She gave me anare-you-sure-about-thatlook, which made me laugh.
“Really,” I went on. “I promise.”
“How about you tell me everything that happened on the way to the airport?”
“Or you could tell me about how awesome your date was with Travis?” I asked hopefully.
Even though a soft chuckle escaped her, I could sense her concern as she glanced at me once more. “Afteryou tell me about your night.”
“So, wait, let meget this straight,” Whit asked as we drove back to the airport. I hadn’t bothered saying goodbye to my dad. I was still ridiculously pissed about what had happened last night and Georgette’s inexcusable actions, and his, well, his lack thereof. I was pulling a trick from his book this time, and just up and leaving with nothing more than a text or a quick call from the airport. Guilt welled in me at the thought, but Whit’s next words dragged my attention back to her. “Hux basically admits that he knows he’s falling for you and doesn’t want to dive into things for fear that you’ll essentially break his heart when you leave, and then he kisses you?”
I swear, I could still feel the pressure of his lips against mine, the weight of that moment crashing around me. “I mean, yeah. And it wasn’t even just, like, a peck or a forehead kiss. It was, like, in the book we’re reading right now for book club.”
“The one with the super hot, morally grey shifter?”
I nodded, while keeping my eyes on the road. “Yep. Whit, when he kissed me, it gave me those same kick-your-feet, heart stopping feels that I felt the moment that the couple realized they were soulmates.”
“Spoilers! I’m not at that part yet.”
I let out a weak huff of laughter, shrugging my shoulders. “Read quicker.”
She laughed, but sobered a moment later. “Okay, being serious, though. So, your telling me that some hot as fuck cowboy kissed you like that, and you’releaving?” Her voice rose a couple octaves on the last word, complete and utter shock ringing in her tone.
“Whit, I can’t leave California. My job’s there.”
“Quinn…” I glanced over to find her dark brown eyes burning with a seriousness that she never, ever wore. “I understand how much getting this job meant to you, but you have an awesome opportunity right now to work for your dad as well.”
“I don’t even know any detai—”
But she cut me off. “So, sit your dad down, have him come up with a business plan, a job title, a salary and all the back-end aspects, take the month to get to know Hux, see if this is something more serious than a hookup, andthenmake a decision.”
“What about Georgette? I can’t live with her. I can’t plan her wedding.”
“Fuck, Georgette,” she huffed, before giving me a guilty grin and shrug. “Okay, but seriously. Think of it as a learning experience. You’re not always going to like your clients,trust me,I know. So, this is an opportunity to show that you can be unbiased and work with someone you absolutely despise but still give them the best event ever.”
I groaned, the thought already seeming like too big of a task. “She’s so fucking awful though.”
“I know. I mean, I haven’t seen as much as you have, but from what I have,I know.”
I sighed and glanced her way. “This is crazy. I can’t. What if it doesn’t work out with Hux?”
“Then it doesn’t! You’ll have gotten to spend a couple weeks sleeping with a hot AF bull rider that you can think back on as some wild adventure. Not everything has to be weighed and measured and done only because it’s beneficial. You’re allowed to do some things just for pleasure, you know—” she waggled her eyebrows. “Like Hux. Multiple times a day.”
There was no way to stop the laugh that bubbled out of my throat, but the minute I thought of last night, the light feelings in my chest withered to ash. “You really think I should stay?”
“Girl, you just had a guy give you a fucking mating bond worthy kiss and you’re really asking me that?”
I blew out a breath, my mind going back to that kiss for like the umpteenth time. Okay, maybe Whit had a point.
The GPS spouted off instructions about the exit coming up and I glanced over at Whit. “I’m sorry that I dragged you all the way out here to Texas, and then we didn’t even spend any time together.”
“Girl, I am definitely not complaining. Besides, I’ve already booked myself a flight back out here Friday morning for a redo girls' weekend. By the way, can you pick me up from the airport?”
I loved that she didn’t even try to pretend that I was getting a flight home today. She knew me more than I knew myself sometimes.
“Is that even a question?” I grinned. “So, are you and Travis an item?”
Whit smirked and offered a noncommittal shrug. “Nah, just keeping it casual. He’s cute and kinda oblivious, which I like.he's definitely not boyfriend material, though, but he is nice to look at.”
