Page 115 of Delayed Penalty

And I know in this moment I am completely fucked because I’ve gone and done the most irresponsible thing I’ve done yet.

I’ve fallen in love with Quinn Benson, and there’s no turning back.

CHAPTER 22

QUINN

“How come you don’t live with your mommy?”

My feet catch on the sidewalk, Flora’s unsuspecting question throwing me for a loop.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I know I don’t live with my mom because she’s dead and my dad is in jail for being bad, but I don’t understand why you don’t live with your mommy if she’s so amazing.”

It’s not the first time Flora’s mentioned her parents, but it is the first time she’s referenced where they are. I imagine she asked Hayes about them at some point since she seems to be very aware, but she’s not talked about them with me. Not like this.

Until now, on a nice quiet walk back from the library, her little backpack full of books while she clutches a sucker the size of her head in one handand mine in the other. Giving her so much sugar probably wasn’t a good idea, but when her eyes grew to twice their size at the sight of it, I knew she had to have it.

It’s exactly what my amazing mommy would have done. We’ve been talking every day since I walked in on her and Hayes in his kitchen. I had no idea how much I needed to hear what she said, but it gave me a renewed sense of worth.

Well, that and Hayes’s words. He’s been tossing a lot of compliments my way in the last week or so. If he wasn’t already getting laid so often, I’d say it’s because he’s trying to score, but I know it’s not. It’s all genuine, and it makes my heart gothumpthumpthumpjust thinking about it.

“I’d live with Mrs. Bess if I could, so why don’t you live with her?”

I smile. My mother wouldloveit if Flora lived with her.

“Well, it’s because I’m a grown-up, and grown-ups don’t usually live with their parents.”

A poor excuse for one who does bad things like sleep with her boss but is still a grown-up.

“Oh.” She nods like it makes so much sense. Then she wrinkles her nose, looking up at me. “Then why do you live with me and Uncle Adam?”

Adam.Just hearing his name does something funnyto my insides,especiallysince he makes me say it whenever I come.

I shove the totally inappropriate thought away and answer the curious child. “Because I work for your uncle and we figured withhiswork schedule, it would make more sense for me to live with you guys.” I squeeze her hand. “Why? Do you not want me to live with you anymore? I thought we were having fun.”

“Of course I do! Wearehaving fun. I love you.”

I smile. “I love you too, little flower.”

“So does Uncle Adam.”

I trip again.Damn these sidewalks.

“What?” I ask as I recover. “What do you mean?”

“Well, he looks at you.”

“Okay?”

It comes out as a question because I don’t really understand what she means.

She huffs like she’s annoyed by my confusion. “When you aren’t looking, Just Quinn. That’s when Uncle Adam looks at you the most. He loves you.”

I don’t have anything to say because I don’t knowwhatto say. Hayes looks at me? And he does it enough that Flora’s noticed? What does that even mean?Doesit even mean anything? The lines between us have been blurred for quite some time now and even more so since Thanksgiving, but could Hayesloveme?

Could I…lovehim?

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