Page 11 of Beneath the Surface

Quinn looked up. “You do?”

“Of course.” She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Did you think I wouldn’t? You’re happiest when you’re communing with nature.” She reached out and squeezed his hand. “I always want you to be happy.”

“You don’t think I’m just… running away?”

“Are you?”

“No,” he whispered and held her hand. “I’m not.”

“Then no,” Emily said. “I don’t think you’re running away. When you’re ready for more, you’ll know. And no one—not even me—can tell you when that is.” She hugged him, letting it linger. “You’re a beautiful man, Quinn,” she whispered. “In so many ways. You have so much love to offer someone, and you deserve so much in return.” She drew back and cupped his face. “One day, that special someone will come along, and you’ll know in your heart that they’rethe one.”

Quinn gazed at her. “How will I know?”

“Oh, hun.” Emily kissed him as she often did when she wanted to make a point. “It’s just something you know. There will be a…connection… unlike anything you’ve ever experienced with anyone else.” She smiled softly. “Even me.”

There had never been anything Quinn couldn’t tell Emily; no secret he couldn’t share with her. Until now. It hurt his heart not to be able to share the greatest experience of his life, such alife-changing revelation, with her. But he couldn’t, not this time. This was a secret he would take to his grave, a secret hemusttake to his grave. Not for himself, but for the entity beneath the lake.

“I’ll trust your word,” Quinn murmured with a small smile.

“You better.” She winked and patted his chest. “I know whereof I speak.”

“Really?” Quinn smirked. “How many times have you metthe one?”

She cast him a sly look and stepped back, not saying a word.

“What...?” Quinn frowned in curiosity. “Did you... meet someone while I was gone?”

“Maybe.” Emily scrunched her nose and pursed her lips.

“Someone you think might bethe one?”

Emily bit her lower lip, smiling. “Maybe.”

Quinn eyed her skeptically. “I thought you said you would know for sure when you met them, that there would be a connection.” He tilted his head. “Wasthere a connection?”

“I think so.” She bit her lip again. “We’ve already gone out a couple of times. He’s sweet, kind, and...” She sighed dreamily. “... so handsome.”

Dismissing the unavoidable sting of jealousy, Quinn grinned. “I’m happy for you, Em,” he said, and truly meant it. “He just better treat you right and never hurt you, or I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” Emily squinted impishly, poking his chest. “What will big, bad Quinn do?”

Invite him to the lake.Quinn didn’t say that. He shrugged and chuckled, “Something.”

Emily laughed and hugged him. “You’ll always be my hero.”

Quinn held her deep in his arms. “And you’ll always be mine,” he whispered against her soft hair, his heartbreaking sincerity making the young woman hold him tighter. “After spending somuch time looking after me,” he said softly, “You deserve a man who can give you something back.”

Pulling from his arms, Emily stared at him, her brow etched with a stern line. “You give me plenty, Quinn. I can’t even imagine what my life would have been like without you. I don’t want to imagine it. You’ve been my best friend since we were in first grade. If you really think you’re the only oneenrichedfrom our relationship, I may have to kick your ass.”

She smiled, but she was dead serious; Emily hated it when Quinn implied he wasn’t giving as much as he was receiving. But how could he believe it was an equal give-and-take relationship when Emily had saved his life in every way possible—and continued to do so every day? Still, he knew better than to argue with the woman.

“Sorry,” he offered sheepishly.

“You better be, buddy boy.” She gripped the front of his shirt and looked into his eyes with affection. “You know I won’t accept you thinking you’re somehow less than me, or weaker, because you needed to lean on me when your life turned to hell. If something happened to me, and I needed to lean on you with such gravity… would you be there for me?”

Quinn swallowed, a soft burn in his eyes. “Of course, I would, Em. You know I would.”

“I do know,” she whispered, caressing his bruised cheek. “I know without a shadow of a doubt that you’re the one person who would never let me down. I told you—you’re my hero. And true heroes are there when you need them.”

---