Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
“I think I’m too overwhelmed to process anything right now,” I admitted. “I’m just happy to have met you. And that nobody told me to go to hell or called me a liar.”
She stared at me blankly for a second or two before she went to write a new note, presumably an answer to what I’d said.
A moment later, she showed me the notepad.
Ryan told Darius that you’ve known about us for a while but were afraid to reach out. It was mentioned that you looked us up on social, but you couldn’t have done it in a suspicious way. I have software in place to pick up unusual activity from four different browsers, as well as social media platforms. If you’d behaved like a stalker, I would’ve known. (It’s a safety measure after years of worrying about Darius and Ryan potentially coming home with targets on their backs. I am their supreme leader in cybersec. And in Darius’s case, general tech support. He’s useless with technology.)
My mouth twitched, and I nodded minutely in understanding. “Once I found Ethan on Instagram, I’d usually find some of you in the comment section. Your sister is private on Facebook, but her Insta is more open. I mean, I can see her comments. She doesn’t have many photos. She does, however, have many witty responses to whatever Ethan posts about.”
My favorite was the time she replied to one of his motivational posts about working out at home with, “My God, you need a cupcake.”
Willow flashed a quick smile and wrote something else on the pad.
Elise and Darius are Ethan’s biggest trolls. It’s fun.
I grinned. “I didn’t know Darius was on there too. I’m assuming a very anonymous account.”
She nodded in confirmation and jotted another note for me.
I’ll make sure everyone adds you today. Not that Darius’s account is interesting. His purpose on social media is to leave comments on Ethan’s posts. You’ll usually see something like, “It’s way too early for this health bullshit. Pick a better time. I haven’t had my coffee yet.”
I chuckled. Fucking hell, this was surreal. Each sentence spoken about anyone in the Quinn family was a new puzzle piece falling into place.
“I only post memes of dad jokes and Army stuff on my account,” I admitted.
She raked her teeth over her bottom lip and wrote me a response.
If you set your account to private, I can teach you how to be safe online and still share a bit of your life. You’ll have an entire family in Washington jonesing for updates. Even Mom has accounts.
I took a breath and let another rush of relief run through me. They were including me in things, and nothing made me happier.
“I’d like that.” I mustered a smile as I pushed back my emotions. Enough was enough. I’d cried in front of everybody already.
She nodded firmly and wrote a shorter note next.
I have reached my limit for social interaction. Can you go get my parents?
Oh. Right, yeah. “Of course.” I got up from the bed and…paused when I noticed her scribbling something quickly on the notepad.
She showed it to me seconds later.
Leave your online handles with Mom so I can share them with everyone.
I smiled. “I will.”
I walked out with a huge weight off my shoulders, and I wasn’t too surprised to find Mary lingering a few feet away, as if she’d been waiting.
She looked up and walked over to me. “How did it go, dear? Is she okay? Are you okay?”
I exhaled a chuckle and rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah, everything’s fine. She just reached her limit for social interaction—her words. She asked me to get you and Mr. Quinn.”
Mary beamed and squeezed my hand. “How many times I’ve heard her and Elise say that. I’ll go check on her.” She turned toward the rec room and hollered for James to join her, and it didn’t take long before he reappeared and moseyed down the hall.
Wait, what was… I did a double take after a brief glance toward the library, and I saw Bo and Darius at one of the tables there. Why were they alone? If they were talking work…
I excused myself to go see what was up, and I winced when I turned too quickly. That bruise on my stomach really hurt sometimes.
Since Bo had his back to me, Darius spotted me first, but he didn’t look like he was giving Bo a heads-up about my approach. He continued with whatever he was saying, his expression remaining the same.
“…to submit an HW-27 form—and I don’t see why Quinlan would deny it,” he was saying. “Frankly, Vince shoulda done this already.”
“There’s a lot he should’ve done,” Bo muttered. He must’ve heard me at that point, because he looked over his shoulder and smiled faintly. “Hey, pup. How did it go?”