Quinn’s voice remained calm. “You’ve been telling me how to run my life for as long as I can remember. Let me return the favor and give you a little piece of advice, Bro. Free of charge. Someday this shit’s gonna come back and bite your ass. Jen’s going to find out—not from me, but probably from one of your hookups—and you’re gonna wake up and she’ll have taken the kids and cleared out. That day, you are going to be one sad mofo because it doesn’t matter how many women you fuck, you’ll never find another one who cares about you enough to put up with your bullshit.
“You’re my role model for what happens when you pull the trigger and get married too soon. And by too soon, I mean you haven’t grown up. You’ve always been a self-centered prick who doesn’t give a rat’s ass about anyone but himself. You think what you’re doing is between you and whoever you’re hooking up with, but it’s not. You have a wife and kids who are part of the equation, no matter how much you try to ignore that fact, and you’re opening them up to potential crazies without them knowing it. You keep going the way you’re going, and it’s only a matter of time before you hurt them.”
The blood had drained from Ronan’s face, and he went a sickly shade of pasty. “Fuck you!” he spluttered.
“Your brilliant comeback tells me I hit the nail on the head. You chew on that for a while, Ro. Later.” Quinn hung up and pushed a cleansing breath through his lungs. For the first time in his life, he shrugged off his brother’s taunts. A huge weight lifted from his shoulders, and calm settled in.
Later, while Sarah spotted him at the bench press, he told her about his conversation with Ronan.
“Wow. Wonder if we can nominate him for Husband of the Year? Just watching him during that session …” She paused to shake her head. “I don’t get it. His wife’s gorgeous and sweet, and he treats her like he’s doing her a favor. Why does she put up with that?”
He puffed out, “Don’t know.”
Sarah helped him guide the bar onto its stand. “I feel sorry for her and the kids, but I feel sorry for him too.”
Oddly, so did Quinn. “Why?”
“Because he’s driven by one-upping you. How does a person focus on anything meaningful when they’re obsessed with outdoing someone else? If you were married with three kids, he’d have four. You buy your tenth car? He’ll run out and buy his eleventh. You sleep with a hundred women? He’ll bang a hundred and one. It’s one big competition for him. It’s gotta be exhausting.”
Quinn winced inside. Did she really think he’d slept with a hundred women? Whether he had or not was irrelevant—it was herperception that mattered to him.
“Think I’m done. Thanks for your help.” He sat up and looked into clear hazel eyes that held no judgment—only warmth that nearly stole his breath.
“Anytime.” She placed her hand on his shoulder and bent to kiss his cheek. “And by the way? No matter how long or how hard he tries, your brother will never outdo you in heart.” With that, she turned and walked away.
I love her. I fucking love her.
Back in the kitchen, Quinn was mixing up a protein drink when his mother came up behind him. “Quinn?”
He downed some of the drink. “Yeah, Mom?”
“Thank you for today. The virtual family Zooming thing. I know that wasn’t easy, especially with your brother acting like a complete dolt. But you kept your cool, and I’m so proud of you. You’ve definitely earned your Adulting degree.”
He had no idea what to say, nor could he talk in case he choked up. His mom seemed to sense it. She opened her arms wide. “How about a hug for your mom?”
He set his drink down and fell into his mom’s outstretched arms, wrapping his own around her fragile frame. He realized with a start he didn’t want to relinquish her—they were a family, she and he. But if he had to let her go, having his father step into the role somehow softened the blow.
Chapter 34
House of Mirrors
Three days later, Quinn was stowing his mom’s suitcase and wheelchair in his dad’s SUV while she exchanged good-byes with Sarah. The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue on budding trees and brought out a touch of dark red in Sarah’s glossy hair. Though his mother only planned to be gone a few days, and only across town, she sniffled as though she’d never lay eyes on Sarah or Archer again.
This is what being part of a family feels like.
She clutched both of Sarah’s hands. “You’ll stay here with Quinn, right? Where it’s safe? With that crazy man out on bail, I don’t want to worry about you being all alone at your brother’s house.” A shudder shook her shoulders.
Sarah exchanged a knowing look with Quinn before giving his mom an indulgent smile. “Don’t you worry. I’m staying put.”
“And I’ll sit on her if I have to.” Quinn was about to have Sarah all to himself for the first time since she’d come to live with them. Possibilities of the naked variety ran an endless circuit in his imagination, making his insides pop and fizz as he contemplated the hours and places and ways they could—
“I’m really going to miss Archer,” his mom lamented, turning forlorn eyes on the dog. Archer wagged and pranced; he had to know he was the subject of their conversation.
Sarah about blew Quinn out of the water when she said, “Why don’t you take him for tonight? He can help Mike get accustomed to your meds and some of your routines. I’ll come get him tomorrow, and that way I can bring anything you might have left behind.”
What?
His mother’s eyes widened. Quinn’s probably did too. “But won’t you miss him? Don’t you want him here for
