Quinn nodded. "That means a lot to me. Truly."
Ian flashed through her mind again, and Zoe closed her eyes, thinking again of everything he'd said to her. Everything he'd shown her.
"I think if you want to look for someone who will make you happier than Paul can, you should do it," Zoe urged. "I really do."
"I think I will. I'm just scared I'll never find anyone."
But what happens if you find them and let them go? Isn't that worse?
Zoe nodded. "I know what you mean."
She kissed the top of Quinn's head then let out a long sigh. "I think I'm in love with Ian," she said.
Quinn straightened up. "My Ian?"
"Um, yeah." Zoe nodded. "I was with him when you messaged him, which is how I…" She gestured around. "Don't worry. He didn't blow your cover."
"You and Ian." Quinn let out a low whistle. "Well, I guess there are stranger things. Have you guys—"
"You do not want to know the answer to that question."
Quinn laughed. "That's probably answer enough. But tell me, does he make you happy?"
Zoe considered. "More than anyone ever has before. He calls me on my bullshit, and he makes me laugh."
"Then, my dear, you have my blessing." Quinn kissed Zoe's forehead and stood from the couch.
Zoe stared down at her phone, wondering if she ought to call Ian and make things right immediately. Still, after leaving him on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, it sort of felt like giving him a call wouldn't cut the mustard on this one.
She'd have to do something to show him how sorry she was… and that she loved him.
She just had to think about what that something should be.
This was beginning to feel pathetic.
He'd called Zoe four times already, and obviously, she hadn't picked up.
Sitting back on the bed, he scrubbed his hand over his face and considered his options. He could, of course, call Quinn from the number she'd texted and let her know that Zoe would be coming. But after everything that had just happened, that felt like an even worse betrayal than the one he'd just committed.
Though, to be honest, after seeing her face, it was hard to think of having done anything worse to her than he'd done already.
She'd seemed so fragile, so breakable in that moment. Almost like she'd laid everything on the line for him, and he'd done… what? Assumed that she was strong enough to deal with his choices? Hadn't considered what he was actually doing to her?
He laid back and closed his eyes.
There was no way he could chase her down and apologize, and even if he could, he had no idea where this mysterious aunt lived. Which, of course, left him with one option—he had to kill some time until Zoe showed up tomorrow, her guns still blazing.
He flipped his phone in his hand then dialed the first number he thought of.
After a second ring, his mother's voice filled the line.
"Hello, stranger."
"You don't get to say that when you saw me yesterday," he said.
"Maybe you're right. I just feel like that big old house of yours is taunting me." She let out a wistful little sigh then said, "So, what's going on?"
"Nothing much," he hedged, wondering how much to tell her.