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)
“I could make that boy famous,” Roger says, completely serious. “Give me a month and he’d have half the female population eating out of the palm of his hand, and more of the men than would ever admit it.”
I laugh, imagining how that would actually go. “I think you’d find him difficult to work with, and his background check would be a little sketchy.”
“With that body? People would forgive just about anything.” Roger sighs. “But I suppose I’ll have to make do with being the agent for the new Cassandra Wright. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present, Quinn Callahan!”
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” I scream. “I got it? Seriously?”
He nods, grin stretching practically from ear to ear. “If you want it. We can go over the contract on Monday. They don’t start filming until after Saving the World season two wraps, and it’s only three episodes, but you’re their top choice. You have a week to let them know.”
“Um, let me think. Yes?”
Cassandra Wright is the main character in a new series of gritty, queer crime novels. It’s the sort of thing Mom would never have let me audition for, and it won’t earn the same sort of money as whatever the next big studio blockbuster would, but I made my choice and I’m happy with it.
Roger and Mom weren’t wrong. Choosing to keep Priest, Sinner and Colt in my life means that I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. But that’s okay, because I don’t want to leave this city, and there are plenty of people out there who don’t mind that I don’t live a white picket fence, two point five kids sort of life. There are even quite a few people that seek me out because I bring a more interesting vibe to the table.
“Sorry about that, I didn’t know we had company already,” Priest says as he comes back out in actual clothes. He walks over and kisses me softly. “Hey Roger. I heard happy screaming. Does that mean good news?”
“Cassandra Wright. You’re looking at her.” I strike a pose, pointing to myself with both hands.
“That’s fucking amazing, baby. We’ll have to take you out later to celebrate.” He grabs a bagel out of the fridge and leans down to steal another kiss before taking off. It’s so domestic I’m surprised there aren’t actual heart-eyes floating around my head.
Roger smiles at me like a proud father once Priest is gone. “It’s not what I would’ve picked for you, but I’m so happy you’re happy, Quinn. I hate that it took Sheila doing what she did and going to jail to make it happen, but I love watching you stretch your wings.”
We’ve talked around Mom a lot, but both of us seem to avoid getting too deep, like she’s a bruise that’s still healing. “I hope you know that I’ve always thought of you as more than just my agent. You were the only reason my life was half as normal as it was.”
He grimaces. “It wasn’t easy keeping my mouth shut sometimes. Don’t hate me, but there were some days I wished she would just cross a line that would make it easy to report. I did the best I could and hated that I didn’t do more, but I knew that if I pushed too hard she would find someone else and I didn’t trust that they would put your best interests first.”
I go to him and wrap my arms around his chest, hugging tight. “Sometimes I wanted that, too.”
It’s true. Mom’s abuse was death by a thousand cuts. Physically she never hurt me enough for people to pay attention. I went to school. I had clean clothes. She was strict, but that’s not a crime. She monitored my weight, but I never starved. She loved people telling her how pretty or talented I was. I was an asset that she cared for.
But sometimes she was fun.
And sometimes she’d bring home sushi and we’d watch reality TV together.
And sometimes she’d hold my arms so hard there’d be tiny bruises.
Learning how to let myself be loved without it hurting is a work in progress. Having Axel back in my life helps, but it’s been hard sometimes. When we talk, I can’t ignore everything that I pushed down for so long. But Colt, Sinner, Priest, and all the new friends I’ve made are making it way easier than I ever thought possible.
40
Chapter 40 - Quinn
When things start happening with the Outlaw Sons, they happen fast. It’s barely fall, but we’re already making it official.
Not that there’s an authority out there that will legally recognize this, but within the club, it matters. Pledging my loyalty in front of everyone gives me status and protection. Without it, no matter how serious we might be about each other, in the MC world, I don’t have the right to bear their names.