“Yeah, but totally worth it.” He rolled to his side and mimicked her pose. “Let’s just tell her already.”
Sarah darted her eyes to the ceiling and fixed on a wrinkle in the texture. “Too soon, I think. Gage might find out.”
“From my mom? How?”
“I don’t know. Besides, she’s got a lot on her plate right now.”
He tapped Sarah’s nose. “Okay. But I want to tell her soon. I’m tired of sneaking around.”
Sarah feigned shock. “I thought sneaking around added to the excitement.”
“I can think of waaay more exciting things we could be doing if we weren’t sneaking.” He waggled his eyebrows.
A series of tingles raced up from her core and puckered her nipples. “Such as?”
“Guess you’ll have to find out.” With that, he hoisted himself out of bed, plucked a T-shirt from the floor, and pulled it on. His morning wood hadn’t diminished, and the tenting in his knit boxers left little to the imagination—a fact Sarah wholly appreciated.
He picked up a pair of sweats and smirked at her. “See something you want, Sunshine?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Meh. Maybe.”
“Well, if you’re not sure, stop ogling me.”
“Or what?”
He dropped onto the mattress, crawled to her, and kissed her stupid. “Or,” he whispered against her lips, “I’ll shake the peaches from your tree so hard that my mom and the whole fucking neighborhood will know exactly what’s going on.” He nipped her bottom lip and retreated to pull on his pants. She resisted the urge to tackle him.
A moment passed before she caught her breath and squeaked, “Promise?”
He sent her a wink as he cracked open the door. “Oh yeah. That’s a promise.”
Quinn wasn’t able to keep that promise over the next few days. In fact, they had little time alone together to even sneak kisses. The house had exploded with activity, from police follow-up to Mike’s presence early every morning until long after dinner. Sarah didn’t mind him being there, though she couldn’t say the same for Quinn, who kept an emotional distance from his parents while he watched guardedly. Sarah had warmed to Mike, who’d relaxed enough to let loose an easy laugh as they talked. He avidly studied the routines she and Liz practiced and joined them in the gym, gently inserting himself into Sarah’s role with unexpected grace and humor.
“I’m working on earning the backup spot on the roster,” he said to Sarah one day, “so when you’re taking time off, it’s a seamless transition. And maybe, eventually …”
Sarah laid a hand on his arm. “What about her Parkinson’s? She’ll never be cured.”
His eyes quickly misted over. “I know. Which is why it’s so important I spend time with her now—these are the good years. I just wish I’d figured that out sooner.”
Her own eyes brimming, Sarah whispered to herself as he walked away, “I hope you earn that spot.” From there, her mind wandered to the near future. If Liz and Mike reconciled, there was little need for Sarah. There’d be no reason for her to live under Quinn’s roof. She’d find her own place, ramp up her job search in her chosen career, and submerge herself in her new reality. Quinn would move back into his beloved condo and resume his old lifestyle. Everyone back on track after the disruptive pandemic’s derailment.
Maybe it was time to send out more resumes and check into rentals.
Her heart sank.
Later, as she was sharing a soak with Liz in the hot tub, Mike appeared wearing trunks and a grin. “May I join you ladies?”
Sarah didn’t miss the twinkle in Liz’s eyes. “Of course,” Sarah answered, shifting so Mike could sit next to his wife. “Have you seen Quinn? He started working out when Liz and I left the gym, and I haven’t seen him since.”
Mike nodded. “As a matter of fact, I have.” A smile lifted a corner of his mouth. “He’s working out his frustrations by smoking a bucket of pucks in the driveway.”
“Frustrations?” Liz echoed. “What’s he frustrated about?”
“Oh, probably a combination of things. He can’t play, he doesn’t know when he’ll be able to play, he’s stir crazy, he doesn’t know how to handle his old man hanging around, and”—his eyes darted to Liz—“he’s none too happy about our family get-together. Not to mention it’s eating at him that the slimeball who hurt Sarah is free on bail.”
Sarah tried not to contemplate Wolf on the loose. She told herself she was safe, that he didn’t know where she was, that he wouldn’t hunt her down. But when she was back on her own? A shudder rippled through her.
In a bid to distract herself, she focused on one glaring question and blurted, “What family get-together?”
“Quinn didn’t tell you?” Liz said. “We’re having a virtual family, um … We’re Zooming.” Her eyes landed on her husband. “Is that the right term, Mike?”
“I think so. We’re video-conferencing with Ronan and his family. I guess we’re doing a cocktail hour.”
“When’s this taking place?” And why didn’t Quinn say anything?
Mike shrugged. “In a few hours. We hope you’ll join us. Archer too.” He winked at her.
When Sarah exited the hot tub, she threw on some clothes and went in search of Quinn.
Chapter 33
Zoom
Quinn was bagging up pucks when Sarah stepped out of the garage on the driveway, her wet hair plastered to her head and her feet bare. He arched an eyebrow. “Going somewhere, Sunshine?”
She shook her head. “Looking for you.”
“Aw, you missed me.” He opened his arms, and she walked into them, huddling close. The smell of chlorine wafted up his nose. When she didn’t say anything, he added, “You didn’t miss me? Well, I missed you, and if I could get my fucking family to leave, I’d show you just how much.”
She looked up at him, a little smirk on her flawless face. “Promises, promises. Speaking of family, I hear you’re having virtual happy hour with them today. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Quinn’s jaw clenched. “If I did, then I’d be
