Page 50 of Loving You

“How often does she come to town?” Quinn asks, reminding me that we are talking about my little sister and not about what Quinn does with her clothes when she takes them off.

“Not as often as we all wish she would.”

Quinn walks out of the bathroom, ready to go with a smile.

“Is this okay?”

She’s wearing white cotton shorts and a green tank top with thick straps.

I nod. “It’s perfect.”

I open the door for her and lead her in the opposite direction of Main Street. Of all the Ashers, Dad lives the farthest from main street, and even then, it’s still within walking distance for each of us.

“I’ve never been to your dad's house,” Quinn says.

“That’s pretty obvious.”

“I mean, I don’t think I even know where he lives.”

“What? But aren’t you basically a small-town local?” I tease, and she shoves me.

“Okay, I think you’ve made your point on that one. I was wrong. Just because I visit here as much as I do doesn’t make me a local.”

“Ah, she’s learning.”

“I am.”

Her admission makes me smile, and I don’t really know why.

Is it because she’s agreeing with me, or is it because the conversation between us flows easily when we aren’t fighting?

The screen door swings open as we reach the sidewalk in front of my father’s house.

“I was hoping you’d bring Quinn,” Sadie says.

“She’s here,” I say and follow both women inside.

Dad hugs me, and then he does the same to Quinn.

“Quinn Banks, it’s so good to see you again. Of all the places in Lovers, my kitchen on a Sunday morning wasn’t what I expected, but I am already a fan.”

“Thank you, Mr. Asher. I love that you all do this.”

“It is pretty cool, but I’m sure waking up to have a pastry in Europe or someplace exotic is more exciting.”

“To be fair,” Quinn says as we all move into the dining room where Luca and Hudson are sitting, “I think a family breakfast is more exotic than anything else in my life.”

She takes a seat next to Sadie, so I take the other. Bacon, eggs, toast, pancakes, a quiche Sadie made, and a couple of muffins from B’s are laid out in front of us. It seems like a bit much, but we all divide the leftovers and take them home to get us through most of the week.

Everyone dives in, dishing up their plates. My dad asks, “Does your family not do something similar?”

Quinn shakes her head as Luca passes her the quiche. “If you think I travel a lot, you should meet my parents. They taught me everything I know, and you already know Tobias is doing his own thing. I just … I don’t see my family as much as I should.”

Dad nods. I know he’s about to say more on the subject, but I also caught the way Quinn’s last sentence caught a little in her throat.

It makes me think of last night again, and for a reason I can’t explain, I get pissed off all over again.

If she doesn't see her family often and her so-called friends clearly suck, who does she spend time with?

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