Page 65 of Quake

“Yeah, Dad?”

“I love you, kiddo,” he tells me, and it fills my heart to the brim.I have the best dad.

“I love you too, Daddy-O. I’ll be there soon.”

***

“Okay,thatwas so not fair!” I shout at my dad, tossing a fry at his face. He catches it, popping it into his mouth as he chuckles beside me on the couch. Tiny watches us with rapt attention, hoping for a morsel to drop on the floor for him.

“Hey, last I checked, you didn’t mind watching the Divine Flyers play! Besides, I’ve seen how you stare at De Laurentiis’s ass the whole game.” My wide eyes meet his, and I’m full of surprise thathe not only noticed, but called me out on it. Though I shouldn’t be, he’s always been perceptive of every move I make.

“Dad,” I whine, covering my face with my hands. “Why’d you have to make it awkward?” I say, slouching back against the couch cushions.

He leans back beside me, his body vibrating with a laugh. “I’m just calling it like I see it. And ever since you passed out on my field? That surly man has been a hell of a lot happier when you’re on the sidelines. That’s for sure. I’m actually pretty certain I’ve never seen a genuine smile out of the guy until now.”

I roll my eyes at that. I’ve been watching the Divine Flyersgames since I was a kid. I wasn’t able to attend the games while away for school, of course, and since opening the clinic, it’s been nearly impossible. Though, I’ll admit that I’ve been making more of an effort to actually go these days, and yes, that’s largely because of Gianni, but I wouldn’t sayI’vehad any impact on him. “You’re seeing what you wanna see.” I scoff, mostly joking.

“Lark,” he says in a more serious tone that drags my attention to him. “That man is signing autographs and staying late, almost missing our buses after every away game just to make sure he gets to every single kid in the stands. Something’s changed for the better, and I wouldn’t be upset if it were you.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks.Gianni’s been staying behind to interact with his fans?

“Well,” I say, my eyes cast downward to my lap, where I’m picking at my cuticles. “I don’t think it’d be a bad thing either.”

When I look up to meet his eyes, he has a small smile spread across his face. “From what I know of that family, they’re good people, and I think Gianni’s a good person too. He seems to havea lot of demons he’s battling, but so did your mom, and she was the love of my life.”

A wave of sadness washes over us. I scoot closer to him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders, and he envelops me in a hug. “She was the best person I knew, but she didn’t know how to be better for herself. Everything she did was for us. I don’t say that to deter you, but just be careful, okay? I think you could be good for him, and maybe he could be the kind of man who puts you first, but if things don’t work out, I don’t want you to blame yourself if he does something—” He chokes out the last words. “If he does something to hurt himself.”

My heart sinks to my toes, even considering the possibility of that happening. He releases me from the vice grip he had on me. “I’ll be careful, Dad,” I promise him.

“I’m proud of you, my little bird.” He turns his attention back to the screen. “Maybe tonight’s anEncantonight instead?”

His words have the desired effect, and a laugh bubbles out of me.This man loves Encanto.“Sounds like a plan,” I tell him, pulling Rex into my lap and turning my attention to the TV.

Chapter thirty-six

Gianni

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Iget up from the couch, put my guitar back in its case, and slide it into the closet before heading to the kitchen for a glass of water.

I hear a light knock at my door that has my brows drawing together in confusion.

I put my glass down, wiping the water from my lips, and head to the door. I peer through the peephole, and standing outside my door in a cropped band tee and tiny jean shorts is Lark.

As I unlock the door and wrench it open, her face lights up when she sees me. “You free tonight?” she asks, sounding overly cheerful.

“Uh, I am,” I tell her, moving out of the way to let her in.

She looks around my apartment, taking it in quickly before meeting my eyes again. “Go get changed. I have a surprise for you,” she tells me.

I don’t particularly like surprises, but for this woman? I wouldn’t dare tell her that and risk ruining that gorgeous smile of hers.

“Okay?” I say, the word coming out like a question. I grab a black T-shirt and black jeans before heading to my bathroom to get changed. When I’m finished, I see Lark curled up on my couch with Pickles, looking right at home.This woman is going to be the death of me.

When she leaves, I’m afraid the crater-sized hole she’ll leave won’t be easily repaired.

She hears my footsteps and turns to look over at me, a smirk spreading across those cute, bowed lips of hers. She brings her fingers to her mouth, releasing a loud whistle. “Look at you, hot stuff.” She winks. Lark kisses the top of Pickles’s head and practically bounces off the couch and to the front door. “We’ve gotta grab Tiny, and then we can get going,” she tells me.

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