Page 25 of Tin

“So it’s true?” Kirsten looks like her head is about to explode. Then her arms start flailing around dramatically, and I can’t help but wonder if she intends to use the force of the impending explosion to propel herself upward and become airborne. “You’ve been seeing someone behind my back this entire time? Damn it, Quinn! When will you ever learn?”

“I just told you,he’s a friend.” It never pays to meet Kirsten at the height of her anger, but it’s taking all I’ve got to remain calm when she’s basically accusing me of being the dumbest fucking girl alive.

“Stop. Just stop.” She’s holding up her hand for extra measure. “Carson called last night and told us everything. Said the two of you had just finished a really great dinner and were walking out to his carwhen your jealous boyfriend showed up out of the blue and attacked him! Did you know he broke his jaw? Carson spent the night in the ER thanks to your mistakes.”

My blood is quite literally boiling. I mean, I can’t be certain, so maybe literally isn’t as accurate as I’d like it to be, but my skin is burning up and I might scream, so if it’s not boiling, it’s something pretty damn close.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?Mymistakes? How aboutyourmistakes? And Nate’s mistakes?” It’s my turn to charge across the room and get in her face. “For starters, dinner sucked ass. Mostly because all he could do is talk about his damn self, which would have been fine if he had been even remotely interesting. Which he was not! Then I avoid dessert in hopes of ending the evening, only to wind up being mauled by him in the parking lot. Your precious Carson is one fucking date-rape away from a long-term prison sentence. Shit, it’s probably already happened and he just found a way to convince the girls that he was doing them a favor by assaulting them because it would boost their bad reputations. At least that’s the line he gave me. Be sure to thank your husband for that one, by the way. He told that asshole just enough of my business to get the completely wrong idea! Not that that would have made it any better. Even if Iwasthe biggest slut to ever walk the face of this earth, I still would not have slept with him!”

I don’t think I’ve inhaled since I started shouting because I’m lightheaded now. But I’m not done. “And as for Riker—yeah, it was him. He’s the one I was with last night. He’s the one I’ve been withevery nightsince Sophie’s birthday party, and he’s the one who stumbled upon Carson attacking me in the parking lot and put a stop to it. Because that’s just the kind of loser he is.”

“You’re lying.” But I can tell from her tone that she doesn’t think I am. She just needs me to be. Because otherwise I was attacked last night. Again. And this time she was the leading force behind it.

“I’m not.” The boil has subsided to a slow simmer, and now that I’ve said all there was to say, I’m wondering if it would have been better to just keep my mouth shut.

She shakes her head. “Carson is a decent guy. He comes from a good family. Nate knows him. They play golf together. I wouldn’t set my baby sister up with someone who could hurt her.”

“I know that, Kirsten.” I can’t be mad at her. She’s going to rip herself to shreds over this one for a long time and that’s the last thing I want. “I shouldn’t have said it was your mistake. I was just...pissed. Because for once it wasn’t mine either. Everything that went wrong was Carson’s doing. And if I was anyone else, I would have called the cops. I wouldn’t have put Riker in a position to have to handle it for me.”

She looks up at me, still cringing at the sound of his name. “Why him, Quinn? I know what he did last night was to save you...but Carson sent Nate pictures of his face. That man has a violent streak. What if he turns it on you one day?”

I close my eyes because hearing her say those words about the man who held me in his arms last night, showing me more care and kindness than any one person on this earth ever has, makes me hurt. An almost unbearable hurt.

“He won’t, Kirsten.” I exhale and feel the emotions trickle out with my shaky breath. “You don’t know him. The version you’ve seen...that’s not even him. That’s just his job. The clothes and the environment you associate with Jackson aren’t even attached to Riker outside of his work. And even if they were, that’s a pretty heavy stereotype to put on people. You really think every guy who works outdoors wears jeans, boots, and a backward baseball cap, then goes home and beats on their woman? You can’t possibly believe that. Any more than I think every guy who looks like Carson is a rapist. Because that would make Nate one too. And we both know nothing could be further from the truth.”

Gradually, Kirsten’s demeanor is changing. She’s not pissed anymore. But now I kind of wish she still was, because the agony creeping in and taking over isn’t any easier to bear. It’s harder.

“He’s not the one who makes me worry, Quinn.” She turns and walks over to my bed where she sinks down on the mattress. “You are. You’re sneaking around. Lying. Keeping him hidden. Why would you do that if you thought there wasn’t anything wrong with this relationship?”

I sit down beside her, feeling a lot calmer in spite of the fact that I’m now having to put into words something that was so much simpler in silence. “Because it’s not a relationship.” I watch and wait for her to get the point I’m trying to make. It takes a second, but the understanding starts to filter in.

“Oh.” She rolls her eyes at me. “Well, that’s charming.”

“Would you make up your damn mind? Shit, Kirsten. One minute it’s allhe’s not good enough for you. Don’t get involved with him, he’ll treat you like Jackson did. Stop falling for losers, Quinn.And then when I tell you, hey, no biggie, I’m not attached, not involved, and that there are no feelings to speak of, somehow that doesn’t work for you either.” I bump her shoulder with mine, trying my best to make her lighten up.

“So it’s just sex. That’s all?” Her left brow is cocked, displaying her skepticism.

“Well, really, really good sex. Kind of mind blowing, turn your world into a wonderland and teach you how to fly sort of sex. I wouldn’t haul my cookies a mile down the beach every night for ‘just sex.’”

Finally, the flat line taking the place of her mouth gives way to a small smile. “That’s something, I guess. I’d hate to think you were ‘just’ a whore. But no, you’re a whore with standards.”

“A girl’s gotta have those.” I nod. This is the closest we’ve been to beingusin a long time. I’ve missed it. I’ve missed her.

“Iguess I’ll let you get cleaned up.” She stands up and starts for the door. “I’m making waffles. With chocolate chips.”

I smile at her. She knows those are my favorite. “I’ll be up in a few.”

And then the door closes and she’s gone.

Feeling unusually well rested after a night of solid sleep, I’m not tempted by my comfy bed and manage to jump right to my feet to start getting ready for the day. I’m at my dresser about to dig around in it for something suitable to wear, when my door comes flying open again and my sister runs toward me, wrapping both arms tightly around me.

“I’m so sorry. So, so very sorry, Quinn.” Her voice is choked up and choppy from crying. “I was so busy worrying about you repeating the past that I completely missed the present.” She pulls back, placing her hands on the sides of my face. “Did he hurt you? Did he...do anything before Riker showed up?”

I shake my head before I can find the words. “Just kissed me. And over-the-clothes stuff. Nothing that will leave scars any uglier than the ones I’ve already got.”

She presses her lips to my forehead before she releases me. “Next time you see Riker, tell him I said thanks for looking out for my baby sister.” She’s at the door again. She wipes her eyes, preparing to face Nate and Sophie, who are probably sitting right at the end of the stairway in the living room. “And tell him that in the future it wouldn’t hurt to break more than a measly little jaw on a man like Carson.”

“I’ll be sure to mention it.” In a month or so, when we make the effort to have another conversation.

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