“I was upset.” Quinnshrugged. “Hard to tell the difference between them with tears in your eyes.”
I sighed, throwing an armaround his shoulders and holding him close. “I’m sorry I left. I shouldhave waited for you.”
Quinn shook his head. “You had everyright to leave. I shouldn’t have let you take the fall for me.”
“Yes you should. That wasthe deal, remember? Protect you with my life.”
“You’re not my bodyguard.”
No, I wasn’t. I cared much,muchmore than abodyguard should have. “That was never why it was the deal,” I admitted.
I’d known Quinn was specialfrom the moment I’d met him. It’d just taken me a while to work out why.
If people had soulmates, hewas mine.
“All this for a crappycontract that I would have been better off without.” Quinn huffed, snugglingcloser to me. “You know? I’m glad it’s over. You were right. I was miserable.Until I met you.”
I was glad it was over, aswell. Quinn was better off without all this.
“It hurts that he never evenbelieved in me,” he added after a moment. My heart lurched, the urge to pullhim into my lap and hold him as close as possible stifled only by the fact thatmy stomachalsolurched at thethought of moving to do it.
“He’s wrong,” I said. “Imean, I’m no expert. But you couldn’t be awful at something you love so much.AndIliked your song,anyway.”
“Thanks.” Quinn kissed myjaw. “I’ll get over it. It’s just… a lot to take in. All for what, y’know? Whosays that album wouldn’t have soldmoreif he didn’t leak it? But onthe other hand, who says it wouldn’t just have faded into total obscurity? Notthat fifty thousand copies is much to write home about. I mean. It sounds likea lot, but anyone you’ve everheardof has sold more.”
“It’s fifty thousand morethan people who never try,” I pointed out. “What have I done with my life, eh?Certainly haven’t made anyone any happier. Not directly, anyway.”
“You’ve made me happier,”Quinn said. “Directly.”
I smiled at that. Fishingfor compliments hadn’t been my intention, but I didn’t mind catching them all thesame.
“I meant what I said,” hecontinued. “I… you don’t have to say it back, but I love you. That’s what Iwhispered in your ear the other night. I know it’s sudden, but—”
“I love you,” I interrupted.“I’m not saying it just to say it back. I was about to say it when we gotcalled into that meeting and Vincent so rudely interrupted us.”
“He did that a lot,” Quinnsaid. “But not anymore. I think there’s a restraining order in my future. And,umm…”
“Hmm?” I sipped my teaagain, winced, and then lit up with happiness at the reminder that Quinn hadmade it for me.
Because he loved me.
I didn’t deserve to bethat lucky.
“I was wondering,” Quinnbegan, playing with my fingers. “If that umm. Offer to come see Sacramento wasstill open? Since I’m gonna be homeless at the end of the month anyway.”
Oh.
Oh.
Quinn wanted…
Joy bubbled up in my chest,threatening to squeeze my heart until it burst. Quinn wanted to come away withme.
How could I say no to that?
“I’d love to show it to you,”I murmured, turning my head to nuzzle his hair. “There’s… buildings. A river.Parks.”
“An apartment with a bed init?” Quinn asked.
