Quinn sighs. “That was my problem. I’ve always loved Rome, but I love the modern city. Honestly, besides the palace, I kind of hate walking through the ruins. It’s hot and miserable. I was never like you or my dad, who felt a connection to these dead people.”
The memory of Quinn and Richard’s exchange at Giolitti makes me sick. I know the issues go deeper than her losing the fellowship, but it seems like the catalyst. I can’t shake the guilt.
“Why did you come today?” I ask Quinn.
Her eyebrows pull together, and a teasing smile pulls on the corner of her mouth. “To hear you, of course.”
My heart explodes.
A strand of blond hair floats across her face from the wind. I tuck it behind her ear and let my finger run down the line of her jaw for a second before pulling my hand back. Her eyes go a bit frantic, then she abruptly turns back to the view, clearing her throat.
“I’m going to head out,” she says.
“We’ll come with you,” Inez says, walking over to the bench where she set her bag.
“No need,” Quinn says quickly, shooting a nervous glance in my direction. “I think I’m going to go take a nap. Tired from the late night out.”
Quinn’s never been a napper, especially after sleeping in, and the way she steadily keeps her eyes away from me makes it perfectly clear this is more about avoiding me than anything.
I shove my hand in my pocket to keep from reaching out. I owe it to her to keep this strange urge under control. Quinn’s the reason I’m here, the one who kept me afloat when my life almost fell apart around me, and losing her would be like a ship losing its anchor. I can’t let that happen.
I’ve wrangled these impulses into submission for fourteen years, I can find the way to do it again.
17
COLTON
FOURTEEN YEARS AGO
Quinn keepsher back straight as she stares down the administrative assistant at the desk across from her. She has on a professional outfit, a pencil skirt and blouse that’s bringing up sexy librarian fantasies I didn’t realize I had until now.
I’m less confident, but no less professional looking in my slacks and button down.
“I still don’t see why I had to wear my damn church clothes,” I murmur.
“Because we want him to take us seriously,” Quinn hisses. “We don’t want him thinking we’re some ignorant freshmen he can push around.”
“Weareignorant freshmen he can push around,” I grumble.
The door of the department chair’s office opens, and a stern-looking man steps out.
“Mr. Miller and Miss Riley?”
Quinn stands and smooths down her skirt. She marches over with her hand outstretched, like we’re meeting him for a multi-million dollar merger. He smiles at us like the kids we are as he shakes it.
How the hell did she talk me into this?
I have no idea what we’re doing. I didn’t even know what a damn department chairwasuntil she explained it. But this is her world. She said her mom’s the chair of her psychology department. Her dad’s the only name bigger than Dr. Cassia’s in their field. Her two oldest brothers already finished their PhDs, and her youngest brother is well on his way to his, too. If she says this is the right call, then that’s what we’ll do.
“Thank you, Dr. Murphy, for agreeing to hear our concerns,” she says.
He laughs, like we’re an amusing distraction from his important duties, and I shrink further into myself. Maybe I can disappear now and save Chadoin the work of kicking me out. Dr. Murphy gestures toward his office and we follow him inside.
Once we’re seated, Dr. Murphy turns to me.
“Mr. Miller, can you explain to me why we’re meeting today?”
I wipe my hands on my slacks, sweat breaking out on my brow. Quinn gives my foot a reassuring nudge.
