Page 110 of Maybe You

“Dancing with my sister. Her husband is at home with their baby, so Rubi nominated Steph as her partner.”

He raises his glass to me.

“Salud,” he says.

“Cheers,” I reply.

We both drink, and then we’re silent for a little while.

“You and Sutton have been friends for a long time,” I eventually say.

Quinn nods. “Most of our lives at this point.”

“He said he used to be shy and quiet before he met your family.” I can’t help the smile that curves on my lips.

“I’ll give you quiet, but shy? No, I wouldn’t say he’s ever been shy. Sutton has always been”—he considers it for a bit before he lands on—“determined.”

“No way,” I say drily, and Quinn laughs and nods.

“I see you’ve met him.” He takes a measured sip of champagne and eyes me for a second. The words that follow are also measured. “He has a lot of strict principles about what’s wrong and what’s right, and he doesn’t bargain or cheat when those are involved. Especially when it comes to himself.”

I sit silently, willing him to keep talking while I gobble up even the tiniest offering.

Quinn’s eyes lock on the horizon.

“He’s so goddamn hard on himself. For so many things that were never his fault to begin with,” he says quietly before he meets my gaze. “I’m glad he’s found you.”

My insides are twisting and turning into a tornado. I have no idea what to say to that, but my mouth is way quicker than my brain.

“I don’t know how he feels,” I blurt. “Or if he feels anything at all for me.”

Quinn sends me a steady look. “I’ve known the guy for over twenty years. I’ve never once seen him look at anybody the way he looks at you.”

I drag my hand through my hair and let out a weak laugh while hope rages inside me. Hope I’m trying to put down as best as I can, but it’s like trying to fight a flood armed with a bucket.

“Okay. Yeah. That’s all great. Only he specifically told me I’m not supposed to fall in love with him. Which… you know. Oops. But it also means I can’t exactly tell him, because what the hell do you think he’d do? So, no. I’m just not going to tell him, and everything will remain as it is and that’s that.” I sound downright unhinged by the time I’m finished talking.

Quinn remains both annoyingly and reassuringly calm through my outburst.

“I didn’t make him work for me for breaking into the pool,” he says.

It should surprise me.

Somehow it doesn’t.

Not really.

I’m maybe a bit startled, but that’s all.

“You didn’t?” I ask.

Quinn shakes his head. “He’s been breaking in for years. I don’t think he knows I know, but…” He shrugs one shoulder. “He gets a free pass. He helped fund opening the place. He’s helped clean it on numerous occasions when I’ve been between employees. Last summer, he helped with the renovations. He’s given lessons, helped deal with all sorts of paperwork, and helps fundraise so we can keep the lessons free of charge for the parents.”

I have no idea what to say. Quinn’s version of Sutton seems to be a whole different person from Sutton’s version of Sutton, but somehow, it doesn’t catch me off guard. It might be because my version of Sutton is also the polar opposite of Sutton’s version of Sutton, and much closer to Quinn’s version of Sutton.

I guess one of the three of us is lying.

“He’s very good at it,” Quinn says. “Fundraising,” he adds in response to my confused expression. “It’s like a game to him. How much money can I get out of these people? The answer is a lot.”

---