Page 82 of Crossed

Fuck them.

“He’s perfect,” I reply, smiling. “Quin here took years before he’d come within five feet of anybody. Your boy must have great vibes.”

The mother’s shoulders visibly relax and she smiles. “This is Stefan’s first session here.”

I bob my head in understanding. “He’s in good hands, Mama.”

“Good hands, Mama.” Quinten jumps, his little fingers reaching out and gripping my palm. I grin down at him and pull him toward the door, stopping before we leave and doing the same routine we do every time we go outside. Hoodie first, then coat. Beanie on his head and finally covering his ears with light- up, noise- canceling headphones.

We walk out to the town car where Parker’s driver, who I’m pretty sure has been put under strict instruction to not evenlookat me, waits with an open door and a stern chin.

Quinten slides in, side- eyeing the man, and then looks at me with a grin. My stomach twists, knowing I need to explain to him that we’re moving. I thought I had time, but now that Parker wants us to move in before the wedding, I don’t. A few days at the most.

Soon, I decide, watching him scroll through his app, his headphones lighting up the interior of the car with a burst of rainbows.

I’ll tell him soon.

Chapter31

Amaya

“TO THE CHURCH, PLEASE,” I SAY TO THE DRIVER, pulling Quinten in behind me and shoving half a breakfast bagel into my mouth.

It’s the first day of rehearsal for the Festival of Fools play, and we’re rushing to make it on time.

“Are you excited for the play, Quin?”

He bounces in his seat, looking out the window, and I smile, relieved I’m doing something right. If not for myself, at least for him.

The car rolls down the streets and I peer out through the tinted glass, watching as people try to stare inside. I feel guilty we’re in here and they’re out there, and there’s nothing I can do.

If I keep things good with Parker, then maybe one day there will be. It’s what I’ve decided to tell myself to make my decision more bearable. If I’m married to the “king of Festivalé,” then I’ll have more power to do something.

We pull up to the front of Notre-Dame, and my nerves ramp up as the car slows to a stop. There’s a good chance I’m about to see Cade. After our talk in his office two days ago, I’ve been semi- successful in not thinking about him. At least not when it’s light outside. At night, I still watch and wait, disappointment sitting like a rock in my gut when he never shows.

The main square is decorated for the holidays, green wreaths and red bows everywhere like Christmas threw up on the town. Quinten’s practically vibrating next to me, his little fingers gripping mine as we get closer to the cathedral’s steps, the gargoyles judging me with their stony gaze.

They’ve always creeped me out, but Quinten runs straight to them, crouching down slightly and jumping into the air.

“Hi, gargoyles!” he greets, then turns to me. “Did you say hi to the gargoyles?”

I walk closer, smiling. “Hey, gargoyles.”

“Gargoyles are spiritual protectors,” he says. “They ward off demons and evil spirits. A gargoyle is carved with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building.”

I bob my head, wondering what he watched that taught him this script. It’s a superpower, really, the way he can hear something once and recite it word for word after. His brain is a wealth of knowledge, random facts and tidbits just waiting to come out. His mind is a vault, storing away every single fact and line and keeping them there for a rainy day.

He’s beaming right now, the tip of his nose as rosy as his cheeks, and I want to grab him in my arms and bottle up his emotion so I can feel it myself.

“Amaya.” Lydia, Quinten’s aide at school, smiles as she walks closer.

“Hey, Lydia.” I grin back. She wasn’t originally going to be at these, but I insisted, knowing she’s the only one who reallygetsQuinten and knows him in this setting even better than I do. “Thank you so much for doing this.”

She waves me off, walking straight up to Quinten and grabbing his hand. “Please, it’s my pleasure.” Her smile crinkles the corners of her eyes as she looks down at him. “Let’s go inside and see what it’s all about. What do you say, Quin?” He nods and they skip away together.

I frown when I realize they left me just standing here like the stone statues I’m next to. I had hoped that I’d get to be in there with him, but I guess it’s probably better that I’m not. Quinten has a tendency to get distracted by me and stick close instead of exploring. I just… I don’t know what to do while I wait.

My eyes flicker to the path in the back of the church leading to the cottage where Cade lives, but I quickly talk myself out of that idea.