Breath Of Life

He sighs. “Yeah, I do. Anything I can do to help?”

“No. But thanks for asking” His sincerity has me ready to sing like a canary. I force myself to remain calm. I refuse to endanger Rolly. It’s my turn to handle my shit.

“Are you sure this doesn’t have anything to do with us sleeping together?” The uncertainty in his voice sends me into action.

“Oh my God. No.” I jump out of bed and rush to him, wrapping my arm around his waist. I cling to the security he always provides as I place my ear against his chest. The steady thump of his heart calms me. I press my palm to his opposite pec and close my eyes, breathing him in. “It’s not you. Last night was amazing. I wish I could stay here all day and have a lazy Sunday with you guys.”

He kisses my crown. “You can always come back over.”

No, I can’t.

“Maybe. I get the feeling this problem is going to take some time and a lot of chocolate.”

“Is this something I should remember for you later?”

“Yes. When in doubt, bring chocolate.”

“Got it.”

He bends down and takes my lip. I suck his tongue into my mouth, savoring his flavor as I commit the way I feel to memory.

“I’ll make you breakfast to go. Go get dressed and come and say bye to Rolly?”

“Of course.” He gives me one last kiss and pats my ass before he leaves. In just a few hours my life has gone from a dream to a nightmare.

Chapter Eight

Ollie

I’ve never been a man in touch with his conscience. That bullet changed more than my health. I spent Sunday alone with Rolly after Quinn left. While I always love hanging with my kid, her behavior still felt off. It’s not like her to be closed off about anything, even if it was her sister’s story to tell. Her texts have been brief, and I don’t like the fact that she seems to be avoiding talking to me on the phone. If she’s freaked about last night, we need to deal with it immediately. The thought of her regretting some of the best sex of my life pisses me off and makes me sick to my stomach at the same time. It was an interesting combination to have during a full day of work. Today Allie’s days start with Rolly, so I’m biting the bullet and driving over to her place.

Three days is a long time for us to go without talking on the phone or meeting up for a quick lunch. Trepidation fills me as I steer the car through the familiar streets. The droplets of water splattering against the windshield seem appropriate for my mood. I pull into the parking lot of her apartment building. I’ve never been a coward, and I’m not about to start now because I’m caught up in my feels. I jog through the rain and up two flights of stairs. I thought about calling, but I know she’d only dissuade me from coming over. I knock on her door and shove my hands in her pocket.

“Who is it?”

I frown. She has a peephole. Why the hell is she asking me who it is?

“It’s me.”

“Ollie?” Her voice wavers.

“Quinn. Open this door right now, or I’m kicking it in.” Dark images haunt my mind. Had the gangster from the zoo come back and found her? The locks turn and the door swings open. She’s a sight with her frizzy hair, black sweat pants, and a faded T-shirt. There’s a bat at her side and dark circles under her eyes.

“Quinn?” I step inside and grab the bat. “Baby, what’s going on?”

She shakes her head.

I close the door.

“Lock it. Did you see anyone on your way up here?”

“What? No.”

She jogs to the window and peers out the closed blinds. “Sometimes I think I see them.”

‘See who?”

“I don’t know,” she whispers.