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“You can have all of me, and as much as you want.” He returns my smile and reaches across the table for me. I place my hand in his and he squeezes. “Come on, let’s get out of here and go get naked.”
* * *
Lunch at Vino’s,my favorite pizza joint with my roommate and best friend is just what I need for a night out in downtown Los Angeles. While Quinn and I go out, we’re too fearful to be out in public anywhere aside from Santa Monica. Even though Quinn has made comments here and there about being a little more open with our relationship, I’m skeptical that everyone at World Tripping will feel the same welcoming way that Nicole seemed to when she caught us.
“So, now that you and the boss man have been dating for a few months, tell me more about him?” Steph leans in and asks.
“Well, he’s got a strange collection of a sorts, maybe not super strange, but he has a wall of cars. In his bedroom, like it’s a shrine to his childhood.”
“A what?”
“He collects Hot Wheels cars. You know, those little cars that kids play with?”
“Like a toy?” Steph looks confused. “Not like real cars, right?”
“No, then it wouldn’t be a wall, now would it?” I grin.
“Oh shut up. I never played with cars as a kid, I was a Polly Pocket and Barbie girly girl, all the way. So, he’s a grown man with a toy obsession. Is it getting in the way of your relationship?”
“Not at all, it was just the first thing that came to my mind. He’s generous, caring and well respected. I am really liking him but scared to death about what it could mean for work.”
“That just sounded like a dating profile. ‘I Like dogs, being nice, and people.’ What’s his family like? Does he have any weird body parts?”
“Weird body parts? Like an extra thumb or something, no.” I laugh.
“Looks like I’ll just need to corner him and grill him the next time he comes over, since you don’t know much about your man friend.” Steph laughs before taking a bite out of her pizza slice.
“I know things about him. For instance, today, he’s hanging out with his family at some birthday party.”
“Why didn’t you get invited?” she drops her slice and asks.
“We decided that it’s better for me to meet the parents when it’s a smaller thing, not some birthday thing.” I explain.
“Whose birthday is it?” she asks.
“No clue, I didn’t ask.”
“Interesting,” she nods.
“What?” I push.
“Nothing. How about we finish up here and go hit up a bookstore? There’s a few new releases that I wanted to dig into.”
* * *
I walkalong the dirt path, breathing in the fresh air and the sunlight. When I suggested the botanical gardens to Quinn when he first asked me about my favorite places, I wasn’t lying when I said that I feel as if I’m intruding on someone else’s paradise. When I come here, I don’t feel like I’m in LA. I feel as if I’m on a different planet or something, and it’s just me and a bunch of plants. I make my way to the gazebo, sit down, and pull out one of the books that I purchased when I went to the bookstore with Steph after lunch. Usually, I enjoy mornings here, but today’s late afternoon visit is just as good.
I’m not bothered by anyone the entirety that I’m here, however my thoughts do run rampant.
What do I know about Quinn, really?
We haven’t delved too deep into what makes up who we are. I don’t know anything about his life before coming to the magazine. I assume that his favorite color is green because he’s got a lot of green shirts that I’ve seen him wear, and accents scattered throughout his condo.
Does he have any talents other than in the bedroom?
What has made him so secretive? And why has it taken me a few months to figure out that I barely know my partner?
QUINLAN
