Page 74 of Quinton's Quest

“Sure.”

“And tell her about the fucking concussion. Unless she’s completely unaware of your schedule and everything that goes on in Mission City, there’s a good chance she’ll find out. Think of how hurt she’ll be.”Just like Mama would be hurt if you weren’t brutally honest with her.Did that mean I should tell her about Leo? That answer didn’t come nearly as swiftly as responses to other questions I’d asked myself recently. “You’ll be okay?” I zipped up my coat, but I was totally prepared to take it back off. Finn’s cabin had two bedrooms—staying here wasn’t outside the realm of possibility. I had a spare set of scrubs in my—

“Go, Quinton. Thanks for checking up on me. Go now, though.”

“Yeah, okay.” I hesitated for a fraction of a second before opening my arms.

Finn stepped into the embrace. I had to stretch because he was so tall.

“If you ever need anything, okay?”

He pulled back to gaze into my eyes. “I’m really fine. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

And yet, if he knew what was going on, he’d just done that exact thing. I tapped his nose. “I won’t say to be good—”

“Because I won’t anyway. I love you.”

He said the words in jest, but I heard the underlying meaning. Something significant had happened today.

Does he know? Will he ever tell me?

Since I didn’t have answers for those questions, I squeezed his hand, then slipped out into the night.

Chapter Eighteen

Leo

Fuck.

Okay, not the hardest day ever, but certainly not a good one.

You tried. You just…lost your patience.

I pursed my lips as I dug my keys out of my pants pocket. A guy was entitled. Right? Or so I told myself.

“Hey!” The voice I knew all too well followed me.

After locating my keys, I hit the keyless entry. I was nearly at the door when Quinton was upon me.

“I said, ‘hey’.”

“Hey yourself. I’m heading home.”

“Jesus. You’re such an asshole.”

I turned to face him. Under the parking lot lamp, his pale skin had a weird pink tinge. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Like hell you don’t.” He glared.

Okay…maybe I do.I wanted to ask him to cut me some slack, but somehow I didn’t see that working well for me. “Uh, how did things go with Finn last night? You never—”

“No fucking way, Leo. That’s not happening. You’re not derailing me.”

“I don’t know which track you’re actually on. So if you’ll let me—”

“Jesus. You’re such an asshole.”

I rolled my eyes. “So you’ve said. I don’t have anything—”