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After several hoursof riding in the hot sun, not only am I shot, but I'm also in desperate need of a shower. We tie up the jet skis and I head inside, and since Quinn still isn’t back yet, I’ll possibly catch a nap.
I must’ve knocked out harder than I thought, because the next thing I know, the sun is setting outside my windows. I walk sleepily into the main living area, where mostly everyone is congregating around the kitchen island. Grabbing a drink from the fridge, I gulp it down quickly.
“Hey, sleepyhead. The sun must’ve kicked your ass, huh?” my mom says as she continues to chop various vegetables for dinner.
“I guess so. I'm sure the early flight didn’t help either.”
“Is Quinn back yet?” I ask, no longer able to contain myself.
“Yeah, I saw her walking down to the water. You should go say hi,” Vanessa suggests.
Brayden leans over and whispers, “I’m pretty sure she’s alone. I saw that prick head back toward their room earlier.”
You don’t have to tell me twice.
I practically run out of the house and down the stairs, feeling the excitement thrumming through my veins as I walk toward the docks. I'm finally going to have alone time with my girl. The last time I held her in my arms was at the block party, and for me, three months is way too long to go without touching the person who completes you.
But when I approach the beach, the sight before me feels like a shot to the chest.
Luke is down on one knee, holding on to Quinn’s hand. Her back is to me, facing the picturesque sunset over the water, unaware of my presence. But Luke knows, and from the look at his cocky-as-fuck smirk, I know he’s loving the fact that I’m an eyewitness to this.
I'm stuck staring at the scene ahead of me for a few moments longer, gripping my heart to help ease the pain that’s lancing through it. This can’t be happening… I’m too late. I’ve lost her.
FUCK!
Dragging in a slow, shaky breath, I turn around and head inside, calling myself an Uber as I walk. I need to get the fuck out of here. Quinn, my fucking Queenie, is going to marry that douche! And all because I couldn’t tell her sooner how much I fucking love her. How much I need every single part of her… mind, body, and soul.
“Did you find her?” Vanessa asks when I'm back inside.
“Uh, yeah… they, umm… they were busy. Didn’t get to say hello. But actually, I just got a phone call from Roger. Some shit went down in Charlotte with some of the guys, and I—I gotta go,” I lie, hoping like hell they believe me.
“Aw, so soon?” my mom asks, concern etched on her face.
“Yeah, sorry, guys.” My brain feels foggy, like I’m having an out-of-body experience. I’m only functioning on instinct as I go through the motions.
“Sure thing, sweetheart,” Vanessa says, studying me.
“Love you all,” I say as I head down the hall to my room.
I hear footsteps behind me as I approach the bedroom door.
“Son, just wait a minute,” my dad says, closing the door behind us.
Spinning around to face him, I try my hardest not to let the anguish show. “Sorry to have to leave so soon and miss all the fun.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? You have your mom and I worried.”
“Yeah, I’ll be okay… I’ll call you in a few days.” He must realize I'm not going to explain any further, so he gives me a slight nod in understanding.
He wraps me in a big hug and messes with the hair on top of my head, just like he used to do when I was a kid.
“Love you, boy,” he says on his way out the door.
Grabbing the duffle off the floor, I look up, catching what I can only assume is a look of pity in his eyes. “Love you too.”
I finish packing as quickly as fucking possible, and I'm out the door within five minutes. Thankfully, my Uber is waiting for me by the time I hit the end of the driveway.
