Tags:
Fiction,
adventure,
Romance,
Fantasy,
Contemporary,
Paranormal,
France,
London,
teen,
best friend,
angel,
first love,
Mother & Daughter,
first kiss,
cancer,
sarcasm,
redemption,
sad,
play with me,
piper shelly
the next intersection. That would give us an excuse not
to show up.
We passed the intersection without incident.
Damn Quinn for being a safe driver.
I needed to come up with a strategy. Fast.
Before we arrived at the pub and there was no way for me to escape
confronting Charlene. When the uncomfortable buzz in my stomach
increased, I cleared my throat and gave Quinn a sweet smile.
His eyes darted back and forth between me
and the windshield. “What is it, Jona?”
I leveraged my best sad puppy look. “Is
there a chance you don’t know the way and we end up in the city
watching a film instead of meeting them?”
He laughed. “Shit, no. Abe would have my
arse for kidnapping you.”
Okay, that was a major fail. Plan B. “Do you
like me, Quinn?”
Head tilted, he placed his palm on my
forearm, squeezing slightly while he steered the car with one hand
for a moment. “Sure, I do.”
“Would you marry me?”
“ What?” The car jerked a bit, because
he jerked his hand back so fast it bumped against the steering
wheel.
“If you married me, no one could force me to
go back to this morally corrupt woman they call my mother.” I
lifted my chin. “I would be an independent adult then.” Sort
of.
“Oh, is that it?” A relaxed chuckle rocked
his chest while he steered the car around Kings Cross. “Well, I’m
afraid Bethany wouldn’t like that.”
I frowned, running my fingers up and down
the smooth seatbelt across my chest. “Who’s Bethany?”
“My girlfriend.”
“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.”
He beamed. “It’s a brand new thing.”
It was nice to see my only friend happy
about having a woman. But it was a shame that she spoiled my
brilliant plan B.
Lips pouted, I craved his attention
again.
His eyebrow arched. “What are you thinking
about now ?” The question sounded damn close to a
warning. Amazing thing, his intuition, when it came to me.
“You and Beth could adopt me.” Sickly sweet
innocence dripped from my voice.
Quinn waited a second before he covered my
hand with his. “You’re too old to be adopted, sweetie.”
“Yeah. And Bethany wouldn’t be happy with a
brat like me, would she?”
His fingers closed around mine. “I’ve never
seen you like that; you know this.”
My gaze dropped to our joined hands. “Yeah,
I know. Guess that’s why I like you so much. You’re the only one
who ever cared.”
This was the first time in years I’d had an
open conversation with anyone. Honesty usually stood locked
somewhere deep down in the dungeons of my heart. But with Quinn
being close like a brother, that door cracked open. If only a
little.
“Soon you’ll have an entire family to care
for you. And that boy seemed really worried today as well.”
“I don’t see what’s positive about living
with a dragon and her child-lover.”
Because he needed to shift gears, Quinn
withdrew his hand. “Oh, he’s not her lover.”
“How do you know?”
“I had a chat with him. Apparently, he’s
some sort of caretaker. Very nice guy.”
If Quinn said so, I had no reason not to
believe it. But the sudden rush of happiness I felt when he spoke
of the guy was a riddle to me.
“Don’t worry,” he added with a grin. “I only
told him good things about you.”
As if there was anything good to say about
me. That would include my name, and…yeah, that was about it. But
speaking of names. “Did he tell you his name?”
“Yes.”
I waited. Nothing. “And?”
Quinn smirked. “Are you interested in the
lad?”
I poked my elbow into his ribs, which made
him laugh out loud.
“Careful, kiddo. I’m driving.”
“I’m not interested in him ,” I
snapped. “I’d just like to know who I’ll have to deal with for the
next six weeks.”
“Ah, right. Must be exciting to meet
relatives in France. What’s your aunt’s name, anyway?”
“No idea. I’ve never met her. And who
cares?”
“Gotcha! I thought you would like to know anyone you’ll have to deal