Page 31 of The Late Hit
Just as I’m about to tell the driver to pull away, I feel him. He’s wrapping his muscled arms around me, pulling me against his chest. His hands are rubbing circles against my back.
“Brynn,” he says, continuing to rub circles. “Brynn, look at me.”
I feel Quinton lift his hand and drag it from my back, gently resting it under my chin. With slow movements, he raises my head.
Slowly, slowly, I bring my eyes to him. I must look like a maniac. But I can feel myself starting to calm down. I look into Quinton’s eyes. His rich, brown eyes remind me of a steamy mug of black coffee, my favorite way to start my day. Q’s eye contact soothes me, just like my morning coffee soothes my soul at the start of my day.
“Brynn, you’re not alone. I’m gonna be right by your side.”
My rapidly rising chest begins to slow as my breathing returns to normal. Before my mind has a chance to catch up, I throw my arms around Quinton’s neck, pulling his body flush against mine.
“Thank you,” I say with my face smashed into his neck. “You’re always there to bring me back.”
“And I always will be.”
He reaches up and lightly grips the back of my head, pulling it away from his shoulder. Pressing his lips to my forehead, he smiles down at me. Smiling back, I pull myself from my best friend and reach inside my purse, pulling out a cannabis pen.
With a small chuckle, Quinton shakes his head before asking, “When the hell did you have time to get that?”
Bringing the pen to my lips, I smile before taking a long drag. “Nadia, our housekeeper,” I answered on an exhale.
The driver of the car just eyes me through the rearview mirror.
Taking another long inhale, I continue. “Nadia has been getting me weed since high school. She’s got a hook-up for the good shit. She used to supply Bryce and me with weed and alcohol for parties.”
Letting out a large cloud of smoke, I smile at the memories. “She was always so protective of us. Nadia came from a wild background. She knows how high schoolers can be, especially ones with unlimited funds. She said that, if we were going to smoke or drink, she would supply us with it so she would have peace of mind that we weren’t smoking laced shit. Our parents might not have given a shit about us, but our staff always did. Hell, our staff was our family. Before we left tonight, she tossed it to me, knowing that I would need all the vices I could get to get through this weekend.”
Quinton just shakes his head with a smirk. “Damn, B, I wish I would’ve known you in high school.”
“You wouldn’t have liked me.” Giving him a wink, I fling open the door, and dump the pen in my purse. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
The two of us fall in line behind all of the fans making their way to the entrance gates. Lincoln High is a large, private school with only around one thousand students. The school is a large brick building that was remodeled in the 1990s. The three parking lots merge into one long walkway centered between flower beds with arborvitae trees that leads to the football field. Tonight must be a big game. There’s a buzz in the air, and the students are excited. You can feel the electricity.
Making our way through the gates, not having to pay since we are honorary guests for the tribute ceremony—ugh, I hate saying that—I see that the athletic director is waiting for us. He greets us at the entrance, guiding us up the stands to the closed suites. Lincoln isn’t a college, yet they still try to be with their exclusive VIP suites.
Before we enter, I slow my pace and reach my hand back behind me, searching for my anchor. Quinton takes the hint, grabbing my hand. I feel the gentle, yet reassuring, squeeze.
He sidles up behind me, whispering in my ear, “I’ll always bring you back.”
I smile to myself before coming to a complete stop right inside the suite. The first person I make eye contact with makes me suck in my breath. Asher’s mom is the first person I see. He was my high school boyfriend, until he wasn’t. I haven’t seen his parents since I moved to Texas. It feels like minutes pass by as we stare at each other, when it’s only been seconds. She moves first, closing the gap between us.
“Brinley,” she gasps, pulling me into a hug.
Quinton slips his hand from mine as I wrap my arms around my second mom and the only woman who ever felt like my actual mom.
“Hi, Mrs. Nelson.”
She scoffs, pulling me back. She looks me up and down, appraising me.
“Oh honey, when have you ever called me Mrs. Nelson?”
She smiles, taking me in, almost like she can’t believe I’m standing before her. With her eyes locked on mine, I swear that woman can read me like a book. She can tell my head is in the clouds at the moment. Grace gives me a small smile, one that doesn’t meet her eyes, before patting my cheek.
“It’s so good to see you, my sweet girl.”
“You too, Mama Grace,” I respond, pulling her in for another hug.
Once upon a time, I thought she was going to be my mother-in-law. But a week after Bryce died, my boyfriend died too, and everything I ever dreamed about shattered to pieces. Selfishly, I cut the two people who could have saved me out of my life. But it hurt too much to be around Daniel and Grace Nelson. Asher’s parents reminded me too much of him, too much of our memories, and too much of the future that would never happen.
