Page 19 of Fragile Heart

“Why haven’t you done it?”

She shrugs before hesitantly replying, “I don’t know. Life just happens, and I got comfortable. I’ve got a good thing going right now, and I’m happy.”Life just happens.I want to ask her what that means, but I notice for the first time since I’ve met her that she’s not smiling. I don’t want to push her, so I don’t ask. But I can’t stop myself from wondering what’s happened to her.

“You’re happy working at a diner?” I question.

“Yeah, I am. I get to work with my best friend, and my other coworkers are awesome. I get to see my favorite townspeople every day.” I try to see if she’s joking, but she’s serious. She genuinely likes working as a waitress. It’s in this moment that I realize I definitely judge people too harshly. That maybe not everyone is unhappy if they don’t have a high-paying job. I’ve been in this lifestyle so long that I look down on people who aren’t in my tax bracket. I’ve always known that I’m not the nicest person, but damn, I truly feel like an asshole right now.

We finish our breakfast in silence, and she clears my plate before I get a chance to offer to do the dishes.

I stand awkwardly in the kitchen doorway while she finishes up. “I hate to ask this, but any chance you could give me a ride home?”

She smiles. “Of course. I tried to take you to your house last night, but you gave me an LA address. Let me throw some clothes on really quick.”

I wince. God, I hate that I let myself get that far gone last night.

Quinn changes into shorts and a shirt and meets me by the door. We walk down to her white SUV, and I slide into the passenger seat, immediately noticing the coconut scent air fresher she has.

Quinn straps herself in before asking, “Ok, where to?”

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