Page 52 of The Late Hit
My gaze finds Quinton’s, both of us staring at each other. My cheeks flame while a smirk tugs on Q’s lips, both of us remembering last night. Grant is staring at me and Q. He gives a small shake of his head, but not before a small smile graces his face.
Grant knows. I mean, of course, he knows, he’s Q’s best friend.
“Umm…” I draw out. Looking past Quinton, I turn my attention to Crew. “I mean, it wasn’t exactly a trip that was supposed to be fun. I had to go home for a charity gala honoring my brother and high school boyfriend who died five years ago.”
As those words slip past my lips, the table goes eerily quiet.
Oh yeah, not everyone knows about the dead boyfriend.
Jeremiah’s eyes widen, his mouth dropping open.
Somethingactuallystunned JP into silence.
But then I watch his eyes snap to Q’s too.
They all know something happened between us.
“Oh shit, Brynn,” Jeremiah says as Quinton finds my thigh with his hand and squeezes in a show of support that I didn't know I needed.
“Shit,” Crew says, running his hand over his beard-covered jawline. “I had no clue, or I never would’ve said anything.”
Grabbing my glass, I take a drink of sweet tea as I try to find my voice.
“Don’t apologize. It’s not something I talk about. Hell, no one at this table knew about Asher until this weekend. He was my high school boyfriend who was in the same car crash that killed my brother.”
Eyes searching the table, I notice that my comment killed the mood.
“It’s a good thing Q was there for, umm…moral support,” JP adds.
Grand and Macy snort out a laugh. Leave it to Jeremiah to break the awkward silence, which I’m thankful for.
“Pass the salad,” Chloe shouts, interrupting JP. But it wasn’t fast enough. Cody’s head whips to me.
“What’d he say?” Cody says at the same time JP says, “What? I didn’t know you two kissing was a secret?”
Heat fills my cheeks for the hundredth time tonight.
When did I become such a girl?
Never have I blushed over kissing or even screwing a guy. With my eyebrows shooting to my hairline, I turn to Quinton.
Bumping his shoulder, I say, “I see someone couldn’t keep his mouth shut.”
He reaches his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in for a side hug, leaning down and kissing my forehead.
“I couldn’t help it.”
Smiling, I just shake my head and let myself embrace Quinton’s touch.
“Oh shiiiit,” Crew drags out. “You two an item?”
“What’s with you and all the questions?” I ask Crew.
There’s a grin on my face that lets him knowI’m not mad at his questions. Sliding out from under Quinton’s hold, I pick up my fork and continue eating. But not before realizing that Cody hasn’t said anything else. Slowly, I turn my body and find his eyes.
“What the hell happened in Chicago?” Cody asks, a chuckle leaving his mouth.
His gaze bounces back and forth between Quinton and me.
