Page 85 of Fast Break
“What did they say?”
“Well, your dad said that was very kind and they will consider my invitation.”
“Oh. Well, I guess that’s better than an outright no.”
“It’s definitely better than that,” Amy agrees.
I sigh again. “Thank goodness for Gran,” I chuff. “I don’t think she had any idea the awkwardness she was stepping into.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dismiss Gran like that. She knows exactly what she’s doing,” Amy grins at me which makes me laugh.
Quinn runs a soothing hand down my back, and I sink into him a little more.
“Come upstairs?” he says in my ear. I just nod and he drops his hold to take my hand, and we walk up the stairs together.
He pulls me down onto his bed the minute we’re behind closed doors and I lay my head on his chest as he recommences stroking my back. His other hand is in my hair, and I want to purr again. He makes me feel so good, like all the weirdness is leeching out of me the longer I’m in his presence.
“Today was weird,” I mull.
“Yeah,” he agrees. “How was it before we ran into you?”
“It was actually good,” I tell him. “I feel like I was actually getting somewhere with my parents. I don’t know if that effort has all been for nothing now.”
“I’m sorry,” Quinn says quietly which makes something in my insides clench. I lean up to look at him, seeing the worry in his eyes.
“Never, ever apologise to me again,” I say, words more forceful than I intended. “My parents’ reaction is their problem. Not ours. And definitely not yours.”
“Okay,” he responds, mouth tugging up in a half smile. “My sweet defender.”
I bite down on my smile.
“I fucking adore you,” I tell him, right before I lean down to kiss him. He kisses me back, slow and leisurely, tongues invading each other’s mouths, both of us knowing this is going no further than a kiss. But there really is nothing like laying on a bed, just me and my boyfriend, making out on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
I could sure get used to this.
CHAPTER 31
quinn
JT’s parents are in my house. They’re here, making the most awkward small talk known to man but still, they’re here in a place where I didn’t think I’d ever see them. JT is nervous as hell and I’m doing my best to calm him down but truthfully, I’m bloody nervous too.
It's been three weeks since we ran into JT’s parents on the footpath in front of the restaurant. Not a word was spoken between my boyfriend and his parents about it until they shocked the hell out of him a few days ago by suggesting they would like to take up Mum’s offer of a lunch. Mum was so pleased that she immediately jumped into action, pulling this lunch together before anybody changed their mind.
Gran is here too, and I think her presence helps take the sting out of the proceedings because she is able to act all innocent and sweet and patch over the awkwardness in the room.
I’ve just met Benji and Abbie and they are beyond excited to be here which I think is kind of cute. Benji won’t stop talking and he’s so far managed to touch every single knickknack in the house much to his mother’s chagrin, but she needn’t panic. We are not the type of people to worry about that. Still, I think now’s a good opportunity to herd the abundance of energy outdoors.
“Hey, Benji,” I say. “Want to come outside and see JT’s basketball hoop?”
“You have a basketball hoop?” he asks, instantly setting down Mum’s antique china dog.
“It’s JT’s. Not mine,” I correct him. “I don’t have the first clue about basketball.”
“You gave JT a basketball hoop?” I hear behind me. I turn to see Penelope gazing at me, a curious expression on her face.
“Well, it’s second hand,” I clarify. “But yes, I got it for JT.” JT’s at my side then, a soft smile on his face before he steps in and ushers his younger siblings outside. I follow behind them and don’t even protest when Benji forces me to join their game. I am terrible at sports, always have been but JT only half laughs when he sees my attempts at bouncing the ball.
“Like this,” he tells me, snatching the ball from my grasp and doing some impressive manoeuvre before shooting an easy layup. I pretend to scowl at him.
