Mmm, the warmth was so nice. I snuggled closer to Quinn, spooning up against him. There is nothing like cuddling up to a body that’s all nice and warm. The sun peeked in through the curtains. I felt as if the sun on New Year’s Day was a good omen that this year was starting off right. Maybe it was a sign that the year itself was going to be one of sunshine. After the years of gloom I’d had, I could certainly use one of sun.
I smiled and pressed myself even closer to Quinn. He was still asleep. I ran my hand along his abs. I couldn’t get enough of the feel of them. I grazed my fingertips over the ridges, silently moaning as I thrust my hips forward. I could feel the heat radiating off him and I wanted to feel that heat raging within me. I kissed and nibbled along his shoulder, hoping it would wake him. Finally I felt him shift and heard him groan. He shifted his hips and pushed back against me. I slid my hands down and cupped him in my hand before closing my hand around him. God, he was so hard already. I love morning wood. I smirked as I squeezed my fist tighter and began to move it.
Quinn had yet to acknowledge me, he just went along with my hand, thrusting into it. His breathing increased, as did his moans. I loved being able to do that to him. I hooked my leg over him to bring myself against him. I just started to shift my hips and rub against him when my phone sounded a text message. I groaned and moved away.
“God damn Kai.”
“Don’t check it,” came a husky reply.
“If I don’t she’s just going to continue to send messages or call. Don’t lose that,” I said giving him a squeeze to let him know what I was referring to, “I’ll be right back.”
I rolled out of bed and walked over to my pants lying on the floor. I would need to plug my phone in. After forgetting for the night I was surprised it still had a charge. I looked over at Quinn lying in the bed. He had turned onto his back. His eyes were still closed; his lips were slanted in a sexy smirk. His hair was all over the place, even more chaotic than usual. But it wasn’t any of that that had me catching my breath and debating on just tossing the phone back to the floor and climbing back in bed with him. It was the motion of his hand under the covers. I knew he was stroking himself and it had me hot. I wanted to watch that. I sighed and sucked in a breath and flipped open my phone I wanted to get this text over with so I could join him back in bed. I kept my eyes on him watching the motion of the blanket as I imagined his hand moving over his cock. I didn’t even look at the phone as I pressed the buttons to open the text. Finally I glanced down and my body went cold with fear.
Happy New Year Sylvia. That kiss should have been mine. - B
I gasped as I looked at the text. I flicked my glance over to Quinn. He was sitting up starring at me.
“What’s wrong Sylvia?” His voice was laced with worry, his face full of concern.
I didn’t know what else to do, so I silently handed the phone over to him. He took it from me and cursed before closing it.
I met his eyes which flashed dark in anger. I knew my own held fear. What was Beau doing texting me? It had been over a month since I’d last heard from him.
“Sylvia, we need to do something about this.” His voice was flat as he closed my phone and eyed me expectantly.
“What am I supposed to do?” I snapped at him more than I meant to, but I was frustrated. I became self conscious as I stood there naked with Quinn staring at me so intensely. I fidgeted a bit before grabbing his shirt from the night before off the floor and slipping it on. I watched as Quinn ran his hands through his hair, actually taming it some from its previous disarray. He met my gaze with his own. I felt as if I were being accused of something. I knew he was thinking, but his silence was irritating me. We continued to eye each other for several seconds before I huffed and threw my hands up. I headed to the bathroom to take a shower and think things through. I didn’t make it to the door before Quinn called out to me.
“Sylvia. Please don’t be like that. I just want to keep you safe.” I stopped and kept my back to him, listening to him. “I don’t want to lose you again.” His voice was tinged with despair.
My heart ached hearing him sound like that. I turned around and walked over to him. He was studying the sheet he had wrapped around him. When he glanced up at me I wanted to kick myself for making him look so sad. I leaned forward and kissed his forehead. I pulled away and cupped his cheek. We gazed into each other’s eyes and I tried to convey to him that I was sorry and I knew that he was just thinking of me.
“We’ll figure something out. I’m just going to go shower. We can talk when I get out.” I left a quick kiss on his lips and went to shower.
The shower did nothing to help. Often I do all my best thinking standing under the hot spray, yet today I just couldn’t get anywhere. My mind kept going back to the night before and how perfect it was. In fact, the past week with Quinn was wonderful. It was everything I always thought it would be when we were out on our own. It was just a pity it took us four years longer than it should have. Better late than never, though. Maybe we needed that time apart. I knew I had changed and there were obvious changes with Quinn, too. Yet no matter how we changed or how far apart we were, we’d still found our way back to each other. I smiled and finished my shower quickly. I just wanted to go out and snuggle up with Quinn and enjoy our last day together before the others returned.
I slipped on some comfy clothes and pulled my hair back and went out to find Quinn. I could see him on the couch with his laptop open. I stopped in the kitchen for my morning caffeine and asked if he needed anything. He said he didn’t, but his words were short and had an edge to them. I wondered if he was mad at me about this morning.
After grabbing a pop I hesitated in the doorway of the kitchen, just watching him. He sat there shirtless, in just his boxers. His legs were stretched out in front of him with his feet crossed. The laptop had to be getting hot, balanced on his tense, bare thighs. His brow was creased and he appeared to be annoyed. I wondered what he was looking at that had bothered him so. Even though he was visibly upset, he still took my breath away. His chestnut wayward hair always made me smile. He had his glasses on, too. I loved it when he wore his glasses; it always took me back to high school when I saw him in them. His lips were pursed as he scowled at the screen. He let out a little huff and his long fingers flew over the keyboard for a second. I thought about those fingers and just what they could do to me. I must have sighed out loud because Quinn called me over.
“Quit watching me and come over here and look at this.” His tone was harsh and crisp.
I rolled my eyes. “Who said I was watching you?”
He just looked at me knowingly. I grinned at him but his expression didn’t change. I walked over filled with trepidation. I stood behind the couch and looked over his shoulder. He had the screen filled with open tabs. They had things like: Women’s Law, Protection Orders, Minnesota State, and Minnesota Courts on the tabs. It took me a second before I figured he was looking into a restraining order. I read over the page that was open and it was how to go about getting an anti-harassment order.
I glanced at Quinn. He had his head back resting on the back of the couch watching me.
“There’s a problem, Sylvia.” The frustration he felt was clear in his voice. I looked at him; sure the confusion was clear all over my face. He patted the seat next to him and I came around the couch and sat down next to him.
“What’s the problem?”
“I don’t think he has really done anything that will allow you to file for an order.”
“Well that’s a good thing isn’t it?” I wasn’t sure why I thought that was good. It creeped me out that Beau could possibly be following me, but really I hadn’t felt threatened. He had threatened Quinn, not me. “Wait, what about you? I mean he did make a threat against you.”
Quinn shook his head. “He said it to you and we can’t really prove it. I don’t think that would work. Plus he hasn’t made any move against me. Slimy bastard. He’s done just enough to worry me but not enough to get the police involved.” Quinn pinched the bridge of his nose.
“What about the background check my dad ran?” I swallowed and tried not to think of what that check caused. “Couldn’t we turn him in?”
“We could if we knew where he lived. I’m sure they know who he works for, but they haven’t been able to get him there.”
We both sat there quietly, each thinking through the situation. My phone sounded again and I reached in my pocket for it. It was from Beau again.
“Quinn, he sent another one. Should I just delete it?” I was nervous about opening it.
“No, we need to see what he says. Maybe he’ll slip up and give us something we can use.”
He can’t replace me Sylvia. I’m what you need. - B
I snorted when I read it and handed it over to Quinn. He rolled his eyes. As if Beau had anything I needed or wanted. He could in no way ever compare to Quinn.
Quinn closed my phone, laid it on the table in front of him, and picked up the remote. He sat back and closed the laptop, placing it on the floor next to the couch. He threw his arm around my shoulder and pulled me next to him. I breathed in deeply. I loved the smell of Quinn. It was uniquely him and I could never get enough of it. He placed a kiss on the top of my head and I felt him draw in a deep breath and knew he was taking me in, too.
“Sylvia it will all be okay. Don’t worry. I will never let anything happen to you.” He whispered it, and I wasn’t sure if he was reassuring himself or me. He turned the TV on then and we sat together like that and flipped through the channels, each trying to put Beau from our minds.
Quinn and I spent the lazy day I had looked forward to. It would have been perfect if Beau hadn’t continued to text throughout the day. In the end, we were both on edge and started to snip at each other over little things. I would have liked some time apart but I knew there was no way he was going to let me out of his sight any time soon. Finally I grabbed some of the work I had yet to turn in from last semester and worked on that.
I didn’t pay any attention to the time. When Quinn asked me what I wanted for supper I realized the sun was gone and it was already dark out. I stood up to make something.
Before I could Quinn suggested. “Let’s just order delivery. I feel like some Chinese tonight.” He smiled at me and I knew it was an attempt to lighten the tension.
“That sounds perfect. I think I have some menus somewhere around here.” I started for the kitchen to look in the junk drawer but Quinn stopped me. He pulled me into a big hug.
“I know where they are. I’ll get them. You keep working and I’ll call the order in.”
I smiled and thanked him, telling him what I wanted. I went back and worked on my paper until the food arrived. We ate in the living room, sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table. Quinn turned on The Princess Bride and we laughed as we watched, both of us quoting along with the movie. It was relaxing, even though Beau texted once more. I didn’t open it. I would worry about it later.
We were both up fairly early the next morning. We needed to go to the grocery store and it was going to be a busy day. Sloane and Kai were due in just after 2pm and Reed and Kerri at 7pm. Quinn had promised to pick them up, which meant two trips to the airport.
I was looking forward to seeing them all again. I really missed them. It had been less than two weeks, but for me it was really closer to six. I hadn’t really been myself after the accident and didn’t actually interact much with them since before Thanksgiving. I was ready for some girl time. I couldn’t wait to hear all about the proposals. They both called to tell me they were engaged, but both wanted to wait and share the stories when we were all together. I was excited for them but I also knew that it was going to send them both into planning mode. I hoped they would talk to each other about it more than me. I hated that stuff, but I would go along with whatever they wanted or needed because I loved them. They were, for all intents and purposes, my family. Although after Christmas I realized I also had the Lobatos. It felt good knowing that I belonged with all of them.
On the way back into the apartment from the grocery store, I shivered. I had the eerie feeling that I was being watched. I looked around, but didn’t see anything suspicious. I scanned the parking lot and street, expecting to see Beau’s truck or motorcycle. I didn’t see either one but I still couldn’t shake the feeling. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and my stomach was queasy. Quinn stopped and turned back to me when he realized I wasn’t behind him.
“Sylvia?”
“Sorry. I’m coming.”
“Is everything alright? You look pale.” He was examining my face trying to detect what was wrong.
“Yeah it’s alright. I just had a strange feeling. I’m being paranoid is all?” I was sure that was all there was to it. The texts obviously still had me on edge.
Quinn looked around, too, carefully taking in our surroundings. “Let’s just go in, okay?” I nodded and he pulled me tight to him.
Once we were on the third floor, he started towards my apartment. I had a sudden surge of panic. Even though I choked it down I still couldn’t bring myself to want to go in.
“Can we put this stuff in your apartment?”
He looked at me with confusion. “Sure.” The word was drawn out and I knew it was more of a question than an answer. I felt like I needed to explain myself.
“I just have a strange feeling and just don’t want to be in my apartment right now.” I tried to shrug it off as no big deal but I knew Quinn knew better.
“That’s fine. We can put it in mine. My cupboards are bare anyway.” He tried to sound reassuring, but I could hear a hint of suspicion in his tone.
I was so relieved that he didn’t make a bigger deal out of it. While we were putting away the groceries I got another text. I knew it wasn’t Kai or Kerri because they were supposed to be in the air about then.
Beautiful Sylvia I miss u please call me I need to hear ur voice - B
This time I was angry. I tossed my phone down and went into a rant. “Seriously, does he think I’m really going to call him back? Why does he keep texting me? Why won’t he get the hint? I don’t want anything to do with him. Ugh.” I yelled it at no one, but I knew Quinn heard every word.
He came up behind me and pressed against my back. He placed his hand on my thigh, effectively stopping me from kicking the cupboard in front of me.
“Sylvia, he’s getting a rise out of you. It’s exactly what he wants. He wants you to be thinking about him. Don’t let him. Why don’t you go watch some TV or something to take your mind off it and I’ll finish putting away the groceries?”
I knew Quinn was right. Beau was just trying to get to me.
“I want to get started on a few things for tomorrow’s party. I’ll just stay in here and work on that.” I planned to make a big meal for all of us and even a few treats. I had put it off all week and now I was down to crunch time.
“That sounds like a good idea. I’ll turn some music on and finish with the groceries then I can help you out.”
I cringed a little. Sometimes Quinn in the kitchen was a bigger hindrance than a help, but I was far enough behind that he could be useful with little tasks like chopping or stirring.
We worked together in the kitchen until it was time to go get Kai and Sloane. I sent him over to my apartment several times to get things I needed. We decided to have the party at my place since it was the only one between the two of ours that was decorated. Which I suspected Kai had done sometime before she left. I didn’t recall her doing it but everything before Christmas was a haze. After getting Kai and Sloane we worked some more until it was time to get Kerri and Reed.
It had been Kerri’s first time going to Reed’s and the way home from the airport was filled with laughter as she told us the craziest stories about his family. Even though I had yet to hear about the proposals, I did get to ooh and ah at their rings. Kerri’s was the classic big rock. I didn’t understand carats and cuts, but from the way she went on it must have been a big deal. Kai’s was smaller but circled with brightly colored stones.
We left Reed and Kerri in their apartment and stopped off at mine to pick up their presents. We took them back to Quinn’s and wrapped them. By the time we were done I was ready for bed. I was exhausted and needed to be up in the morning to start the ham I planned to make for lunch. Before I went to bed I checked my phone, only to see that the battery had died. Quinn ran over to my apartment and grabbed the cord so I could recharge it. Once that was set up, I went to sleep.
I slept restlessly, even though I was in Quinn’s arms. My dreams always started out good. In one I was walking down the aisle towards Quinn, but once I was there I looked up expecting Quinn’s brown eyes only to be met with Beau’s steely blue ones. In another I walked through a large house, possibly a castle, and I was looking for Quinn. Yet every door I opened was empty. I was about to give up but I tried one more only to step in and have the door close behind me. I tried opening it but it wouldn’t budge. I heard laughter and turned to find the source of it, it was Beau standing in front of me. He said, “You are mine now, Sylvia. You will never leave me again.” I woke up screaming from that one.
Quinn calmed me down, holding me and humming to me. I fell asleep once again and this time I dreamed that I was in the hospital. I was holding a baby in my arms and arguing with someone over the name. We were arguing about girls’ names, so I assumed the child was a girl. Something inside of me told me that I was arguing with Beau yet when I looked up, it was Quinn smiling back at me. I didn’t recall anything after that.
I awoke later than I intended to the next morning. Quinn was still sleeping peacefully beside me. I slipped out of bed quietly, hoping I wouldn’t disturb him. I went over to my apartment to start the ham. I figured there was no sense to making it at his place if we were only going to end up at mine for the day anyway. While I was there, I straightened up the place and took a shower. After I was done, I went to my room to get dressed.
I was standing in front of my vanity when I realized something was missing. The pendant I had hanging on the mirror wasn’t there. It was the pendant my dad had given my mother when I was born. It had been his mother’s and his grandmother’s. It was passed down whenever the first child was born. After my mother’s death Dad gave it to me. I never wore it but hung it from my mirror where I could always see it. I looked around the top of the vanity but didn’t see it. I figured the vanity was probably bumped into and it fell off. I just got down on my hands and knees to look for it when I heard my door open and Kai call out to me. Sighing I stood up to go see what she wanted. I would just have to look for it later.
“Sylvia?”
“Don’t you ever knock?” I scowled at her then started giggling. I was just happy to see her.
“I thought you might be in the shower. I came up to see if you needed any help.”
“Like you would know what to do in the kitchen. I’m good with it all. Quinn and I started most of it yesterday. Just come talk to me. I want to hear all about your Christmas.” I pulled her with me over to the couch and we both sat down.
“So you and Quinn were cooking huh? I see that things are going well between the two of you.” Her eyes were currently sapphire and twinkled knowingly at me.
I bit my bottom lip and then grinned, as visions of Quinn and me all over the apartment played through my head. “Very good. In fact, I think it may be going even better than it had before.”
“Oh, Sylvia. I am so happy for you,” she squealed and hugged me. After she pulled back, her face was serious. “And how is everything else?” Kai held on to my hands and squeezed them, gently letting me know she cared and was concerned.
I sighed. “What exactly are you referring too?” I wasn’t sure if she wanted to know how I was dealing with the grief or if she somehow knew Beau was back in the picture.
“All of it. I want to know how you’re feeling. The glow of love is overshadowing everything, but I can see there is something more going on in your head.”
I nodded and told her all about my breakdown, how I yelled at Quinn and sent him away and how he came back. I talked about staying at the Lobatos’ and how great it felt. I explained why Quinn broke it off and how even though I still don’t agree that it was the right decision; I at least understood why he made it. I blushed as I briefly revealed parts of our blissful week alone. We giggled together and she teased me that if I wasn’t careful I would turn into Kerri.
Once the laughter died down the mood become sober as I filled her in on Beau’s texts and how Quinn thought he’d seen him on the street. I held back about feeling like I was being watched. I never was able to confirm it and I didn’t want to concern anyone or make them think I was going crazy. She asked why I hadn’t gone to the police, and I explained to her how we looked it up and didn’t think he had done enough for them to do anything. We sat silently for a few seconds after I was done. I suspected she knew I was leaving something out but she didn’t press me on it.
“What about you? I want to hear all about your vacation. How was the fam?” For just a moment, she had a far away dreamy look in her eyes. I could only imagine what she was thinking about. She snapped out of it and proceeded to give me a play by play of her holiday. She still wouldn’t tell me about how Sloane proposed. She just got that same starry eyed look and smiled softly and shook her head. By the time she was done it was time to start the rest of the lunch.
“I wonder where Quinn is. I figured he would have been over here the moment he realized I wasn’t at his place.”
Kai was moving decorations around on the tree. She didn’t break from her task as she answered “Oh, Sloane wanted to talk to him about a couple things. He knew that I wanted some time with you.” She stepped back and looked at her work and frowned a little before switching a couple things around and smiling, obviously pleased with the results. I watched her and shook my head, she was such a perfectionist.
Kai helped me go over to Quinn’s and get all the food I had over there. Quinn and Sloane helped us carry it all over. Then Kai and Sloane went home to get their gifts and check on Reed and Kerri. Quinn helped me finish up the meal as we waited for the others to come over.
Once they were there I spread the food out on the table and we all filled our plates and ate in the living room. We ate while we talked about our Christmases. It was great having everyone together again. It felt right. While our group had been together so long, something had just been missing, but now that Quinn was with us and we were together, our group was whole. I realized that was the same feeling I couldn’t name the few times we were all together for games nights or bowling. I smiled as I watched my friends laugh and joke with each other.
“So, Kerri, how did Reed end up popping the question?” Quinn asked.
All eyes turned to Kerri. She rolled her eyes and Reed had the goofiest grin ever. I knew this was going to be good.
“It was Christmas Eve, and Reed’s parents’ house was packed. I have no idea how they could fit that many people in a house that small. There had to be at least 50 there.” She shook her head and continued. “They had all been drinking all day and it was noisy and chaotic. There were kids running everywhere. Someone had given all the kids those little fireworks poppers that you throw on the ground and they pop.” Reed wore a guilty yet pleased look.
“Baby, I warned you it was going to be like that. It always is.” Reed was grinning.
I smirked, thinking of a house filled with drunken Reeds. I could only imagine how entertaining that would be. Then again, I imagined Kerri was out of her element with all that going on.
“If you think that was packed, just wait until the wedding.” Reed wiggled his eyebrows at her.
Kerri groaned. “Oh, God, what have I gotten myself into?” We all laughed and Kerri continued. “So Reed’s uncle and...who was the other one?” She asked Reed.
“Cousin Ray-Ray,” Reed filled in as he took a big bite of mashed potatoes.
We all looked at Reed to see if he was joking. Kerri answered for us.
“Seriously, he has a cousin named Ray-Ray. In fact Ray-Ray has a son. Ray-Ray Jr. So anyway, his uncle and Ray-Ray had just gotten into a fist fight and broken his mom’s NASCAR display case. After they were dragged outside to cool down, this moron here decides to break the tension by turning on Beyonce. He starts dancing around the house singing along to Single Ladies.”
Laughter broke all around the room. We’ve all heard Reed singing that and it truly was one of the silliest things ever.
“I just wanted to go hide but nooooo, he pulled me up and made me dance with him. He was spinning me all around the living room. At one point we knocked into the tree, almost tipping it. He about dropped me when he dipped me.”
“I’d never drop you, baby.” Reed was beaming.
“Whatever,” Kerri tried to sound annoyed but the love was written all over her face. “After he about dropped me, I thought he was done because he let go of me. I was looking for an escape and I realized he was down on one knee in front of me, holding out a ring.”
That was so Reed. We were all laughing.
“I about told him no just for having put on that little spectacle. What would you have done then?” She cocked an eyebrow at Reed.
“Oh, baby, there is no way you would have said no. No one can say no to the Reed charm.”
We all dissolved in laughter again. When the room quieted down I turned to Kai.
“It’s your turn. How did Sloane ask?”
Kai met Sloane’s eyes and they shared a long loving look. It was so personal I fidgeted and glanced away. I met Quinn’s gaze and smiled. I expected Kai to go all out on her retelling. She surprised me.
“He just slipped the ring on my finger.” She practically whispered it.
“He didn’t ask?” Kerri asked.
Kai shook her head. “He didn’t need to. I knew what he wanted.” She was still watching Sloane, her eyes full of love, and he reflected that love back at her.
“Yeah, well what were you doing?” Reed asked his mouth full.
Kai and Sloane both smiled, but didn’t say anything. The room was quiet for a few beats before Reed yelled, “Dude, you asked her while you were banging her?” He reached over to give Sloane a fist bump, but Sloane leaned forward and punched him playfully instead.
“No! Jesus, you doofus that’s something crass that only you would do. I’m surprised you didn’t do that.” Sloane scoffed at him.
“Hey, that was my original plan but I went with the moment.” Reed shrugged.
“Well I just went with the moment, too.” Sloane drawled out and sat back wrapping his arm around Kai.
We were all quiet for a few minutes while we ate, until Reed started complaining that we needed to hurry up and get on with the gift opening. The Titans were playing the Vikings at two and he wanted to watch the game.
“Hey, I have money riding on it. Jason is going to owe me big after this.”
“Where is the dork anyway?” Kerri asked. “I would have thought he would have been here.”
“He’s on his way back today. He partied all weekend back home.” Jason checked in with me every couple days. He still wasn’t Quinn’s biggest fan and I figured that was part of why he was keeping his distance. I really hoped that once he saw that Quinn and I were definitely back together that he would come around.
We all pitched in and had lunch cleaned up in no time. Kai and Reed were practically bouncing off the walls with child-like anticipation. We gathered in the living room and Kai donned a Santa hat and handed out gifts to everyone. We all took turns opening a present until all the gifts were opened. Reed gave us all engraved flasks filled with some of his “Tennessee Tiger Sweat.” Sloane gave me an Amazon gift card, which Kai claimed wasn’t right cause I didn’t even have to go to a store to use it. Kerri gave me an assortment of barely-there lingerie, which made me blush and Quinn grin. Quinn gave me the same spa gift card that I had given to the girls. Telling me I needed a day out with them. He also gave me a new comfy blanket to cuddle under. Kai’s gift brought tears to my eyes. She gave me a Christmas ornament with a mother of pearl finish and had it hand painted with the date and “When the heart spoke, love answered.” I didn’t even question her as to how she knew. She always just seemed to know that stuff.
We finished just in time for kickoff. The guys settled in to watch the game as I was stuck going through bridal magazines with Kerri and Kai. Both had brought a stack with them. After a while I made my escape to the kitchen to get leftovers out for supper. Once the game was over, everyone made a hasty retreat. Reed grumbled the whole way about the stupid Titans and how much he had to pay Jason. Sloane laughed at him and told him it was his fault for betting on a worthless team. I could hear them arguing all the way down the stairs.
I closed the door and leaned against it. Quinn came over to me and took me into his arms, pulling me tightly against him. I breathed him in and relaxed against him.
“Sylvia, my love.” Quinn held me as he gently swayed us side to side. “How are you doing? Did you have a good day?”
I nodded as I murmured yes into his chest. He chuckled and I let the vibrations from it course through me. He released me and stepped back.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” He carefully scrutinized my expression. He was looking for any trace of apprehension. Admittedly I had it and it was showing.
“Yes and no. I’ve been gone long enough I need to get back to work sometime and tomorrow is just as good as any. Besides, it’s just a short shift to ease me back into it.” I sighed and started to pick up around the apartment. Quinn joined me.
“You can always call in if you’re not up to it yet.”
“No. I want to go back. It’s time that I start living in the real world again. The new semester starts in a week and I want to be sure that they have enough help.”
“You don’t need to work, you know. I can help...” I placed my finger over his lips, stopping him from finishing that.
“No. I know that you can and I know that you want to. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer. I just feel that it’s more than the money for me. This is just another step in the process for me. I know you understand that.”
Quinn nodded and before I removed my finger he playfully bit it. “I know. I just don’t want you pushing yourself too soon.”
“I’ll be okay. I promise.” I called out as I walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water. “On the bright, side I didn’t get any texts today.” I smiled at him over the rim of my water glass.
“Did you remember to get your phone from my place when you left this morning?”
I groaned and let my shoulders and head drop. “No. Damn it.”
“Well do you want to go back to my place or do you want me to go get it for you?”
“Go grab it for me. I want to stay here tonight.”
“Do you want me to check it for you?” Quinn grabbed his keys off the table by the door and waited for my answer with his hand on the knob.
“Yes please. I don’t want to know what he said.”
“Okay. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
After he left I took my gifts into my bedroom and set them on the vanity. I looked again around the top to see if I could spot the pendant. When I was sure it wasn’t there I got down on the floor and looked for it. I heard the door open while I was looking and Quinn called out to me.
“There were eleven texts, Sylvia.” I heard his voice grow closer as he moved down the hall. “I’m going to call my dad in the morning and get the number for the family attorney. There has to be something we can...What are you doing?” I looked over my shoulder at him. He was standing in the doorway staring at my ass which was in the air as I had been looking under the vanity.
“Don’t get me wrong. I like the view and all, but you don’t normally go crawling around on the floor.”
“I’m looking for the pendant I had on the mirror.” I returned to scanning the carpet for it.
“The one from your mom?”
“Yes, that one. Have you seen it? It was off the mirror and I thought maybe it fell on the floor.”
“Here, I’ll pull the dresser out and you can look behind it.” I moved back so Quinn could move it. It wasn’t behind it either. I knew it was ridiculous, but that bad feeling started creeping up on me again. It had to be around somewhere. Quinn picked up on my foreboding and hugged me again.
“It’ll turn up. It probably got snagged on the clothes I had setting on here. Tomorrow while you’re at work I’ll go through my stuff and see if I can’t find it.” He was nuzzling my neck along my sweet spot, and I forgot all about it for the time being. “Why don’t you try on one of your gifts from Kerri?” His voice had gone husky and low, and it sent shivers darting straight between my legs. I moaned an agreement and grabbed one off the vanity where I had set them down and took it in to the bathroom to change. I may have been embarrassed opening them in front of everyone but I had secretly been waiting to put them on for Quinn. Tonight was going to end well.
***
Work had gone much better than I had been expecting. It was only a four hour shift and it was almost over. The time had flown by. I worked with Bobbie and Corrina. I had missed both of them and it was nice to catch up with them again. In fact I did more talking with them than I did working. I had to tear myself away from them and get some work done.
I was stocking books on the back corner shelf when I heard someone say my name. My body froze. I didn’t know what I should do. I dropped my hand to my pocket and felt my phone in there. I debated on calling Quinn although I didn’t know what that would accomplish. In the end I turned to face him. As I did I glanced around to see if anyone was nearby. I figured at least I was in a public place everything would be okay. I needed to get this over with eventually.
“Beau.”
He stood before me in his ripped jeans and leather jacket. I once thought he was so hot, now he just looked dirty and unkempt. He stared back at me, moving his eyes across my body in a way that made me feel violated. I couldn’t stop the shudder that ripped through me. He didn’t speak. He just continued to look at me, increasing my nervousness.
“What do you want?” I tried to keep my tone even and not give away my fear.
“You. I want you, Sylvia. I miss you.” He stepped closer to me and I stepped back. My back hit the shelves behind me and I realized I had no place to go to. I put my hand in my pocket and wrapped it around my phone.
“Beau, it’s done. I’ve tried to tell you that. Don’t you get the hint when I don’t respond to your messages? What do I have to do to make you understand that I don’t want you in my life?” There was a slight tremble to my voice and my heart was racing. He stepped closer and was right up against me. He swept a lock of hair behind my ear and leaned in close to me. I felt his breath against my cheek. I could smell the alcohol on his breath and it made me sick. I swallowed hard, trying to keep the fear choked down.
“Please, Sylvia. We were so good together. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I need you, Sylvia.” His voice was was low and guttural. He ran his hand over my shoulder and down my arm. I cringed and tried to pull myself away. He grabbed my arm tighter so I couldn’t move. “I know you feel it too, Sylvia. You can’t deny it. I felt how wet you’d get for me. I’ve heard you moan my name.” He pushed himself up against me and his other hand came to rest against my hip. I tried to push him away but he held me too tightly. I let out a little cry.
“Please, just let me go. I don’t feel that way. In fact I never did. Please, Beau, just let me go. I won’t scream, and you can just walk away from here.” His eyes were so cold, piercing into me, stabbing me with fear.
“Is it him?” I heard the hatred drip off his tongue. I knew he was referring to Quinn.
“No, it’s you and me. I will not be treated like this.”
“Don’t lie to me, bitch.” His fingers on my arm and my hip dug into me. I knew they were going to leave bruises. “Do you love him?”
“Yes.” I whispered it. I was afraid for Quinn, but I couldn’t lie either. I didn’t want to give Beau any false hope.
He shoved away from me roughly, causing me to fall back against the shelves and knocking the books off. He grumbled something about ending the bastard as he turned and stalked away from me.
“Stop. Beau, don’t.” I tried calling out to him, but he didn’t turn back around. I got to my feet and tried to catch up with him. I reached out and grabbed his arm. He threw me back.
“I’ll be back for you.” He snapped at me coldly, and disappeared out the door.
I could see the others I worked with heading over to me. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone and called Quinn. It rang until it went to voice mail. I tried again. When that didn’t work I panicked. I called out to no one in-particular that I had to go and I ran from the building. I slowed down long enough to call Reed on my way. He was out shopping with Kerri but he said they would leave and head straight home. He assured me that he would call Sloane, that he thought he was home. I thanked him and started running again. I didn’t know if I would get there in time, but I had to try.