Page 45 of Scars Like Wings
He winked my way, and I rolled my eyes, making him chuckle.
“Well, the gang’s all here now! So, let’s get started,” Quinn announced, rubbing her hands together. Her demeanor became more commanding, and her voice deepened and projected in the room. She took on this sort of no-nonsense authority. It was a sight I was enjoying watching, and I could feel a stupid smile forming on my face as I watched her take control. “Big thing is going to be getting the floors as clean as possible. Cooper and Cole, you two start going around and waking people up and getting them out of here. You two will be far gentler about it than the rest of us. Cody, get your ass down here and grab the brooms, grabbers, dustpans, and trash bags. Nat, when he gets back, we’ll start collecting the big stuff and then sweeping.”
“Is there anything else you need done?” I asked as the boys ran off to do their assigned tasks, leaving me, Simone, Nat, and Quinn downstairs and Maisie to lean on the railing.
Quinn turned her hazel eyes onto me, and I knew I would do damn near anything she asked of me. There was a sparkle in them as she looked at me along with a bit of softness that felt aimed at me and only me. She directed, “No, sweets. We got this. We have done this so many times that we have it down to a science.”
Quinn noticed Simone then, hovering closer to me. “But you know what will be helpful? How about you and your friends go and get dressed and ready upstairs? Like I said, we’ll make quick work of this. So, if you girls are ready by the time we are done, we can go and eat sooner.”
“Oh, I don’t want to impose on your tradition or anything by inviting ourselves?—”
Quinn raised an eyebrow. “You aren’t inviting yourselves.I’minvitingyou. I already know that Cole invited Simone. And Maisie?—”
“She’smyinvite. Anyone who can put Cody in his place is someoneIwant on my side.” Nat smiled up at Maisie, and Maisie smiled back down at Nat.
“We want you there, sweets. I thought that was implied.” Quinn gave me that smolder again, and I felt my knees melt. She was making my vow impossible. “Now, go get dressed, you three. We are already going to be waiting on Natassa to be ready, after all—Ouch!”
Quinn rubbed the spot on her arm that Nat had punched while Nat shook her head. “Did you choose violence this morning? You keep coming for me for no reason.”
“Blame the shotsyoumade me take. Anyway, why don’t you show your friends to one of the guest bedrooms upstairs, babe?They can get ready there, and I will knock when we are good to go.”
“Cool! Thank you so much! I’m excited!” I declared. Simone started to leave the room when I called out, “Oh, Simone, Maisie, your bags are by the door. I’ll help?—”
I was about to follow Simone when Quinn grabbed my hand, sending that good electricity through my body. As she pulled me against her, her warmth washed over me, and the smell of oranges and mint flooded my nose. She laced our fingers together and looked down at me with those gorgeous eyes.
“Thank you for offering to help. That was sweet of you,” Quinn said.
“Of course, starlight! I couldn’t just leave you all down here working to clean up a party you didn’t even want while I go gossip. Thankyoufor inviting me and my friends out with you and your cousins. I appreciate the chance to spend more time with you.”
“Oh, I’m happy about this party now. It was fun. Like,reallyfun,” She winked. “Besides, I would hate for anything to get on that pretty little outfit of yours.”
Quinn bent down and gave me a quick kiss on my lips. I wanted more—more of her—but I fought to remember where we were and that her cousins were here and—didn’t Ijustvow to not fall for her? Wasn’t I supposed to be protecting my heart? Still, I think she had the same conflict of desire going on as she reluctantly pulled away and let go of my hands. I turned to leave and felt a slap on my ass. I turned back around to find Quinn with another devilish smirk on her cool, soft lips. When I held up my two fingers and acted like I was licking between them, Quinn’s laughter followed me all the way up the stairs to one of the guest bedrooms Quinn had pointed out on her tour.
My smile held for far longer than that.
As soon as Maisie, Simone, and I got into the room and closed the door shut, we all squealed like teenage girls.
“Ohmigods, ohmigods, ohmigods!” Simone screamed. “I can’t believe everything that happened tonight!”
“OMG, it was the best partyEVER!” I yelled with her.
“I have aridiculousamount of tea to spill,” Maisie said.
“Oooh, okay! Let’s get you two in the shower, and we will start spilling ASAP! Quinn said they are going to be fast downstairs. So, who’s showering first?” I asked.
“Oh, I showered already.” Simone’s smile was pure mischief. “But I am very curious about whyByrdis not only showered but dressed already.”
I gave her my own shit-eating grin.
“So, it’s just me that needs to shower? Well, that’s fair,” Maisie said with a playful shrug as her magic picked up her overnight bag and they both headed toward the bathroom. “I was thefilthiestof the three of us last night, I already know.”
Simone’s and my jaws dropped, but Simone was faster to recover than me. She grabbed her own overnight bag and ran into the bathroom, saying “See, I really wanted to know about Byrd’s night, but then you say things likethat! Get in the showernowand start talking, Maze!”
Maisie was still laughing when I picked up my jaw from the floor and entered the bathroom. The guest bathroom wasn’t as lavish as Quinn’s in the Barn, but it was still pretty posh and modern, with a huge separate tub and shower and beautiful black subway tiling throughout. Simone had already started setting up at the vanity, and Maisie had already warmed theshower. I hopped onto the counter to sit and listen, happy that there was more than enough room for me for once.
Maisie stretched her arms over her head. Then she confessed, “So, I obviously fucked Cody last night.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I saw you two just a little bit throughout the night. Well, by that I mean I saw Simone twice. But you, I only saw one time on the dance floor having a good little ol’ time.”