“Morning,” Willow chirps, but Jax doesn’t say anything. After I’ve made myself a cup of much needed coffee, I walk back out to the dining room to find them whispering in hushed tones.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” Willow says, at the same time Jax says, “I saw Lachlan leave…this morning.”
“Oh, yeah, he spent the night.” I sit at the table with them and take a sip of my coffee.
“Well fucking aware,” Jax murmurs.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, confused.
“Nothing.” He shrugs, taking a sip of his coffee.
“No, tell me,” I push, not liking my brother’s attitude. This is the first guy I’ve allowed in my bed in years, and we didn’t even have sex!
“Fine, what I meant was…in the future, try to keep it down.” His nose scrunches up and his body visibly shivers. It takes me a second, but once I understand what he means, I flush with heat.
“Oh my God!”
“Hey! That’s exactly what you were screaming earlier,” Willow says with a giggle that has Jax hitting her with a hard glare. “Sorry, not funny?” She laughs some more.
“You don’t think maybe you guys are moving a little too fast?” Jax accuses. “You only met him like two weeks ago.”
“You are aware I’m a grown woman, right? I’ll be forty in a few months.”
“I just don’t want to see you rush into anything,” Jax says in his brotherly tone. “He’s young, Quinn.”
“I’m ten years younger than you,” Willow says with a frown.
“You’re supposed to be on my side,” Jax hisses, and I laugh.
“I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’ve thought a lot about this for the last couple weeks, since the day I met Lachlan and he asked me out, and I want to see where things go with him.” And then I add, “And I’m going to find a place for Kinsley and me.”
“What?” Jax glowers. “Why?”
“Because it’s time. We were only supposed to stay here until I got back on my feet. Thanks to the money I received from Rick’s death, even if my photography business wasn’t doing well, which it is, I can afford my own place.”
“We’ll miss you,” Willow says, “but we understand.” She pats my hand with hers and stands. “Come on, grouch,” she says to Jax, who is now pouting like a child.
“Are you guys coming to Kinsley’s soccer game?”
“Of course.” Jax huffs. “And since you’re taking her from us, I’m going to have to make more room in my calendar to see her.”
“You know I’m going to find a place close by. Don’t act like that,” I tell him. “I’m not taking Kinsley away from you. I’m giving you guys some privacy, while trying to finally become independent. Wherever we move won’t be far, and you know you can take her anytime.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, “I know you’re right, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Eleven
Lachlan
When I get to the soccer field, I locate Quinn right away, and then I notice, sitting with her are both her brothers and their significant others. And surrounding them are a shit ton of little girls running around. Unsure of how Quinn feels about public displays of affection, when I get over to them, I go straight for Kinsley, who is standing near them but kind of off to the side.
“You ready for your game?” I ask, kneeling down next to her.
“You came!” she exclaims, throwing her tiny arms around me. “I’m really nervous,” she admits softly, reminding me of her mother.
“That’s okay. It happens to the best of us,” I tell her. “But don’t worry, once you’re out there, the nerves will go away and you’ll kick ass.” I’m well aware I’ve just cursed, but I’m hoping it will distract her.
She lifts her head from my shoulder and backs up. “You owe me a dollar.”
“Damn it,” I say, reaching into my pocket.
“Now two!” She laughs, bouncing on the balls of her feet in anticipation. I hand her the two dollars, and she runs them over to her mom, her nerves gone for the moment. “Can you hold these, please?”
“Sure,” Quinn tells her daughter.
Everyone wishes Kinsley good luck and then she runs out onto the field.
“Hey,” I say, having a seat next to Quinn on the blanket.
“Hey,” she says back. When all the other adults around us go quiet, Quinn says, “What?” with an exasperated huff.
“You could at least introduce us to your friend,” Celeste says with a knowing smirk, as if she hasn’t met me several times when she’s come by the shop to visit her husband, and sometimes to even help out.
“Umm…what are you guys looking at? You already know Lachlan,” Quinn says, sounding annoyed.
“Well, yeah,” Willow says, “But not as your…” She looks over to me. “What exactly are you?” She quirks her head to the side, and I bust out laughing.