"No, see, this is the look I'm talking about," Scottie said.
"There is no look," I said. "I just want to make sure she's safe. We don't know anything about this guy."
"Or we know everything about him. He went to our high school, man, he's a year younger than Quinn. And, it’s pretty obvious that he adores her and would do anything she said."
"Great. Now I feel better."
"No, sarcasm can't chase it away. I still see it there in your eyes," Scottie said. He jumped in front of me and pretended to flash a penlight in my eyes. "Yup. You've failed the first test. I better take you down to the station."
"What look are you talking about?" I batted him away.
"Love, man. That's how you look at someone when you're in love." He took an ominous sip of his drink. "I recognize it. And your symptoms are bad."
"Why on earth would I take love advice from you?"
"Have you ever known anyone else more hopelessly in love than me?"
"Hopeless is a good way to describe you," I said.
"Come on. How many times have you caught me making that same exact face at Alison? You've warned me of it every time," Scottie said. "We'll be sitting around, my eyes will drift and I'm telling you, man, they find her like she's magnetic. Just like you are with Quinn. This could be a crowd of hundreds and you'd still be staring like that."
I forced myself to turn around a smile at a knot of adoring fans. "There. I'm not staring. There's no look."
"Yeah, whatever. It’s still there. How about you give her five minutes to head back inside and I'll time how long it takes for you to find her again?" Scottie said. "'Cause I'm guessing it'll be seconds, not minutes."
"What's seconds, not minutes, or should I guess?" a voice surprised us.
"Alison," I said, kissing her cheek. "Glad you could make it."
"Did you invite her?" Scottie asked. He mimicked a knife entering his back and stumbled dramatically to and fro.
"Of course you'd forget who introduced you to Winton in the first place," Alison said. She crossed her arms and looked Scottie up and down. "Why are you hanging on Owen? No luck finding the girl of your dreams?"
"I did. Turns out she's a damn harpy. I'm hoping once the moon wanes I'll see her again," Scottie said.
"How about I leave you two lovebirds alone?" I asked. Scottie tried to jump in my path, but I moved around him and made it into the house before he could beg me to stop.
I told myself I was looking for Winton, but I stopped when I saw Quinn in the front room. She was talking to a knot of Winton's race game friends. They were trying to sell her on the superior skills needed for virtual racing. She laughed but let them show her some of their favorite moves.
I could not get a deep breath. I considered the back patio again. Scottie was waving his hands at Alison as she stood with her hands on her hips. I checked out the front door instead.
The problem was that I knew Scottie was right. There were hundreds of ways to cover it up, dress it up, or ignore it. Still, I knew the truth and I was yelling it over and over at myself. I loved Quinn. I had probably always loved her. All the reasons we should not be together dissolved against the wave of relief I felt when she was near. Without her, I was always seeking.
"You look like you're ready to embark on a quest," a soft voice said.
I turned and found a petite redhead smiling up at me. For one moment, it was easier to look away from Quinn.
"I thought Light Slayer would be different in person. I mean, I hoped you would not be, but I'm surprised. You look exactly the same. Same intensity, same sense of purpose. It's impressive," she said.
I knew the flattering was only a temporary balm. I knew that indulging in it was cowardly and would cost me. But I could not turn back and see Quinn having fun with another man.
"How about we get a drink?" I asked. I held out my arm. "I hear someone was making flaming drinks in the kitchen."
The redhead smiled. "Hmm, I hope you like it hot," she said.
She stood up on her tiptoes and whispered in my ear. I did not hear what she said, but it did not matter. I let my gaze wander over her slender, lithe body and I licked my lips.
When we turned to head towards the kitchen, Quinn was standing in the hallway. "I guess I was just coming to say goodbye," she said.