Page 100 of Delayed Penalty

“I kind of figured. It’s late.”

“Oh.”

I called for you.

But I don’t say that. We’ve been doing this a lot lately. I call even when I know Flora is in bed for the night and Quinn tells me so, but we still talk anyway. I wish I could chalk it up to not liking being alone with my thoughts, but I don’t think it’s that. I think I just like talking to her.

I clear my throat. “So, how was your day?”

I swear I hear her smile. “It was good. Long. Flora and I baked cookies,andwe didn’t burn the house down, so you better say you’re impressed, or we won’t save you any.”

“Who are you kidding? You weren’t going to save me any anyway.”

She laughs. “That’s true.”

“I’m impressed. And thankful. I’m not sure I could have handled a phone call from the fire department tonight.”

“I probably would have just let you be surprised when you got home.”

I chuckle because she so would. “I’m not sure if I should say thank you for that or not.”

“You should.”

“Then thank you.”

We fall silent, and I scoot up on the bed, pressing my back against the headboard as I loosen my tie.

“Sorry you lost tonight,” she says quietly.

“Me too.”

“You tried though. That counts for something, doesn’t it?”

“You sound like Coach Smith.”

“He’s a smart man. A very, very hot smart man.”

“Quinn…” I growl in warning.

I know Smith is very dedicated to Emilia, and I know there is no way anything would ever happen between him and Quinn, but the idea still sends a wave of jealousy through me.

“What? You have eyes. You can’t deny it, and you know it.”

She giggles. She’s totally fucking with me, and damn if it isn’t working.

“You’re doing a very good job of distracting me from playing like shit, you know.”

“I’m trying. Tell me all the good things you like about the game.”

“The money.”

She laughs loudly, then I hear her slap her hand over her mouth. “Shh. Flora’s sleeping.”

“You always did have trouble being quiet.”

“Hayes…” Now it’s her turn to give me a warning. “Anyway,” she says pointedly. “I’m sure the money part is nice.”

“Very much so, especially given how broke I was growing up. I can’t tell you the number of times I stole peanut butter from our local grocery store just so I didn’t starve because my parents always conveniently forgot to go shopping.”

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