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“I’d lead with that, then the rest will follow. It’ll be fine. Y’all just need to work out the kinks.”
“Well, it’s real kinky right now, and not in a good way,” I said, my nose screwed up.
Mars chuckled. “That’s the spirit. She’s got jokes, guys! A very positive sign. Let’s get some sleep and first thing in the morning, you can go find him and profess your undying love. I’ll handle the bakery. But I need to get a few minutes of shut eye. Can I borrow a pillow?”
“Sure, Mars. I’ll even give you a blanket. Thanks.” I hugged him, hard and fierce. “You’re the best friend a girl could ask for.”
“That’s true,” he murmured. “Now go get me that pillow. I’m exhausted.”
24
Quinn
My cabin was deep in the woods, dark and quiet, giving me lots of time and space to think.
And brood.
Maybe Delaney was on to something there.
I was brooding.
Seeing her with Holden really pissed me off, if I was being one-hundred and ten percent honest. I didn’t want her to pick him. I didn’t want her to go to New York.
Tossing wood into the fireplace, I stoked the flames, watching as the red and orange sparks lit up and took hold. Then I poured myself a tall glass of whiskey and laid back on the couch, staring up at the knotty pine beams.
How did we get here?Twenty-four hours ago, everything had been good. Great, even. I wasn’t proposing, but I wasn’t ruling it out either, and that meant something.
Now I just wanted to punch something. Or someone.
Holden, to be specific.
Little weasel.
Rich, good-looking weasel, but a weasel nonetheless. I didn’t like the guy and I didn’t trust him. But clearly Delaney did and that was her prerogative.
Maybe she wanted New York.
My head spun and my heart squeezed hard. I didn’t want her to leave. Thinking about her packing up and moving back to the city had my gut clenching, a yawning black chasm opening in my chest. I felt empty and could see myself falling down into a deep, dark hole.
Way deeper than I’d fallen after Julia, and it had taken me months to recover from that. Probably more from a bruised ego than actual emotional fallout, but still.
This thing with Delaney felt different—bigger. Sure, I was angry, but beyond that, I was hurt. I’d trusted Delaney, but clearly, she hadn’t trusted me with her emotions, her dreams.
And that stung, worse than anything I’d felt in a long time.
Why hadn’t she trusted me with her heart?
I mulled that over until the whiskey was gone and the fire died out, eventually falling into a dreamless, restless sleep on the couch.
25
Delaney
True to his word, Mars was up at dawn handling the baking so I could track down Quinn. I’d slept zero minutes—again—giving me a nice, early start. Mars needed the van for deliveries, so I walked the two blocks to Quinn’s apartment. His bike was parked in the lot. Good, he was home.
Climbing the stairs, I knocked on his door and waited. Nothing. I didn’t hear footsteps or any noise at all. Maybe he was still asleep. I knocked again, this time louder. Still nothing. Damn, I’d thought for sure he was home. Before giving up, I called his cell, but it went straight to voicemail again. He was either sleeping or flat-out ignoring me.
How was I supposed to make up with a guy who wouldn’t even speak to me? Now what?
