But that didn’t sound like Quinn. The man had no issues telling August what to do, where to go and then handing him a ticket to get him there. He didn’t think Quinn was saying no, but maybe he was buying time—time to weigh the pros and cons of them entering a real relationship.
Waiting for Quinn to decide was driving him crazy. He never thought he would meet someone who could overthink things more than him, but it seemed like he had met his match in Quinn.
His match in everything, really.
And that was why, even though he knew it was a bad idea, and he shouldn’t keep pushing, August tackled Quinn in a hug before he could leave the room after their Friday morning tryst.
“Where are you going after this?” August asked, moulding himself to Quinn’s back, smirking at how well they fit together. Quinn was the perfect height for August to rest his chin on his head in this position, which he did so he could bury his face into Quinn’s damp, brown hair.
“Fridays, I meet my nieces at the rink for their hockey lessons,” said Quinn. “Eren has an interview with the broadcasting station, so he asked me to take them.”
August liked kids, and he liked hockey—and he also liked Quinn. It sounded like a good way to spend his afternoon and kill time before the team dinner later that night.
They were facing Torontoagainthe following Saturday night, so Coach was adamant that everyone had to show up and create a special team bonding moment before they had to play against Jett.
“Things have been weird between us lately,” August began. “And I think I already know your answer, but could I come with you? Niko and Haas are taking over my living room today, and I’m not in the mood for video games.”
Quinn stiffened in his arms, and August flinched. He didn’t know how, but he had a feeling he had somehow fucked things up between them in Toronto. But how was he supposed to fix it? He didn’t know if Quinn would talk to him if he confronted him, and there was always a chance that talking could push him away.
The silence dragged on far too long for August’s liking before Quinn sighed and slowly turned in his arms, staring up at him with warm, green eyes.
“How has your head been lately? Any nosebleeds?” Quinn touched a hand to August’s face, his thumb brushing over his bottom lip.
“The migraines have stopped,” said August. “And I only get nosebleeds when you do something too sexy for me to handle.”
He got the satisfaction of seeing Quinn’s cheeks darken before the implications of the questions came crashing down on his head with the force of an anvil.
If he didn’t know any better, it sounded like Quinn was checking to see if August still needed him. And physical symptoms aside—yes, August still fucking needed him. The need was so strong it was starting to become a problem, and he didn’t know what he would do if Quinn ended things now.
August didn’t want Quinn to leave. Watching him walk out the door was his least favourite part of the day, and if it were up to him, Quinn would be staying by his side, living in his house, hanging pictures on his walls because—
Fuck—he loved him. August didn’t know if he had everstoppedloving him.
If he hadn’t forgotten about everything, if his mind hadn’t shattered the night his father died, August knew that he and Quinn would be together. Why else would he have bought a historical home, filled it with antique décor like Quinn had talked about, and never found a relationship that made him happy?
Thinking about the people he had slept with and dated gave him chills. August had never been satisfied with any of them and could never grasp why he always felt so disgusted with himself when he got into a relationship.
But that didn’t happen with Quinn. Not even when he accepted the terms of their friends-with-benefits pact, knowing how much it would bother him.
“Oh, jeez,” said Quinn, cupping August’s face in both of his hands. “Why do you look so heartbroken? Do you really want to come and watch two children slip on the ice for an hour that badly?”
August tried to speak, but his words died in a croak before he could get the first sentence out. He was going to end up giving himself a nosebleed at this rate, or a goddamn heart attack.
“Look—” Quinn pushed him backward, directing August to the edge of the bed before he pushed him to sit. “You’re very naked right now and covered in teeth marks and bruises thanks to me, so I’m mildly distracted here.”
August managed a weak smirk, but his pulse was racing so fast that his hands were beginning to shake. He didn’t know what Quinn was about to say, and he was ninety percent sure he was having a panic attack, but there was nowhere for him to run and avoid the conversation.
“I’ve been distant,” Quinn admitted. “I suck at conflict resolution, and that’s been the vibe in my head for like, the past three weeks now. Your hints of wanting a relationship haven’t been subtle, and I’ve been spiralling about it because it’s what I do best.”
August swallowed to wet his dry throat and braced for thebut.
“But, I haven’t been pushing you away because I’m saying…no.” Quinn tucked a strand of hair behind his ear and sighed. “I really don’t have spare time for dates because my university classes are finishing at the end of next month, and if I want to graduate this summer, I need to finish my complicated thesis and attend a ton of mandatory lectures.”
The vice that had been crushing August’s lungs loosened just enough to let him breathe. Quinn wasn’t saying no—he wasn’t saying no.
“I haven’t turned you into a pretty little present recently,” Quinn said, gripping August’s jaw and holding him in place, effortlessly asserting his dominance. “Because I’ve been painting whenever I’m not with you or caring for my nieces, so my hands have been cramping too much for me to enjoy our sessions.”
The hazy feeling was back, shoving away the remnants of the anxiety that was left. August didn’t know what kind of power Quinn Harlow held over his soul, but he had no problem giving him control whenever he wanted. All he had to do was ask.
