Page 98 of Just One Moment
Disdaindrips fromJenna’svoice and from her slurred words, she’s drunk. “Hewas my concern for twelve years.Iknow him better than anyone.”
“Doyou?Ordid you take advantage of his kindness and trust, only to twist it against him?”Quinn’sarms vibrate at her sides.
Jennajusttsksand rolls her eyes. “He’sboring and useless.I’mdoing you a favor.Girlto girl, you think you’re happy now, but you’ll soon work out why everyone calls himGray.I’dcut him loose now ifIwere you.He’snot worth it.Itried to changehim for the better and all he did was bury his head in that stupid little jour?—”
“Be.Quiet.”Quinn’svoice is hushed, but ripples with warning.Shesteps forward, and despite their height difference,Jennais right to be unnerved. “Goback inside beforeIsay or do somethingI’llregret.”
HeatfloodsJenna’scheeks and she saves herself just as her heel falls in a crack in the patio stones.Shedoesn’t respond, just staresQuinndown for a beat before stomping away.
Buzzingsounds in my ears and panic swarms me asIwatch the tension leaveQuinn’smuscles.I’mhidden behind a row of bushes, but whenIstep out from my hiding place, the scuffing off my shoes catches her attention.
Herhand flies to her mouth when she sees me. “Howlong have you been standing there?”
Ishould be thankful she stood up for me.Iwant to trust she doesn’t believe the things she’s heard, butIthought the same aboutJenna.Thoughtwe wereitonce upon a time.
Sheloves me.
SodidJenna.
I’mnotGray.
Yes, you are.
Inone, five, ten years down the line, will she change her mind about me?
Whatif she quickly realizesI’mnot the man she thoughtIwas?
MaybetheBeaverMoonwasn’t about us preparing and transitioning into the next step in our relationship.Itwas about preparing myself for the loss of her and transitioning back to how it was before.
Beforesunlight broke through the gray skies.
“Areyou ready to leave?”Iask, ignoring her question.I’mnot sure how to even speak to her about this with so many doubts and worries spiraling in my head.Thisis my biggestfear.ThatQuinnwill see how different we are, andI’llbe discarded, unwanted by another womanItrusted.
Iwant so badly to get out of my head.Totrust the words we shared minutes ago.Togive her the wordsI’mstruggling to find.
ButIcan’t.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
quinn
Whycan’tthe people from our past let us be happy?
JustwhenIthought the storm following my mother’s visit had passed,Jennacomes rolling in.Readyto cause destruction.Disruptingthe peace.
Tremorsstill pulse in my hands following my encounter with the bride.She’slike a weed.Youthink you’ve eradicated the issue, yet they keep growing back.
Icouldn’t stand there and let her talk aboutGrahamthat way.Angerrose in me with each poisonous lie she spat.HadIsaid whatIwas really thinking, everything in me would have boiled over like a volcanic eruption.Asmuch asIdislike her,Iwasn’t about to turn into the angry girlfriend of the bride’s ex.
Shecan try, but she won’t ruin us.
Scrapingfrom behind the bushes has me spinning on my heels toward the noise.Whenmy eyes adjust to the darkness, my stomach drops andIclasp a hand over my mouth whenGrahamsteps out.
Hisface is void of emotion.
Pleasedon’t let him have heard the horrible things she said.
“Howlong have you been standing there?”Iwhisper.