Page 12 of Lost the Handle

I shake my head, wiping away the evidence as I stand up. “No, I had a sneezing fit,” I say, moving past him. But he stopsme, snaking his arm around my waist. Our chests line up, his broader and hard against my small breasts. Heat explodes in my chest, my heart going wild as we lock eyes. This has happened so many times, and I can’t keep the tears at bay. One falls freely, happiness at being in a situation I crave hitting me tenfold.

He catches the tears, and with a stern look I’ve never seen on his face, he demands, “Try again.”

My bottom lip trembles, but then I flash him a wide grin. “I’m just so happy to be back with you.” His eyes darken, his brows pulling together, and my grin only widens. “My bestie.”

I tap his chest and move away, even though I’d rather get lost in his blue gaze. I know if I don’t get out of his proximity, I’ll disrespect his engagement seven ways to Sunday.

And I’m not to that stage of Operation Get Quinn Back.

Yet.

Chapter

Five

Quinn

Owen: Mom just told me something very interesting.

Owen: LOL. #QuinnIsScrewed

Shelli: Do tell.

Posey: Please do. I’m having a shit day.

Evan: Sorry your day sucks, P.

Evan: Please tell me he left Ava.

Owen: Nope. And there is only one way to say this.

Owen: Emery is back.

Fuck my life.

I rub my temples as I close the locker in the break room of the Tennessee Athlete Surgery Center, where I am currently doing my residency. I was lucky to be chosen by Dr. Abrams to work under him. It may have helped that I’m from hockey royalty and he’s worked on a lot of my family, but the main reason is probably because he is also my fiancée’s uncle. While, yes, I was top of my class, I know the only reason I got the residency is because of Ava. Which she so sweetly reminds me of whenever I chide her for how she acts. One would think since I’m a walking genius, I wouldn’t be in this position.

But it’s obvious I’m an idiot when it comes to my love life.

And boy, does my family love to rib me for it.

As I look down at my sibling group chat, I groan loudly.

Posey: No way!

Shelli: What! Aiden didn’t tell me!

Evan: Oh, this is going to be awesome. Ava is done for.

Shelli: Dingdong the witch is dead. The Wicked Witch!

Posey: Did Emery kidnap Quinn? What’s the ransom?

Owen: His heart and soul! Mwahahahaha.

Evan: Are we taking bets on how long he’ll stay engaged? I got a thousand on a week.

Posey: Please. Our baby brother has way more restraint and willpower. He’ll last a solid nine days.

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