Wrinkling her nose, she side-eyed the bathroom door. “It’s stupid. He’s stupid. All of it is just…”
“Stupid?” I grinned so wide my cheeks hurt.
Gia groaned. “Why exactly did you call me again?”
“Because boys are stupid.” I pouted. “Or I am. I’m not even sure anymore. But I figured you’d sort me out like usual.”
“Trouble in anti-paradise?”
That was all it took for the whole saga to spill out of me: the end of the third challenge, the realization I had right before mine and Kingston’s unexpected intruder showed up, meeting Max’s half-brother which quickly led into the giant fight between my three broody assholes. And everything I’d learned on the lawn.
I threw my hands up as I finished. “See. Boys are stupid.”
“We should really just throw rocks at them.” She nodded in solidarity.
“Amen, sister,” I muttered.
Genuine concern and sympathy followed. “You’ll talk to him, Quinn. You guys will make it right.”
“I should have told him. He?—”
“Yeah, sure. He deserved to know, but can you ease up a bit on the self-flagellation there? That’s my best friend you’re being overly harsh toward.”
“Well, maybe I should be. I played stupid games, I won stupid prizes, right?”
“Or…you had a ton of really heavy information thrown at you in a short period of time. You found out Landon doesn’t remember huge chunks of his life, Max has ties to his high school sweetheart that aren’t easily cut, and Kingston has been abused since he was a child. All while trying to do your best in the escape rooms, one of which sounded creepy as fuck, find a way to fight for them, and watch out for the biggest threat.”
“Catching feels?” I joked. “I’d say that ship has sailed.”
Gia smirked. “That ship is so far out to sea it’s practically circled the globe. I meant his psycho dad, lurking behind the scenes. Kingston is the only one who really knows what his dad is capable of, so, of course, you followed his lead. He’s the only one with the answers.Half of whichyou don’t even fully understand when he gives them to you.”
“I guess it sounds a little better when you put it like that.”
“Because I’m looking at it objectively. Even if I’m slightly biased as your best friend, I’m serious about this, Quinn. Anyone in your position—even Max Dread—would’ve made the same decision. You were doing what you thought was best, and yeah, it was a teensy bit hypocritical, but your intentions weren’t malicious or meant to hurt him.”
I frowned, accepting what she was saying, but unsure if it was enough. “What if he doesn’t forgive me?”
“Then I’ll come down there and set him straight. Give me fifteen minutes with the big guy. He’ll see reason, or he’ll be so done listening to me talk, he’ll agree just so I shut up.”
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it, and Gia smiled.
“You’re human, Quinn Everly. Even if you were born to be their Queen. I know they think the sun shines out of your ass, and for that, I allow them to live, but if any of them actually expect you to be perfect all the time…” She shook her head. “Talk to him when you see him. You guys will make it right.”
I released a heavy breath and nodded, and then a throat cleared off screen. Gia whipped her head to the right and waved. Awkwardly.
“Hey, you…”
Smothering a laugh behind my hand, I waited for her to glance back at me, mimicked her awkward little finger wave, and mouthed goodbye.
When she winked, I hung up the phone. Setting it beside me, I thought over what she’d said. I watched the door for a bit, hoping Max would return soon, but he didn’t.
I waited so long, I accidentally fell asleep, and the next time I woke up, he wasn’t in his room or the bed beside me.
Anxiety gnawed at my gut.
Something was wrong, but I wasn’t sure if it was with him, or just between us. With everyone arriving at Pendragon that day, I feared I wouldn’t get the chance to talk to him. If we didn’t clear the air, I worried he’d slip farther away from me once everyone arrived.
The longer he took to show up, the more I spiraled.
