Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Without looking at me, he says, “Not anymore.”
I stare at the side of his face before pointing to the wall and the table that have nothing on them except photos of him and Emery together. “Until the shrine to Emery comes down, I don’t believe a word you say.” He moves his eyes to where I am looking. “I still think you should get a voodoo doll to go along with all the photos.”
He scoffs at that, but the humor doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m not taking it down.”
“Didn’t think so.”
“But I’m pretty sure when she finds out I’m getting married, she’ll never speak to me again.”
My jaw actually drops. My eyes widen. My heart stops dead in my chest. I blink twice, and then finally, words form. “The hell you say?”
He meets my gaze. “I asked Ava to marry me.”
“Ava? Who the fuck is Ava?” I truly don’t know whom he is speaking of, but then I hold up my hand. “Your friend from residency?”
He nods. “Yeah.”
I just gawk at him. “I thought you were just friends.”
“We are, but then we decided to see where things could go.”
“Could go?” I squeak. “You’ve hooked up with her.”
“I’m a gentleman,” he tries, fighting back the grin.
I snort. “Shut the hell up. You’ve told me all the places Emery has given you head.”
“That was different. Ava is different.”
“She’s different?”
“Yes, and here we are.”
“Here we are?” I ask, still not comprehending what the hell he is saying.
“Stop repeating what I say,” he scolds, but I don’t get it.
“Quinn, you’ve been waiting for Emery for years now. I don’t get it.”
“It’s time to move on,” he says slowly, not meeting my gaze. Something isn’t vibing here. Something is off.
“Quinn, bro.” He still doesn’t meet my gaze. “Bro,” I repeat, stressing the word, and finally, he looks up. Sadness swirls in his blue depths, and that confuses me even more. “What the hell?”
“I can’t keep waiting.”
“I’ve said that for years, but you don’t marry the next girl you meet.”
Dryly, he insists, “I’ve known her for a while.”
“And I’ve never met her. That’s not right, and you know it. What is Mom going to say?”
“I don’t know,” he admits, taking in a deep breath. “But I don’t care. I’m the only one not married—”
“Because you’re not even an adult yet.”
We both laugh at that. “Posey and Owen were married at my age.”
“Because they found their people. This chick isn’t your person.” I pause, swallowing hard. “As much as I hate to say it, Em is more your person than this chick.”
“She doesn’t want what I want.”
“Which is why you’re waiting.”
“I can’t wait forever.”
“I’ve said that from the jump, but I didn’t expect you to marry someone out of the blue.” He looks away, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Do you even love her? ’Cause I get the vibe you don’t.”
Quinn shrugs. “I gotta do something.”
I stare at the side of his face, his blue eyes troubling me. “So, you don’t?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does. Your siblings all love their spouses, which is why they married them.”
“It’s more than just love. It’s convenience.”
“Convenience? Fuck, man, you don’t have to do this.”
“But I am.”
As I gaze at him, I realize something. “Are you doing this to force Emery to make a move?”
Quinn looks up, meeting my gaze. “Not at all. I don’t even plan on telling her.”
“Your mom will.”
He shrugs. “It doesn’t matter. I’m getting married.”
With that, he walks back to his room, shutting the door and leaving me to dwell on his proclamation of marriage to someone he doesn’t even love. His family is gonna flip. Emery is going to murder everyone. And all I can do is watch it go down.
When Quinn makes up his mind, he doesn’t teeter. He’s pretty headstrong, which is another reason I am struggling with what he just admitted. I don’t know; it doesn’t seem right. I don’t know what this Ava has on him, maybe he knocked her up… But that doesn’t seem right either. It’s all very impulsive and unlike him, which only furthers my point that Emery truly fucked him up.
I should get a voodoo doll myself and poke needles through her eyes. Or I may not need to once she gets a whiff of Quinn’s engagement.
Ahfuckbuddy, I may need to hide him.
Chapter Five
Benson
Any time I bring up Quinn’s engagement, he shuts me down or changes the subject. It’s odd and unlike him. He’s usually open with me, but with this, he’s not. I even asked to meet Ava, and he claimed he’d make it happen. Sooner rather than later. I don’t know that I believe him, and I can’t help but wonder what our family will say. Hell, what Emery’s going to say. Because I know for a fact that she’s gonna find out, and she’s not going to handle it well. I have a bad feeling, but Quinn isn’t trying to hear me. As much as I feel Emery is on everyone’s shit list, they all still love her. Know that Quinn loves her and truly hope they’ll end up together. I’ve heard Elli, Quinn’s mom, say she thinks they just need to grow up a bit. Need time. But I don’t think anyone expected for Quinn to marry someone else.