Page 38 of Tempted Away

Who needs fucking blueberries.

I’m done here. Seeing Nathan blew the peace I was looking for out the water so there’s no use in staying here. Getting up, I throw a couple of bills onto the table. If it’s not enough, sue me. My brother can deal.

The cool air outside is a slap to the face, and I take a deep breath. There was a time when I could sit and listen to the sounds of nature for hours. Now I can’t stand quiet. At least most of the time.

It’s still early, and I’m feeling wired. I don’t want to go home. Once I walk through that door, there will be searching looks, silent recriminations, and questions I don’t want to fucking answer.

So instead, I turn left instead of right, the street taking me to a door that I don’t have to open. One that will open for me. A door that contains a warm body that I can sink into. One that won’t ask questions or say a word about the cognac on my breath and makes me forget who I used to be and who worships the person I’ve become.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

BAILEY

“OKAY, PEOPLE, listen up,” Hannah says, clapping her hands. “We have a few hours till the little savages descend. You all have your tasks. Let’s make every minute count.”

Grabbing as many bags as I can, I head to the spare room. It’s going to take a couple of trips to cart everything. I’m about halfway through hanging up outfits on the kids’ garment rack Hannah rented for the day when she pops her head in the room.

“How’s it going?”

“Good. When I’m done here, I’ll start on the other stuff,” I say, eying the shoes, crowns, wands, and foam swords scattered around the room. “How many kids did you say were coming?”

“Fifteen. Remind me again why I’m doing this?” She’s completely frazzled as she sinks down on the bed, running her hand through her hair.

“Because you love Violet and Iris, and you want to see them happy on their birthday.”

She nods. “I do. But it hit me last night. They won’t remember a damn thing about this party next year. I mean, who remembers much from when they were four years old? Is this stress really worth it?”

“True, they might not. But they’ll remember it tomorrow and even next week and next month. And tomorrow morning when you wake up, all this stress will be over, and you’ll have two very happy girls.”

She gets up and smacks a kiss on my cheek. “I knew I kept you around for a reason.”

“We’re a match made in heaven,” I chuckle. “I can’t live without your dip, and you can’t live without my pep talks.”

Hannah walks over to the shoes and starts lining them up. “Don’t forget to change into your outfit.”

“I’m still pissed that Rose got Princess Jasmin, and I’m stuck with Belle.”

She shrugs. “You sell books and Belle loves books.”

“Yeah, but Jasmin’s costume is so much cooler.”

“You’ll get over it,” she teases.

I shouldn’t complain. Being Belle means Quinn’s outfit is the Beast, and it fits in perfectly with his grumpy attitude lately.

“So, why do you have so many outfits here? There must be at least thirty.”

“Try forty,” she mumbles. “Kids can be ruthless. I didn’t want any Black Friday rumbles breaking out over an outfit. Have you heard from Quinn yet?”

I shake my head and busy myself hanging up a little prince costume. It’s so damn cute and tiny. I’m trying my best to keep my annoyance with him under wraps. We committed to helping Hannah and Aidan with Violet and Iris’ birthday party months ago, but once again, work trumps everything. He promised me he wouldn’t be long when he sprung it on me that he had to go in to work for a bit. I’m trying to stay positive and believe he’ll stick to his word, but it’s hard. I’ve steadily been losing faith in his word.

“Aidan said he wasn’t at the basketball game.”

My heart drops. Boys night. When he came home late. When his excuse was that he bumped into an old college friend. My hands tremble as I take in a deep breath. All these excuses. Is it really because he’s working late? Or is it something else? I banish that thought as quickly as it comes. It can’t be. Not Quinn.

“Work’s been kicking his ass lately.”

The silence is heavy with unasked questions, but like the good friend she is, she shrugs it off—for now. I know that later the questions will come.

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