I went back to the car, giving my brothers five minutes before I’d drive off without them. I scrolled through my unread messages, but there was only one I wanted to read.
Quinn: I miss you.
She’d texted an hour ago. The need to talk to her burned a hole in my chest. I knew I shouldn’t do it, but I called her anyway. It was three in the morning, but she still picked up on the second ring.
“Hey.” Her voice was raspy from sleep, and I wanted nothing more than to be there with her. This would be my last call. A clean cut was the only way I’d be able to let go of her. Tonight had been a wake-up call.
“I know it’s late, but I needed to hear your voice.” And wasn’t that the truth? I relaxed into the seat, knowing she was okay.
“You can call any time. I’ll always want to talk to you, no matter what time it is.”
Fuck my life, and fuck our timing.
“How did things go at the restaurant today?”
Sheets rustled, and then she came back on the line. “They went great. I filed the claim with my insurance, and they’re sending someone out tomorrow. And we have most of the supplies to fix the place up again.”
I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t end things yet. I needed a little more time. Even if it made me a selfish bastard. I needed to see her again, and then we’d go our separate ways.
“That’s great. You still think you’ll get a chance to come out to Chicago?”
Holding my breath like the pathetic sack I’d become, I waited for her answer.
“Definitely. Amara and Vlad know what they’re doing. There’s a lot of stuff we still have to order. But I can do that from anywhere.”
The relief I felt would have bowled me over had I not already been sitting down. “Good. That’s good.”
I’d never struggled to find the right words before Quinn. She turned my insides into a pathetic mess.
“Long day?”
“Every day without you is a long day.”
The confession came out hoarse, and I cleared my throat. She was the only one to bring out a vulnerability in me. If only I wasn’t on a course to crush her. If only I was a better man.
“I can’t wait to see you.”
My brothers bumped against the car, and then the front doors opened. “I have to go.”
“Okay. Call me again soon?”
“Couldn’t stop me if you tried.”
Gabriel turned around, watching me hang up and drop my phone on the seat next to me. “Who were you calling? Late-night booty call?”
I gave him the finger, and he chuckled, the sound cutting through the silence of the car, our earlier bout already forgotten.
“Why’s Jude driving?” I asked, not liking our chances of making it home in one piece.
Where Gabriel had a suicidal streak, Jude was always one missed turn away from imitating a stunt double.
Gabriel grinned. Maybe our disagreement wasn’t as forgotten as I’d first thought. “He begged. And I was feeling generous.”
Scoffing, I made sure my seat belt was fastened and settled in for a bumpy ride home. My brothers had made it their mission to get a reaction out of me with their shitty driving. But I was used to their antics, and none of their many close calls could make me lose my cool facade. I had a reputation to uphold, after all.
13
QUINN
