Page 122 of Delayed Penalty

I nod. “I do. I love her a lot. How… How did you know that?”

“I’m seven, not stupid. I have eyes.” She points to them like I don’t know where they are. “You guys look at each other all funny like people in movies look at each other when they’re in love. Plus, I’ve seen you kiss.”

“You have? When?”

She tucks her lips together, rocking back on her heels like she’s afraid to say.

“You won’t get in trouble if you tell me.”

“You promise?”

“Promise.”

“I…I snuck out of my room one morning to get some pickles because I was really hungry, and I knew you weren’t awake yet because you flew in super-duper late. I saw you sneaking out of Just Quinn’s room, and you kissed her.”

Shit. That could have been any number of mornings since I’ve barely spent a whole night in my room since we finally gave in to this thing between us.

This thing.Like I haven’t completely fallen for the woman. Like she’s not on my mind every waking hour of the day. Shit, she’s even in most of my dreams too. I am totally fucked when it comes to her, and I couldn’t imagine a better thing to be.

“Well, maybe no more sneaking around the house,” I tell Flora. “But…you’re okay with Quinn and me being together?”

“I love Just Quinn. Why wouldn’t I be okay with it?”

I shake my head, not wanting to get into the power dynamics of it all with a seven-year-old. “Never mind. I…I guess I was just worried how you would feel about it.”

“Happy. I’m very happy. Are you happy, Uncle Adam?”

“Very happy,” I echo. “The happiest I’ve been in a long time.”

Maybe even ever, including winning the Cup with the Carolina Comets, a defining moment of my life.With Quinn…allthe moments feel like defining moments. They all feel so important, and I want more of them. I want her mornings and her nights. I want her angry and I want her happy. I want to be there when she’s had a rough day so I can do everything in my power to make it better, and I want to be the one who gives her so many good days.

I just wanther. Back in our house, and back in our lives for a long, long, long damn time. I don’t know where she ran away to, but I will find her. I don’t care if it takes me running around this city all night.

“Let’s go bring our girl home,” I say.

Flora claps her hands together. “Yay! Finally!”

Finally, indeed.

I get that Seattle and the surrounding suburbs are big, but I never thought it would be so hard to find someone.

I drove straight to Bess’s to see if Quinn had gone there. Chuck answered and told me he hadn’t seen her in days, but to maybe try the bakery, so I went there next.

She wasn’t there either. Bess, of course, was, and I got a twenty-minute lecture from her about theimportance of communication and a very, very detailed outline of what will happen to my body should I ever hurt her daughter intentionally or unintentionally again. Then I got a hug and Flora got a free donut. It was a weird visit.

Next, we tried the park per Flora’s suggestion. I wasn’t surprised when she wasn’t there either. I think Flora just wanted to go so she could swing.

I even stopped by her storage unit since I know she’s been spending some time cleaning it out, but then I realized I had no clue what the code was to get through the gate. I tried bribing the front office clerk with hockey tickets, but he wasn’t biting. I was actually grateful for that.

“Nothing?” Flora asks as I climb back into the SUV after Tex tells me she hasn’t been by the diner either.

I sigh. “Nope. She’s not here either.”

“Ugh.” She flings herself back against the seat with a groan. “We’re never going to find her. You made her leave.”

“I didn’t make her leave.”

“Yes you did. You didn’t tell her you love her and now she’s gone.”

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