I didn’t think it was possible to have better sex that we did the first time, but I feel confident to say we just topped it. Reaching for the water bottle on the nightstand, I take a drink and grab the sheet, pulling it up over us. We’re both hot and sweaty now, but with the ceiling fan going on high, we’ll cool off fast and I don’t want Quinn to get a chill. She’s still fighting a cold and has to be worn out after the marathon sex we just had.
I know I am.
“That was more than thirty minutes,” she says once she catches her breath and moves onto her side. I wrap her in my arms.
“I’m not sorry about that.”
“You’ve set a high standard for yourself,” she says with a coy smile.
“I always aim to please, babe.”
Quinn laughs and runs her fingers through my hair. “You did. Multiple times.”
“Once is never enough. You’re so fucking sexy when you come.”
She smiles, and a little dimple forms on her cheek. I didn’t know it was possible for someone to be as hot and sexy as she is while at the same time being fucking adorable. They’re opposite qualities and yet Quinn exhibits them both at the same time.
“And you’re sexy when you make me come.”
I kiss the side of her neck and feel my heart start to slow. We got dinner from a food truck, and Quinn introduced me to a Chicago-style hot dog. We sat along the lake as we ate, talking and laughing, and finished the date with a ride on the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier.
Everything was perfect.
“I don’t want you to go,” Quinn says softly.
“I don’t want to go either.”
“I’ve never been in a long-distance relationship before,” she tells me, tracing a line of muscle on my chest with her fingertips.
“I haven’t either. And I feel like I should tell you I’ve only had one long-term relationship before.”
“Really?” She doesn’t try to hide her shock. “Why? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad it’s my bed you’re in right now, but you’re a total catch, Dr. Jones.”
“I never found that right person, I guess,” I say, holding back the words that want to come up. She wants to take things slow. Telling her I’ve never been able to date anyone because I’ve been in love with her is the opposite of slow, right?
I’m not good with this stuff.
“And I guess I could say the same.”
I push myself up on my elbow, tucking her hair behind her ear. This is my in, the perfect timing to tell her the fate of the universe was holding out on us all this time because together is where we’re meant to be.
But then her phone rings and Quinn’s face pales when she sees the name on the caller ID.
“Dean,” we both say together, feeling like we got caught red-handed.
“He never calls me,” she mumbles, sitting up. The blankets fall off her breasts, and even though I was up close and personal with every inch of her mere minutes ago, the sight of her naked causes my dick to jump and my heart to race. “I’m not going to answer.”
“See what he wants,” I rush out, conflicted myself about not answering and being curious about what he has to say. “He’s not going to yell at you, Quinn. Not yet at least.”
She makes a face and answers the phone. “Hello?” She pauses. “Oh, hey, Kara. Really? That’s exciting. Yeah, my work email is fine. It’s the one I check most often anyway. Next weekend?” She looks at me, nodding along to whatever Kara is saying. “I was thinking of coming into town anyway. Would Thursday night work instead? I’ll be in Thursday night and Friday morning instead this time.” Another long pause. “Great, see you then.”
Quinn hangs up and tosses the phone on the bed. She falls back onto the pillows and reaches for me.
“What was that about?”
“Kara said she wants to look at bridesmaid dresses and was wondering if I’m coming into town next weekend. At least we have a cover.”
I pull her into an embrace, resting my hand on top of her slender abdomen. She told me she thinks she’s started to look bloated, but I can’t tell the difference yet. I close my eyes, hearing our baby’s strong heartbeat echo in my head.
“It’s going to be okay,” I promise. “We’ll get through it together.”
“Dude. What the hell is wrong with you?” Sam turns away from the TV, eyeing me as he waits for an answer. It’s Thursday afternoon, and I’m packed and ready to drive north to Eastwood. I promised Quinn everything would be okay, and I really believe it will, but damn I’m starting to get nervous.
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t bullshit me. You know what I’m talking about. You disappeared for a few days last week and you’re going away again. Not that I care, and I only hope you’re getting laid, but this isn’t you, man.”
I look at Sam, let out a breath, and lean against the wall. Sam and I got paired together during surgery enough back when we were new residents to become friends. We roomed together more out of convenience since neither of us planned to stay here long-term and we both wanted to pay off our student loans as fast as possible, but we’ve become good friends over the years and knowing we have to part ways soon sucks.
“You know how you told me to fuck Quinn out of my system?”
“Are you finally taking my advice?”
I shake my head. “I already did.”
“No shit! When?”
“Remember that conference I went to? It was in Chicago. Quinn lives in Chicago.”
“Right, you mentioned that. But that was weeks ago. Don’t tell me my method didn’t work. It’s foolproof.”
“I’m not even going to get into that right now.”
“I was right, wasn’t I?” he goes on. “You found out she was a dirty whore or something. I told you, you had her on a pedestal.”
Sam is, well, Sam, and he’s always crude. He plays the hot-shot doctor more often than he doesn’t, and thinking of Quinn hiding a giggle when she meets him and flashing me a telling look helps to calm me down.
“Don’t talk about her like that,” I snap.
“Then what the hell is wrong?”
“She’s pregnant.”
Sam stares at me for a good ten seconds. “And you’re the…”
“Yep.”
Sam blinks, leaning back on the couch. “Fuck. Did she just tell you?”
I shake my head. “I’ve known for a while.”
“So those trips you took ‘for interviews’ were bullshit.”
“The last one was. I’ve been seeing her. We’re together now and are telling her family tonight.”
“Isn’t her brother your friend?”
“Yeah.”
Sam laughs. “Good luck.”
“Fuck you.”
He grabs his beer from the coffee table. “When you’ve been beat to shit and go in for surgery, ask for me.”
“You think you’re so fucking funny.”
“I know I am.” He takes a long swig of beer. “Fuck. Just—fuck. She’s keeping it?”
“Yeah. We both want it. Her brothers, and her dad, and probably her mom, are going to hate me, but yeah, I definitely want it. And I want her.”
Sam looks away from the TV, turning around to face me. “You really love this chick, don’t you?”
“I have for years,” I admit out loud for the first time.
“Then go get her. Start your family.”
There are only two places to stay when visiting Eastwood if you don’t have a friend or family member to crash with. One is the Whippoorwill Bed and Breakfast, and the nicer of the two options. It’s where I stayed weeks ago, the first time I came back to Eastwood in years. And it might be where I’m staying tonight, based on how the situation goes when Quinn and I break the news to her parents.
Currently, I’m parked on the street downtown, waiting for Quinn. No one knows I’m coming into town with her, and she thought it was best to arrive together. She’s getting panicked about this, and as much as I’m
trying to tell her—and myself—that it’s really not that big of a deal, her anxiety is getting to me.
Not because I’m worried what will happen to my friendship with Dean. I already know he’s not going to react well. It’ll hurt to lose him. Hell, it’ll hurt to lose Owen and Logan, but it’s not me I’m worried about.
I can handle it.
But Quinn…it’ll kill her to have her family upset at her. And she really needs them right now. Quinn is a family-oriented person, and even though she hasn’t said anything to me, I know how upset she is to not be going through this pregnancy with her mother.