Page 8 of Frequency of Attraction

“Not yet.” Quinn shrugged. “It’s a bigger leap of faith than I’m willing to take.”

Especially with all the loveless marriages in their family. And Hadrian, who gave his heart to any woman willing to give him a second glance. Not even Rosie and Tate, possibly the two sweetest people in the world, seemed to be on steady ground. No, relationships were too messy for someone like Quinn.

Rosie’s delicate features pinched into a frown, but she remained silent.

“Oh, excuse me. Photographer’s here.”

Quinn greeted the man bun-sporting photographer clad in head-to-toe black. She had contacted him when Elle had mentioned wanting to capture some memories for Chen. In addition, Quinn had asked for some website pickups.

“Quinn. Looking good.”

Quinn surveyed the small section of the hangar that had been transformed into party central. “Oui. They did a good job here. Who knew streamers could look classy?”

He snorted. “Yeah. Streamers.”

Her eyebrows flicked together. “So, as nice as they look, can you try to gets shots without décor in the background? I need some images of company culture. Feel free to wander the whole hangar. I gave the staff a heads-up you’d be around.”

Chen and Elle arrived a few minutes later. Chen paused at the open entrance of the hangar, hand clasped with Elle’s. His face suffused with awe, with obvious love, when he registered what Elle had arranged for him. His expression tugged at Quinn’s belly button. So did Elle’s.

She cornered her new friend the second she was alone. Turned out she instantly recognized what a girlfriend would need when sad: A damn hug. She wrapped her arms around the tall, slender woman. “I’m sorry this is happening to you.”

Elle sniffed. “He’s getting his dream. An engineering spot in space. I’m holding on to that.”

“You’re a good person, Elle.”

“I’m afraid for tomorrow,” she whispered.

Quinn let go so she could see Elle’s face. “When he leaves?”

She shook her head. “After he leaves. Everything after.”

“Let me know if you need anything. I’m not far.”

“Thanks, Quinn.”

Quinn sighed as Elle walked away. Just a few weeks ago, Elle had been gushing about Chen while she and Quinn were getting their nails done. What had she said?If a handsome, pushy stranger ever happens to drop into your life, I highly recommend giving in.

Quinn had felt something roar to life with Vadim, a handsome stranger. But she didn’t see an upside to giving in.

6

Packing for a cross-world move should have been a chore. Not for Vadim. All he owned were clothes. Too many clothes. He held onto sharp memories of wearing the same outfit for a week or more as a kid after his dad had walked. When he arrived in Toulouse for college with tuition secured, he’d blown the rest of his savings on the things he’d never been able to have. That had stopped. He’d grown up. Now he funneled most of his excess income to his mother and sister.

Everything else in his flat was included or disposable. His only extravagant purchase had been cookware, and he’d donated that days ago.

He gave the place one last look. The flat hardly looked any different than the day he’d moved in four years ago. The apartment had never felt like his. Nothing felt like his after Star City. He hadn’t pictured a future outside of being a cosmonaut. After that, he’d given a year to bad decisions before Dante had interviewed him for the pilot position for his football club.

He flicked off the lights, flung his bag over his shoulder, and did not look back.

He met Dante at a hotel bar near the airport. With his fitted suit and streak of white in his black hair, the seventy-year-old billionaire looked like he belonged on the wrong side inTheSopranos.

“Mijo.” He embraced Vadim tightly. My boy. The only term of endearment he’d ever been given. “I cannot believe you are leaving us for the Americans.”

“Yeah, you can.”

Dante unbuttoned his jacket and sat down, waving over a waiter with an impatient gesture. Vadim took a seat across from him at the tiny table. “You’re right. I can. I know your dream.” He paused to order rapidly in Spanish before dismissing the waiter just as quickly. “I suppose I’m just sad your dream hasn’t changed.”

Dreams didn’t change when you’d cherished them your entire life.

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