Page 67 of Wicked Waters

“Thanks. Really. Not just for today, but for, y’know. Everything. I don’t know how I can repay you. Even before now. The arson, that time you stopped me from getting expelled with the flood, the times I was expelled, and you got me into a different school, the—fuck, every time I managed to get into trouble.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “I don’t know why you’d do that.”

“Don’t even mention it. You’re family, and that’s what we do. I’m here for you, as are your cousins.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Just stay out of trouble, okay? You don’t have much time left here.”

We came to a stop next to his car. “I will, and I know. I’m ready to get out of here.”

“You know, if you’re thinking about university, Alstone College isn’t a bad place. You’d be accepted there straightaway, as long as you get the grades.”

“Alstone, huh? Is that your way of saying you want to keep a closer eye on me?”

Fishing his car key from his pocket, he shot me a grin. “It couldn’t hurt, could it?”

“I’ll think about it.” It was a weird feeling, being wanted by family. Weird, but really fucking good. “My girlfriend’s applied for Alstone College, you know.”

“I know. History, isn’t it? The history department may be small, but it’s prestigious.”

“Yeah. She’s applied for a few different unis, and I just want her to go wherever she’ll be happiest.”

My uncle stared at me, and then he smiled. “I know your parents would…well, I can’t speak for them. But I can speak for myself, as your uncle, and say that I’m proud of you, Roman. You’re a good man.”

I swallowed around the stupid fucking lump in my throat. “Thanks.”

“How did it go with your parents?” I settled back on my elbows on the wooden dock, swirling my feet in the water.

Quinn pushed her sunglasses up on top of her head and then turned to face me. Her lips curved into a gorgeous smile that I had to kiss, because how could I resist my girl when she was so fucking happy and all mine? When I finally managed to drag myself away from her mouth, she smiled even wider. “It went well. They apologised to me. I think…no, I know we’ve got a lot of work to do, but it felt like a step in the right direction. And I think…maybe, they’ll come around about you, too.”

“Yeah?”

She nodded before shifting closer to me and resting against my side with her head on my shoulder. “I love you.”

I kissed her head. “I love you, too.”

We sat in silence for a while, just lazing in the sun, our feet dipping into our lake, no one else around except for the birds and the insects.

It was peaceful, but my mind wouldn’t stop working. I straightened up, curling my arm around Quinn’s waist. “I’m sorry for saying you should take the journals from the library. I added to everything you had to deal with it.”

“That wasn’t your fault, Roman. No one forced me to take them. Whatever you’d said to me, I wouldn’t have taken them if I hadn’t wanted to. It was wrong, and I shouldn’t have done it, and that’s all on me. Not you. I don’t blame you for it.”

This girl was way too fucking good for me.

I had to do something to help make things right. “Now all this shit is over with, let’s make a plan for me to win your parents over.”

Quinn huffed out a laugh. “How are we going to do that?”

“I’ll wow them with my natural charm. Wait. I don’t have natural charm. Fuck. Maybe I should take some lessons from Tristan.”

“Please don’t.” Tapping her nails against the wood, she thought for a minute. “You could probably charm my mum with compliments. My dad…I don’t know. He used to play lacrosse at school, so maybe talk to him about that? Um…maybe future plans?” She grimaced. “Honestly, I just want them to like you for you. Because you’re amazing, and I love you.”

“Baby. You’re so fucking sweet, did you know that?” I kissed her cheek. “Okay. I have an idea. We’ll invite them to my next lacrosse game. We’re playing Cheltenham, so it should be an easy win. I’ll impress them during the match, and after that, we’ll take them for lunch at Nottswood Golf & Country Club. Knox and Tristan are members—I’ll get them to make us a reservation.”

“You’re not a member?”

“Fuck no. I don’t like golf, and I don’t like snobby rich people. I swim when Knox and Tristan go there.”

She laughed. “Fair enough. My parents are members of a different country club—my dad’s not much of a golfer, either, but I’m sure they’ll enjoy the surroundings. I remember going there with P-Penelope’s family once. It’s a good choice.”

“Speaking of Penelope…did you hear what her punishment was?”

“No, what was it?” Straightening up, she turned to me. “I haven’t heard anything.”

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