Page 84 of Home Coming

“No, it’s not a problem,” Bailey began. “Because I… love you too.”

He knew. Or at least had suspected, even as he’d tried to deny it. But hearing the words made it very real.

Overloading on the reality, he needed to lighten the mood. He tipped his hips forward and resumed a slow, lazy pace. “Too bad you can’t put it in a song about the first time we saidI love you. Because, you know, of the sex.”

Her lips twitched. “Just watch me.”

He laughed. “Oh, really? Okay. I see how it’s going to be. Fine. Then let me give you something to write about.”

Surprising her, surprising even himself a little bit, he did exactly that.

EPILOGUE

“Josie. Why did you pack such a huge carry-on?” Quinn was starting to regret offering to carry his sister’s shoulder bag for her in addition to Bailey’s small, wheeled carry-on.

At least his girlfriend hadn’t overpacked. Bailey always had been the sensible one of the two.

“We’re going to be home for almost a month,” Josie defended.

“You left half of your stuff andallof your winter clothes at Mom and Dad’s when you moved to California, so what exactly is in here?” Quinn asked.

“Christmas presents and if you don’t be quiet, you won’t be getting yours.” Josie shot him a glare.

“Now, now, children. Be nice.” Bailey held up both hands when both he and Josie shot her a glare. “Kidding. Sorry. I should know better than to get in the middle of you two.”

“Yes, you should.” Josie nodded. “The three of us have been living together for a year now.”

“Feel free to get your own place at any time, Josie,” Quinn offered.

“And give up that beach view? No way. Sorry, bro. You’re stuck with me.”

A year ago after he’d come up for air from theI love yousex marathon after the concert and finally gotten back upstate, he found out that Bailey and Josie had already been talking about moving to the west coast together. That’s where Bailey’s record label was. And apparently his sister was some hot shot freelance web designer and could work from anywhere.

It didn’t take much to convince them to move to the San Diego area instead of closer to LA. And with three salaries splitting the rent, they could afford a pretty sweet house right on the water.

But there was the downside that he was back sharing a bathroom with his sister. The upside was Josie was there as company for Bailey when he was away.

His annoying sister aside, it was really pretty perfect except that still left his parents on the other coast.

But he’d been making more of an effort to visit—just no more surprise trips for any of them.

He’d been pretty good about keeping his promise. This would be the second trip to New York this year. He was racking up those frequent flier miles. They all were. Bailey and Josie had been back east like five times this year.

Josie groaned. “Great. The song my best friend wrote about having sex with my brother is playing. Again. Fabulous.”

Quinn shot Bailey a raised brow as her song streamed out of the restaurant they were standing in front of.

She shook her head. “Don’t look at me like that. I never told her that’s whatWorth the Waitis about.”

“Nobody had to tell me. Jeez. I have ears. I can hear the lyrics. I have had sex before, you know.” Josie scowled.

Quinn ran a hand over his face. “Oh my God. Can we please change this subject to anything else? I beg you.”

“Get the bickering out of your system now, you two. Barring any delays, we’ll be at your parents’ house in like four hours,” Bailey warned.

Quinn’s eyes widened. “Don’t say that worddelay. You’ll jinx us.”

They were flying the week of Thanksgiving. Quinn had braced himself for a travel nightmare and so far—knock wood—they’d been lucky. But he couldn’t walk through Atlanta Airport without remembering last year when he’d been stuck in the USO overnight.

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