Page 46 of Temptation
“Or does she feel like she has to because she doesn't want to disappoint her grandmother?” Quinn sipped her tea. “I work with young adults, not kids, but the number of them I've talked off the proverbial ledge by telling them it's not their job to manage their parents' emotions is astronomical. The ones who listen to me are so happy when they finally say no to the extracurriculars their parents want them to do. The ones who don't almost always burn out within a semester.”
“I've never asked her that,” Chrissy admitted. “I’ve asked her if she’s sure she wants to do all of it, and she insists she does, so I don’t argue.”
“The other side of that is you're her mom; sometimes you have to decide what's best for her. Tell her to pick two she wants to continue, but she has to drop the rest. I'm willing to bet she won't argue, and it will tell you what she's really serious about.”
Chrissy smiled at her as she considered her advice. “Quill didn't say you were a mom.”
“I'm not; I just know what Quill would have wanted growing up and how much he did that he hated because he didn’t want to disappoint our dad. I had to push him to switch in our first year of university. He was the first student I talked off the ledge.”
“You know,” Chrissy looked her over with a small smile. “He talks about you a lot, and I’ve asked if I could meet you several times. He kept saying, “Soon,” or “We're not there yet.” I kind of thought he was ashamed of me or thought you wouldn’t approve of him dating a single mom.
“Nope” Quinn shook her head and smiled at her. “You make him happy, so I’m happy for him. He wasn't ready to share you, that's all.” Seeing the look of confusion on her face, she elaborated. “Ninety percent of the time, when we introduce our friends to each other, they go from being his friend or my friend to being our friends. Sometimes, we'll hold off on introducing people because we don't want to share. Our best friends married one another, and we all hang out together all the time. It’s nice to have that person who is just yours, you know?”
“Ah.” Chrissy nodded as she understood. “Will he be mad that I came here?”
“Nah. Well, maybe. Probably not though. I won't tell him if you don't want me to.” Quinn had no idea if Quill would be upset. She hoped not. Chrissy laughed at her indecision before it died in her throat.
“I don't know that it will matter. I think I hurt him when he dropped off the car.”
“Oh, you did, absolutely.” Quinn nodded. “I'd apologize, thank him for the tires, and maybe start calling him before you call your ex.”
“I wanted to call him first, but I didn't want to bother him unless I absolutely had to.” She looked down at her tea and sighed. “We aren’t actually together, and he’s so busy.”
“I bother him all the time.” Quinn scoffed and waved her hand. “He affectionately calls me Pest.”
“Going back to you're his sister with that one.” Chrissy shook her head. “What do you call him?”
“Porcupine.” Quinn smiled as Chrissy burst into giggles.
“Suits him.”
“He wants you to bother him. Trust me.” Chrissy's phone beeped, and she sighed.
“I have to go pick up Kaia. Thanks for the tea and the talk.”
“Anytime.” Quinn walked her to the door. “Thanks for joining me. It was nice to meet you finally.”
“You too. And thanks for talking me back from the ledge.”
Shutting the door behind Chrissy, Quinn wondered again if she had just overstepped, then shrugged. Quill would get over it. Knowing she was going to be late, she ran to the bedroom to get ready to meet Rilla and Bishop at the bowling alley. She pulled on a pair of medium-wash skinny jeans, a loose white button tank top that she tucked the front in, and a short-sleeve, cream-coloured kimono with hand-painted daisies growing from the bottom hem that hit her mid-thigh. Pulling her hair down from the French braid, she ran her fingers through it, loosening the waves and pulling it into a half ponytail that she held in place with an enamel daisy hair clasp that was held in place with a thick pin. Gold and moonstone flower earrings and a matching necklace went on next, and a quick make-up job and she ran out the door, texting Rilla that she was on her way.
Chapter Twenty-Three: Lucky Strike
Lucky Strike Fenway isn't just a bowling alley; it's an arcade and pool hall as well. The bowling alley and arcade are on the second floor, with sixteen bowling lanes, each with three long leather couches in a U-shape at the end. Quinn met Rilla and Bishop, who were playing pool on the first floor while they waited for her. She hugged them both hello, giggling when Bishop pretended to eat her neck. When they were done with their game, which Quinn subtly helped Rilla win by knocking balls in the pockets while she distracted Bishop, Rilla linked their arms as they climbed the stairs to the bowling alley.
“I got the last lane on the left side. And I also grabbed two poster stands from your office like you asked, so we can put them on display without traumatizing people.”
“Perfect.” Quinn squeezed the hand on her arm in thanks. “Tenn should be here soon; Quill said he'd be here after his meeting at five; Joel said it would be around seven; and I have no idea when Viki will get here, but Tenn said they were taking separate cars.”
“I'm so excited to see what's going to happen tonight!” Rilla grinned as they got their bowling shoes, and Quinn paid for the lane.
“I have four more joining us; can I pay for theirs as well?” Quinn asked the attendant.
“You only pay for the first four; the other three are free.” The attendant explained as he handed her a notepad. “Just write their names down here so I can make sure they're who they say they are when they get here.”
“Thanks!” Quinn wrote down the names and smiled at the attendant. “Have a great night.” She turned to Rilla and Bishop. “I think we need to get started by ordering food and getting drinks.”
“Oh, I'm gonna be so hungover at work tomorrow.” Rilla laughed. They both ordered a pink elephant, while Bishop got a Sam Adams Porch Rocker. Quinn ordered nachos with carne asada, Rilla ordered the Bavarian pretzels, and Bishop got a massive order of wings for them to share and snack on. Rilla grabbed the poster stands she and Bishop had put against the wall in their area and turned them around. The picture of her in the hospital hurt to look at. Quinn currently weighed one hundred and forty-two pounds at five foot five, which was the high end of healthy for her height and build; in the picture, she weighed eighty-six pounds. She was medicated and asleep, with a heart monitor next to her, electrodes on her chest, and a tube in her nose that they used to feed her. She was in a hospital gown; her hair was blonde and lank around her head. Rilla had “Love Starved” across the bottom.