Page 62 of The Truths We Seek

Yeah, that doesn’t sound so bad at all.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

QUINN

It’s been weeks since Tommy’s funeral and I still wake up every day missing him. But the sun shining through my window this morning makes it seem a little less intense. The guys and Shae have been amazing, giving me space to grieve, but also being there for me whenever I need them.

I’m starting to really realize that Tommy wasn’t the only person in my life that truly cared for me, and he gave me a whole new family of people that he loved. Reminding myself of that each morning is helping relieve the pressure on my chest.

A yawn takes over me as I stretch out in Meyer’s bed, enjoying the cozy feeling of being snuggled beneath the duvet. The sun might be shining but it’s cold enough that jeans and sweaters make up all that I wear currently.

That and fuzzy socks.

Hunter has taken to gifting me a new pair each morning and it’s almost the highlight of my day seeing what weird and wacky wonders he’s found. I have no idea when he’s finding the time to hunt for them, but so far we’ve had typical patterned and different colors, then moved on to Grinch knee highs, Nightmare Before Christmas ones, Oogie Boogie ones that glow in the dark, and so many more. How he knew about my weakness for those movies is beyond me—I don’t think Tommy even knew about them—but I’m not about to talk him out of it.

They’re just socks, but to me, right now, they’re everything.

I take in a deep breath and hold it for four seconds before pushing it out slowly, repeating the motion a few times before throwing the duvet off and climbing from bed. Padding over the plush carpet to the bathroom, I quickly shower to wake myself up before throwing on some workout gear and heading to the kitchen.

Carlos is dancing around the kitchen, singing in Spanish, and I can’t help the small smile that graces my lips as I watch him.

Tommy really did give me so much. And while guilt still gnaws at my insides that I took all this from him... that Trent took this from him... I am so grateful that Tommy found me, that he loved me, and that he gave me these people.

I clear my throat to make myself known and Carlos spins, but when he sees me, he doesn’t stop his morning dance show. Instead, he cha chas over to me, takes my hand, and pulls me along with him, dancing with me around the kitchen while he croons.

Laughter spills from me as he spins me around, because I have no idea what I’m doing, but this is fun and I’m so tired of being so sad.

The song ends and Carlos pulls me to a stop before taking a step back and kissing the top of my hand. “Thank you, belleza, for dancing with me this morning. Would you like an omelet?”

“Be still my beating heart. A dance and breakfast? You spoil me, kind sir.” The warmth in his eyes at my teasing response warms my heart.

“A beautiful woman should not be so sad... or so small. You have not been eating. I am not a man if I cannot make you smile or feed you.”

I press my lips together as tears prick my eyes. “Thank you, Carlos.”

“No need to thank me, Belleza. Now, would you like an omelet?”

Shaking my head, I refuse the offer. “Thank you, but I was going to grab a protein smoothie and work out for a bit. Maybe after?”

He quirks a brow at me. “Work out? I’m going to have words with Meyer. Pfft. Work out. I will make you the smoothie, but at lunch, you are going to eat.”

“Yes sir,” I mock, teasingly saluting him. He rolls his eyes and grumbles in Spanish, and just like that, normality is back. I could have made the smoothie myself, but somehow I feel like that would’ve offended him even more.

Instead, I pull my phone from my pocket while I wait and throw together a playlist. I haven’t made a new one in forever, but thanks to Shae, Yen, and Tina, I’ve found a ton of new music the last few weeks and some of it just slaps. Plus, the new function I discovered on the app where it gives me a new playlist of music it thinks I’ll like every week is freaking genius. Whoever thought that up deserves a raise.

“Smoothie. All the calories.” Carlos hands me the Hocus Pocus tumbler and a bark of laughter falls from my lips.

“Where on Earth did this come from?” I ask, already having an idea.

“Hunter, of course. You think I would buy this monstrosity?”

“Never in a million years, Carlos. Never in a million years. Thank you for my smoothie. And all the calories,” I say with a wink, taking a sip while he watches me with his eagle eye.

No banana.

Gods, Carlos is awesome when he wants to be.

“Tastes like Heaven,” I tell him as I move to leave and he laughs.

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