Page 47 of Loving You

“Not all of them.”

“Jesus, Quinn, I might have my opinions when it comes to you, but I’d never think for one second that I know what’s better for you. What a fucking prick.”

I grin at that.

“I can’t believe you stood up for me back there.” I shove his arm. He trips off the sidewalk and then steps back on. “Thank you.”

“Well, there’s only room for one guy in this town to be a dick to you, and I call dibs.”

I roll my eyes, and that makes him laugh.

“But seriously, Quinn. Why do you hang out with people who talk to you that way?”

I hold a finger up.

“Technically, I hang out with Andy. She’s sweet. She just so happens to hang around people I don’t care for. And you’ve done your fair share of unkindness toward me.”

He nods as if he gets it.

“I can admit when I’ve been wrong, but I also think you left out a few key pieces of your split with Danny from me.”

I sigh. “It wasn’t much, and I didn’t think it mattered. He said I’d regret not taking a chance on him and I wouldn’t figure it out until I was alone on a beach somewhere and it would be too late.”

“So basically, he’s an insecure jackass who doesn’t deserve you anyway.”

“Something like that.” I don’t look up at him because I know those last three words didn’t hold as much positivity as the others.

What Danny said to me was wrong, yes, but it doesn’t mean he was completely wrong. I do pick myself over everything else. It’s how I got to where I am today. It’s how I built my career and my image.

And that doesn’t make it wrong.

I just … I don’t know.

Something feels off with me. It helps that I’m working in the office. I like being needed.

No one ever usually needs me for anything.

We reach the shop and both head in the direction of the apartment.

“Well, get some rest, Quinn. It looks like we have an eventful summer on our hands.”

I wrinkle my nose as I make a yikes smile. “Yeah, I wasn’t expecting to be invited to that many places. I truly did think people would hear we are together, and the rumor mill would do the rest so we wouldn’t have to make a show of it.”

I unlock the sliding door.

Miles is right behind me.

“Well, you see, that’s the thing about small towns. Your business is everyone's business, and lucky for you, my family is well known around here.”

“Yes, lucky for me.”

He grins and then backs up, pointing a finger at me.

“Just remember, this was all your idea.”

“I didn’t see you trying very hard to change my mind,” I call out as he heads for his house.

He lifts a hand into the air to let me know he heard me, but he doesn’t reply.

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