Page 14 of Rival Hearts

“It was. I still have nightmares about it, to be honest. Tobias lost his shit too, but no one beats my dad on that front.”

“Mmm well, that’s true.”

“So I rebelled, clung to Quentin. Told him we should get married, and I’d sell everything. We’d live off the money, and I’d help fund his last college year, so he could try to go back and get off the bench.”

“Oh. Youwerein love…” Wren’s known me long enough to know I’m not a romantic. Not counting my outsized crush on Xander, I was exceedingly practical about all the men I dated. They were subjected to background checks, social profile investigations, put through the wringer, and any guy who showed any ounce of frivolity got the axe fast. I needed someone driven, focused, practical. I’d even take another workaholic like me. We could spend our scheduled free weekends together and otherwise do our own thing. Romance and wild ideas about running away and making do with whatever was on hand were fanciful nonsense that I don’t entertain anymore. So it’s probably a bit of a shock to hear I was once young, wide-eyed, and very stupid when it came to Quentin.

“Not love when he ghosts you without another word, is it?”

“Oh. Ouch.”

“Yep.”

“When’s the last time you two talked?”

“Before I became his full-time babysitter? Not since he abandoned me. Easton didn’t fill you in?”

“He said he’d let you tell me. Said he wasn’t there when it all went down and only has some details through Tobias.”

“Ah. Well… that’s the gist of it.”

“Okay… but explain how you got together when you were in love with Xander?”

“Not in love with exactly, just… crushing on. Maybe a little in love with? Ugh. I don’t know. Xander just was always this perfect guy in my mind, you know?”

“I mean… I get it. I’ve met him. Seen how he is with Harper. I can see how someone like that would be a good match for you.” She smiles as she helps me put the last of the ice cream away. “Also, are you going to share these with your pregnant sister? Because I feel like that would only be fair.”

“Yes. I will share with you. You want some now?”

“I mean… I was eyeing that double chocolate pretty hard.”

“All yours.” I hand her the pint and a spoon from out of the drawer.

“Have I mentioned how much I love you and how you’re one of the best parts of this family?”

“Once or twice.” I grin at her.

I move some of the flowers out of the way, so we can sit at the table and then go back for my ice cream. Might as well enjoy it if I have to.

“So… Xander leads to Quentin how?” She waves her spoon in my direction as I sit down with a pint of cookie dough.

“So… there was limited space at the mountain house that summer. They didn’t think Quentin was coming, and I had bunk beds in my room. So I offered to let him sleep in there.”

“Ohhhh.” She grins, and I raise an eyebrow. “What? Listen. Your brother is the hottest guy on earth as far as I’m concerned, but I’ve seen Quentin. All those tattoos. The chip-on-the-shoulder thing. All the brooding he always seems to be doing on the sidelines. I can see it.”

She laughs, and I shake my head.

“Well… we’re stuck together, and I was a huge oversharer back then. I asked his advice on Xander, and he gave me some practical feedback.”

“Practical feedback, huh? Is that what we’re calling it?”

“Ha! He basically told me he didn’t think I had a chance and asked me why I wanted him in the first place. And I mean, I wanted Xander, but I also knew it was pretty hopeless that Xander would want me—a college girl—when he was heading off to play pro ball, and I was going off on a gap-year trip. So I just figured I might be able to get him to take my V-card before I went on my trip. Get it out of the way. Seemed like a good plan at the time, you know?”

“Makes sense. Very practical.”

Wren was practical too. Part of the reason she almost didn’t end up with my brother. So she at least understands the way my mind works.

“I got into a discussion with Quentin about my reasoning, and he was giving me a hard time about not being focused on the right things and just very… I don’t know. Sweet about it all, I guess?” I scrunch my nose up as I remember the Quentin I’d known that summer. He was different than the brooding guy everyone else knew. More relaxed. More open. Incredibly sweet and so patient with me.

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