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Chapter Eleven

Quinn

“Alice!” I call as I step into the foyer and set my purse down on the little bench by the door. The scent of something delicious greets me and I sniff the air.

“Hey, we’re in here,” Alice calls from the living room and I kick off my heels before following her voice. She smiles at me from the piano as Brooklyn plays on her mini keyboard, smashing the keys more than playing and I laugh.

“I see the lessons are going well.”

Alice glances down at Brooklyn and nods. “I’m certain that she’s a musical prodigy.”

“Clearly.” I laugh, my gaze falling to Brooklyn, who has the corner of the keyboard in her mouth. “What’s that smell, by the way?”

“I’ve got Gram’s rib recipe in the crockpot and potatoes on the stove.”

My stomach growls and I let out an appreciative moan. “Oh, lord, that sounds so good.”

“Yeah, I woke up missing her this morning so I decided to do something in her memory.”

I smile but before I can answer her, my phone starts ringing in my purse and I whisper a curse. “Hold on. I gotta get that.”

Rushing back into the foyer, I grab my purse and dig my phone out of the side pocket, smiling when I glance down at the screen.

“Hey, you,” I answer, butterflies in my belly just from seeing his name.

“Hey, baby,” Lucas answers and his voice melts me on the spot. “What are y’all up to tonight?”

I spin and plop down on the bench next to the door before stretching my legs out in front of me. “Not much. Why?”

“Well, I have this problem…”

“Oh, yeah?” I ask. “What’s that?”

“I am just missing you like crazy.”

Giggling, I shake my head. “You’re so damn cheesy.”

“Should I stop?”

“No,” I answer as a blush creeps up my cheeks. “But I do have to point out that you just saw us last night when you brought dinner over, remember?”

“Oh, I remember, but I kind of thought that I’d do it again tonight.”

Glancing through the hallway to the dining room, I imagine all of us seated around the table and I can’t stop my smile. “Actually, how about I cook for you this time?”

“I think I could go for that. What time?”

“Mmm,” I hum. “Give me like twenty minutes. Okay?”

“Sounds good, babe. I’ll see you soon.”

We hang up and I set my phone down on the bench next to me as my cheeks ache from my smile. It’s been a few days since Lucas took Brooklyn and me over to Iris’s house for dinner and it feels like our relationship has changed somehow. I feel more settled, more secure in us and my feelings for him, and I know it’s time to tell him about my past. He needs to know the truth before we go any further but I have faith that I know him well enough to know that he’ll take it well. At least, I hope so…

“Quinn and Lucas sittin’ in a tree,” Alice sings and I glance up as she leans against the archway into the living room.

“You, shush.”

“Come on, Sis, admit it. You’re totally falling in love with this guy.”