Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Why? My mom didn’t care.”
“But she fucking shoulda. Drove him crazy. I’m glad she got her act together eventually.” He puts his back against the tree and slides down to sit. He pulls one of the subs out of the bag. “Here.”
Did she? Maybe compared to what he remembers. I let him believe it. I take it and sit down next to him. I didn’t even realize I was hungry, but once I have it open, my stomach growls. I tear the sub in half and open it up, pulling out the cheese.
“Thought you said you didn’t have a diet.”
“I—I don’t. This isn’t a diet, it’s just…”
Priest raises an eyebrow, daring me to continue.
Fine. I take a bite, tasting the perfect blend of deli meat, cheese, mayo and veggies.
“Better, right?”
Yes. “I suppose, if it makes you happy.”
He throws back his head and laughs.
“Jerk.”
“Maybe, but you’re still eating my fucking sandwich.”
“Thanks.” I give him a smile between bites. “This is actually kind of nice.”
We eat in companionable silence for a while, but the subject we’ve carefully not mentioned starts feeling heavier and heavier between us.
I take off my jacket and roll it up so I can rest my head on it when I stretch out and look up at the sky. We’re too deep in the city for the stars to be impressive, but they’re still pretty. “He was supposed to meet you that night.”
Priest lies down beside me. “Yeah.”
“What happened?” I whisper.
“I wish I could tell you. We…” He takes a deep breath and holds it before letting it out in a soft rush. “Was supposed to be our first real job. It got fucked six ways to Sunday. Thought we were so fucking grown up, but we were still kids, you know? The details don’t fucking matter, but we split up to lose them. I waited all night and most of the next day.”
“I never told anyone, but he came home.”
“What?” Priest sits up, leaning on his arm and looking down at me. His face is shrouded in darkness, but I can feel the intensity of his gaze.
“He… there was so much blood.” No matter how long I live, even if the sharpest edges of loss go dull, I will never forget the sight of him dripping blood on my biology homework. I got in so much trouble for not turning that in. It’s funny what details the brain decides are worth keeping. “He gave me money and told me to take care of it. That he was going to try and come back.”
“You were what? Twelve?”
“Yep.”
“Shit… How much money?”
“Ten grand. Some of it was from what he was saving for us to move out, but I think he probably stole some of it.” Blood money. I close my eyes, unable to look at Priest without seeing Heath. “I miss him.”
His fingers ghost across my cheek, wiping away a tear I don’t remember crying. “I’m not a good man, Quinn. I didn’t learn from that night and turn my life around. I just grew up and got better at it.” Priest almost sounds like he’s apologizing for surviving.
I might not know the gory details, but I know what he’s saying. He, Colt and Sinner aren’t little boys pretending to be cowboys. But this man bought me a bed. He was back in my life for a day and he bought me a bed. Good is a mostly meaningless word meant for people who never actually do anything to test it.
Without opening my eyes, I move my hand to his and thread our fingers together. “You don’t have to be good. Just… stick around, okay? I missed you, too.”
“I’ll try.” He lifts our hands and presses a kiss to the back of mine.
I feel it all the way to my soul. The heat of his lips, the slightly wet pull as they lift from my skin. The urge to kiss him for real simmers right under the surface, but I don’t know what it would mean. Priest mentioned that there are always women around the club looking for a good time. All three of them seem so easy with their flirting. Sex is probably just another fun way to pass the time.
I don’t judge them for it. Film sets and theater productions are like sexual pressure cookers. You’re thrown together with passionate people working long hours under strange, emotional conditions. I’ve always been cautious, but I’m not a prude.
I just don’t know if I could cross that line and recover from it.
9
Chapter 9 - Quinn
The last thing I expect to see through on my doorcam when someone knocks the next morning is Sinner and Colt standing in the hall holding a TV. I crack the door open. “Um, can I help you?”
“Yeah, open the door. This isn’t heavy but it’s a pain in the ass to carry,” Colt grumbles.