Page 41 of Scars Like Wings
“She’s the best singer of all time. I had to name my daughter after her. After all, Clarkson is gorgeous and talented, just like Kelly.”
I sat Clarkson on the ground, and she immediately took off around the property. Quinn laughed. “Looks like she has the zoomies. She was only locked up for, like, a couple hours.”
Clarkson raced around the barn twice before coming to a stop in front of me in full play position, giving me a chance to actually look at her. She had long floppy ears with curly chocolate hair just like her Mama, but hers had cute bows on each ear. Her muzzle was long, and her eyes were brown as well. She came up to mid-thigh for me when she was standing on her two back paws. Her collar was a bright lilac with another bow on it.
I don’t think I have loved another creature at first sight since Dinah chose me.
We let Clarkson do her business before the three of us made our way into the Barn. Inside, the decor screamed barndominium with its wooden rafters, industrial lighting, and farmhouse chic furniture and appliances. It was cozy, bright, and lovely, reminding me of shopping at Target and making me even more comfortable. The Barn, as Quinn introduced and her cousins called it, was a two-bedroom apartment on the property that Quinn’s parents had gifted her when she turned fifteen. It was large and luxurious, with a seventy-five-inch TV, owner’s suite with a spa-like ensuite, chef’s kitchen, and an outdoor area with seating, a fire pit, another freaking charcoal grill, and a hammock.
“Y’all sure do love your charcoal grills.”
“We’re from Austin, Texas. Gas grills are like a sin there. Besides, the food tastes better on a ‘coal grill. If I wanted to cook with gas, I would simply just cook inside. I will have to cook for you sometime for you to taste the difference.”
We took off our shoes at the door and plopped on the couch. Quinn stretched out with her long legs on the chaise and one arm across the back. I laid on the same couch facing the opposite direction with my feet resting next to Quinn. Her eyes glinted before she pulled me by my feet to let them rest in her lap. I squealed, but she just laughed at the noise. Seeing that we were comfortable, Clarkson jumped onto the couch and curled up on top of me, immediately falling asleep. My heart melted like butter in Georgia summer.
Quinn and I spent the rest of the night like that. She smoked a few more joints, opening the windows and turning on the ceiling fan with a smart device to make sure the smell didn’t linger too long, not that I minded the smell. I only drank the ice water she offered me, helping me sober up and be way less embarrassing.
We watched scary horror movies and nostalgic old rom-coms together, switching between them all night. During the movies, her hand would stay on my feet, kneading the bottom of them where I was sorest. She was so attentive, the perfect host. Quinn’s vibe and just her everything made me feel like I was watching my favorite movie.
Throughout the movies—never during the best parts—we would talk about everything and nothing at all. We asked each other questions about our favorite movies, foods, books, shows, and music. We talked about where we wanted to travel to most, celebrities we wanted to meet—shocker that Kelly Clarkson was her number one—things we wanted to do, and goals we had. The both of us even played Would You Rather, which devolved into stupid questions to make each other laugh even harder. Neitherof us mentioned sleep, nor did either of us let a yawn slip out. I think we were both scared to wake up and this to be just a forgotten dream.
New Year’s Day
The credits rolled forCrazy Stupid Loveon the TV as the daylight brightened the already-bright barn. The day had the smell, taste, look, feel, and potential of a Friday.
I sat up on the couch’s edge and stretched my arms above my head, releasing the tension all along my back. Clarkson had moved from my chest hours before to wedge herself between me and the couch. With me up now, she crawled into my lap and tried to lick my chin again. I played with her ears and kissed her wet dark brown nose instead.
Quinn stood up to stretch. She unplugged her phone from an end table and checked the time. “It’s eight-nineteen. Nat may still be knocked out, but she should be up soon to round the boys up. Do you want to shower and change? I’m sure we can find you some spare clothes to wear.”
“Actually, I have an overnight bag in my car with an outfit and everything else I need. If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready!” I laughed with a little shimmy that made Quinn snort. “I never leave on a night out without an overnight bag.”
“You sound like a girl with experience. What happened?”
I rolled my eyes at the memory. “Simone was driving me and Maisie somewhere, and she got us stuck in a ditch overnightin the middle of fuckingnowhere. We made the best of a shit situation, but we also learned that Simone cannot be trusted to drive and always bring an overnight bag.”
Quinn nodded her head in approval. Then she quickly typed out something on her phone. “I just texted the valet to bring your car around. It will probably be a while, though. So, go shower in my bathroom. I have plenty of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, whatever you need. When the valet arrives, I’ll bring your bag into the bedroom so you can get ready. What color is your bag?”
I shook my head. “No, I feel bad about using your bathroom and all of your stuff. I can wait, so you can shower first?—”
Suddenly, Quinn cut my words off with her lips. At first, it made me freeze with shock. Some part of me distantly registered Clarkson jumping down with a begrudging bark. I thawed when Quinn’s warm hand snaked around the back of my neck. Her fingers in my locs and pushing me to deepen the kiss set me aflame. This one wasn’t the soft, delicate kiss from the night before. This one was demanding. The only lightness was her tongue caressing my lips. I reached my tongue out to meet hers. Instantly, she made the kiss crushing, and my body wanted to be engulfed in her heat, to feel it all over my skin. Gods, she even tasted like fire, smoke, and ash. She was so fuckinghot. There was a growing not-so-small part of me beginning to crave this woman like I needed coffee to start my day. I needed more of her.
I needallof her.
Quinn took my bottom lip between her teeth, and I moaned at her bite. Just when I was about to go in and kiss her again, she pulled away, leaving me cold and panting andhungry.
Her face smoldered as she leaned her arms against the back of the couch, caging me. She was panting from the kiss as well. Her hazel eyes were dark like honey, and her smirk was all thedanger of a predator that caught its prey. Her stare locked me in place. Quinn’s voice was husky and did so many things to me. “I warned you about questioning me. Maybe you were too drunk to remember it, but I hope you will remember now. So, what’s the color of that bag?”
“B-Brown. It’s a brown w-weekender bag,” I stuttered, barely able to think.
“Good girl,” Quinn leaned off the couch, and I finally remembered what breathing was. “Now, go shower, sweetness.”
All I could do was nod as I got up from the couch, went into the ensuite, and turned on the shower. I closed the door and leaned against it.
What. In. The. Actual. Fuck.
This girl was going to make me lose my godsdamned mind.
Which made it even crazier that I loved the idea as much as I did.