Page 33 of Against the Clock

Me: Try not to obsess over it.The weekend will officially be here before you know it.

Quinn: I wanted to talk to you about that.

Me: The weekend?

Quinn: Yes.I don’t want you to feel like you have to babysit me tonight while Rosie is at my mom’s house.I can find something to do so I’m not in your hair.

Me: I don’t have plans, and you’re not in my hair.

Quinn: I don’t want to impose.

Me: Stop.

Quinn: .......

Me: Whatever you’re typing—just delete it.

Me: I need to get back to work but think about what you want for dinner, and I’ll pick up something on my way home.

Quinn: You’re so bossy.

Me: You like it.

Quinn: ......

Quinn: ......

Quinn: ......

I felt my insides flip as I waited for her to decide on whatever she was going to send.The dots would appear and then disappear for a few minutes before she finally pressed send.

Quinn: I’ll check in with you at 4:30.Have a good day.

Me: You too.

I slid my phone to the side and tried to force myself to focus on work and not the endless thoughts on what Quinn might have been saying before she chickened out.Did she like that I was bossy?Was it off-putting to her?At the end of the day, we would be having our first dinner together by ourselves, and that felt like it meant more than it should.

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