one.”
That path—my secret—I had to leave in the dark.
Lifting my head, his face stricken with grief unearthed my own. “It’s not your fault,” I promised, even though he would never believe me.
And then, before I took away his choice, I had to leave him there. Walking off into the distance without him by my side. Facing all of this the way I had since that fateful day.
Alone.
Chapter Five
After Landon left for his run, I went in search of Max, who was nowhere to be found. Probably off working out or flexing in front of a mirror somewhere.
Not that I minded the results.
While I waited patiently for one of them to return, I flopped back on the bed. I stared up at the ceiling for a while before pulling out my phone to call Gia.
As soon as the screen flickered and her face appeared, I blurted, “Just wait until you hear what I have to tell you. Here’s a teaser: blow jobs, bitches, and betrothals. This week onLive from The Quest.”
Gia snorted. “I’m so glad I had you on speaker phone for that. Say hi, Mom and Dad.”
“Hi, Quinn!” My face turned an impressive shade of bright red, and Gia’s mom, Grace, noticed the second she appeared on the screen. “Oh, honey! Did you get a sunburn?”
“Nope. That’s just the rush of embarrassment over what you heard me say.”
Grace laughed, waving a hand at the camera. “Oh, don’t be silly, Quinn. You’re a twenty-one-year-old young woman. By this point, I hope you know your way around a blow job.”
That was why I loved her.
And why Gia was so awesome.
“You’ll be very proud to know, I do.” I dipped my head like a proper Lady.
Gia’s dad, affectionately dubbed Mr. V no matter how many times he told me to call him Gary, scrubbed a hand over his full salt-and-pepper beard and chimed in at that. “Alright, just because we know they do it and fully respect their right to a happy, healthy sex life, doesn’t mean I want to hear about it. From either of them.”
“Yes, Quinn, as our surrogate daughter, it’s best if we save the full episode breakdown for our next wine night. Do you know when you’ll be done with the competition, honey?”
I shrugged. “Honestly, no. Camelot Court gives out details like they’re Golden Tickets to the Willy Wonka factory.”
“Oh.” Grace frowned, sliding her gaze to Mr. V. “And that’s normal?”
“They seem to think so.” I rolled my eyes, but then I smiled so she wouldn’t worry. “It’s an exercise in trust, and part of the wholetesting our mettlebit of The Quest, from what I read in the by-laws.”
Grace worried her lower lip. “Well, you do know you can leave if you want. Whatever the prize is that you need, we’d give it to you before wanting you to be somewhere unsafe.”
“It’s one hundred thousand dollars.” Gia chipped in.
Mr. V coughed and spit out his drink, and Grace had to pat him on the back to help clear his windpipe. “Jesus. What is this place? Gia, I thought you said it was just a fraternity.”
