That’s where I would take him. To my new bedroom floor.
“Quinn?”
And I open my eyes.
Lucas?His voice rings in my head like a dream I’m not sure was real.
But then he calls again, just behind me. “Quinn?”
Lucas
I stand there, on the grass at the opening of the inflatable tunnel, waiting for her to reply.
She lies there, in the dim light. Is she asleep?
“Quinn?” I call out again.
“I’m here.”
Déjà vu floods me, remembering Camp Blackhawk years ago. The last time she was hiding. I’d listened to everyone calling out for her that day, knowing the whole time where she was. I didn’t even hear her up there. I just knew how her mind worked. Quinn only plays when she knows she can win. Which is why she rarely plays.
I’d forgotten about that day. How her eyes caught sight of my tattoo, and how I rushed to cover it up. I remember resenting her quietness in that moment. It made her a better listener. A better observer. I knew then that she rarely missed anything, and I panicked that she might tell someone about it, but I didn’t feel right asking her to keep secrets.
She never told anyone, though. Not to my knowledge. Madoc has never inquired about it.
When she doesn’t move, I ask, “Can you come out?”
“Come in.”
I breathe out a laugh and climb inside. As I move toward her, she sits up and leans back against the wall of the tunnel.
“I took out the pizza,” I tell her, “but Jared and Madoc are already eating it.”
She chuckles. “Thanks.”
I wasn’t able to get another piece, unfortunately. I’m tempted to smuggle a jar of her sauce into my luggage.
“I wanted to give you something before I leave.” I sit across from her, my heart pumping in my ears. What time is it?
I take in a little air, unable to get a full breath. I pull out the Cubs cap from my back pocket and hand it to her. I’d gone to my car to get it, and I’m not sure why I didn’t wait till I was about to leave, but…
She looks down at it, her expression unreadable.
But then a voice interrupts us. “Quinn, don’t get my shirt wet!”
She darts her eyes up, addressing the voice somewhere outside the tunnel. “Too late!”
I take in the dark green T-shirt she wears over her bikini top that I hadn’t noticed till now.
Noah’s shirt? Splashes of water are sprayed across the fabric.
I flex my jaw. They became best friends quickly, didn’t they?
I hand her the hat. “Its home is here,” I tell her.
Her face softens as she takes it. “You mean, I can keep it till the next time you return?”
The next time I return…Something about the way she says it—kindly, but with an air of finality as if she knows Iwon’t be back—leaves a hole in the pit of my stomach. Quinn notices everything.
