Page 37 of Whatever It Takes

I nodded my head. “After my meeting with the attorney, I have an appointment with the branch manager at Citizens Bank later in the afternoon. I need to get whatever money we have in one place.”

It’s been weeks since he’s been on the run, and the bills were still coming in. The part-time job would help, but I needed to come up with a plan B.

The front door slammed shut and nervous energy started to fill me up. Would it always be like this whenever he was near? Yes, I reminded myself, because it had always been like this.

“Mommy!” Emery’s sweet voice squealed. She rushed into my arms and held on tight.

Quinn stepped into the room with a black duffel bag around his shoulders and a rolling suitcase behind him. “Thanks for staying with her,” he said, setting his belongings off to the side.

Erica smirked and glanced in my direction. “Someone needed to make sure she took a shower. She cleans up pretty well don’t you think, Quinn?”

I shuffled on my feet, trying to avoid the intensity of his stare. I put more effort into my appearance than I normally did on a Saturday afternoon. I had on a pair of dark washed skinny jeans and a black cashmere sweater that hung off my shoulders. My hair was in loose waves, and I finally got to break out my new Urban Decay makeup palette.

“You look pretty, Mommy.”

I brushed a hand through Emery’s hair. “Thank you, baby.”

Quinn closed the distance between us and reached for my pinky that was dangling at the side. “Very pretty indeed.”

I swallowed. Whatever doubts I voiced to my friends earlier went out the window.

One touch. One glance. And I was done.

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