More Than This (11 page)
Authors: Shannyn Schroeder
“Something wrong?” he asked as he closed his door.
She turned and clutched the strap of her purse. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed
you. We agreed we’d be better as friends, and I don’t want to screw it up by sending
mixed signals.”
you. We agreed we’d be better as friends, and I don’t want to screw it up by sending
mixed signals.”
So much for convincing her to get naked.
“I don’t know what came over me. I needed to explain the physical high of the motorcycle
ride and it just . . .” She grew more flustered with each word. “And you were so nice
to arrange the ride and . . .”
ride and it just . . .” She grew more flustered with each word. “And you were so nice
to arrange the ride and . . .”
“No problem. You caught me a little off guard, but there are worse things to have
happen than a kiss.” He put his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. The fruity
smell of her hair swirled around him. “Don’t let it happen again.”
happen than a kiss.” He put his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. The fruity
smell of her hair swirled around him. “Don’t let it happen again.”
She held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
Her earnestness disappointed him.
The host showed them to a table immediately. Ryan pulled out a chair for Quinn and
sat across from her. The room was dimly lit. Candlelight flickered against her face,
making her look sexier.
sat across from her. The room was dimly lit. Candlelight flickered against her face,
making her look sexier.
“Tell me about motorcycle man.”
“Who?”
“Griffin. Is this the same guy you gave Indy’s card to?”
“Yeah, he’s an old friend.”
She shrugged. “He didn’t seem too friendly. He said all of ten words to me.”
Ryan laughed. “I told him to do nothing but give you a ride on the motorcycle.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s not your type.”
She tilted her head and wrinkled her brow. “How do you know what type I want?”
“You’re the one who said you wanted me to be your wingman. Griffin’s not looking for
a romance, summer or otherwise. He’s a great guy, but he likes to spread the love.”
a romance, summer or otherwise. He’s a great guy, but he likes to spread the love.”
“You’re right. He’s probably not my type. I definitely don’t need a charming bad boy.”
She spread her napkin on her lap as the waiter arrived with a bottle of wine. “Have
you known him long?”
She spread her napkin on her lap as the waiter arrived with a bottle of wine. “Have
you known him long?”
“Since we were kids.” Ryan nodded at the wine selection and the waiter poured two
glasses.
glasses.
“How’d you meet?” She took a slug of wine.
“We went to school together.”
“You did?” Her eyes crinkled in confusion.
“Where else would two kids meet?”
“I don’t know. I thought . . . he’s rich, and rich people usually hang out with other
rich people.”
rich people.”
He feigned offense. “You think I’m not good enough to hang out with the rich?”
“It’s not that. You’re not rich. Are you?”
He laughed. “Not by a long shot. But Griffin wasn’t born rich. He’s worked his ass
off for every penny.”
off for every penny.”
She drank more wine, draining the glass. “Sounds like a fascinating story.”
The waiter returned and Ryan ordered a garbage pizza. He refilled Quinn’s glass.
She leaned forward eagerly. “Tell me.”
Ryan felt the nick of jealousy and reminded himself again that Quinn was only a friend.
At least for now. Besides, Griffin wasn’t her type. “He grew up poor. Poorer than
me. His dad took off when he was little, and his mom had to work two jobs to keep
them living in a decent neighborhood.
At least for now. Besides, Griffin wasn’t her type. “He grew up poor. Poorer than
me. His dad took off when he was little, and his mom had to work two jobs to keep
them living in a decent neighborhood.
“We met in first grade. The class clown made fun of Griffin’s name and he punched
the kid. Gave him a bloody nose.”
the kid. Gave him a bloody nose.”
Quinn tucked her hair behind her ear. “Good for him. You were the clown?”
“Yeah, we’ve been friends ever since.”
“Boys bond over the strangest things. How did he become a millionaire?” She sipped
her wine now. The nervous energy seeped from her.
her wine now. The nervous energy seeped from her.
“Computers. He discovered everything he could about computers. Hardware, software,
all the technical mumbo jumbo. He learned to take the machines apart and rebuild them.
Then he learned how to write software. Before he hit twenty-five, he’d created three
top-selling video games.”
all the technical mumbo jumbo. He learned to take the machines apart and rebuild them.
Then he learned how to write software. Before he hit twenty-five, he’d created three
top-selling video games.”
“He’s a computer geek.” The awe in her voice returned to interest. “He can be my type.
Sexy, smart, independent, hardworking.”
Sexy, smart, independent, hardworking.”
“Playboy, controlling, demanding.”
“No one’s perfect. I bet he’d be fun for the summer.” She winked at him.
His blood pumped hot. It was one thing for her not to sleep with him, but another
to go after his best friend.
to go after his best friend.
The waiter arrived and placed their pizza on a pedestal between them.
Quinn reached up and placed two outer-edged pieces on her plate. “Relax. I’m joking.
I’m not going to try to sleep with your friend. That would be tacky. And awkward.
It would be like you going out with Indy.”
I’m not going to try to sleep with your friend. That would be tacky. And awkward.
It would be like you going out with Indy.”
They spent the remainder of the meal chatting about inconsequential things. They finished
the bottle of wine and Quinn looked at her watch. She blinked and tapped the face.
“Oh my God. We’ve been here for hours.”
the bottle of wine and Quinn looked at her watch. She blinked and tapped the face.
“Oh my God. We’ve been here for hours.”
“So?” The uptight clock-watcher had returned. He’d wondered how long it would take.
“I have papers to grade.”
He signaled to the waiter for the check. “I have to ask. Do you read every single
one of them?”
one of them?”
She was genuinely surprised. “Of course. How am I supposed to assign a grade if I
don’t read it?”
don’t read it?”
“At the beginning of the year, sure, but you’ve had these same kids since September.
Don’t you know who’s going to get an A and who’ll be lucky to get a D?”
Don’t you know who’s going to get an A and who’ll be lucky to get a D?”
“Yes, mostly.”
“So give them the grade.”
“I can’t do that.”
He pulled money from his wallet to cover the bill and tip. “Why not? It would save
you hours of work. I bet the kids wouldn’t even know.”
you hours of work. I bet the kids wouldn’t even know.”
She sighed heavily. “You’re probably right. But the first time I do something like
that, it would be my luck to have a kid question the grade. How can I explain the
grade when I assign it arbitrarily? Plus, it would feel like cheating.”
that, it would be my luck to have a kid question the grade. How can I explain the
grade when I assign it arbitrarily? Plus, it would feel like cheating.”
“Like Indy said, pedestrian.”
She shoved away from the table, clearly irritated. “No,
responsible.
I take my job seriously. It’s not a game. It’s everything to me. I read those papers
because they did the work. They deserve for me to hold up my end and read them. I
also enjoy seeing their growth. Most of them are different than they were nine months
ago.”
responsible.
I take my job seriously. It’s not a game. It’s everything to me. I read those papers
because they did the work. They deserve for me to hold up my end and read them. I
also enjoy seeing their growth. Most of them are different than they were nine months
ago.”
“I stand corrected. It seemed like an easy solution for you to save time. I didn’t
mean to offend you. At least not much.” He stood and followed her out to the car.
Her passion for her job surprised him. He knew she would be good at what she did,
but he didn’t expect her to get fired up.
mean to offend you. At least not much.” He stood and followed her out to the car.
Her passion for her job surprised him. He knew she would be good at what she did,
but he didn’t expect her to get fired up.
In the car, she rummaged in her purse. “What do I owe you for dinner?”
“Nothing. We were celebrating your first ride and another item checked off your list.”
She smiled warmly. “Thank you.”
When they pulled up to her building, she didn’t invite him in. She opened the door
and he asked, “Since school is over, will you still be coming to the bar?”
and he asked, “Since school is over, will you still be coming to the bar?”
“Sure, sometimes. You’re my wingman. I’ll have to have you check out my prospects
for romance.” She closed the door and walked to the apartment.
for romance.” She closed the door and walked to the apartment.
He waited to make sure she was in safely before pulling away from the curb. He needed
to check out her romantic prospects to make sure he had no real competition. Plans
formulated in his head that would allow him to simultaneously support and sabotage
Quinn’s plans.
to check out her romantic prospects to make sure he had no real competition. Plans
formulated in his head that would allow him to simultaneously support and sabotage
Quinn’s plans.
Girls’ night in was an early evening days later. Quinn asked Kate and Indy to come
to her house. She needed help developing a plan to conquer the rest of the list. She
had turned in her grades and was officially free for the summer. She also wanted to
discuss her plans for getting pregnant.
to her house. She needed help developing a plan to conquer the rest of the list. She
had turned in her grades and was officially free for the summer. She also wanted to
discuss her plans for getting pregnant.
The buzzer rang as she set bowls of chips and dip on the table. She pressed the buzzer.
Minutes later, Kate stood in the doorway with all three kids in tow.
Minutes later, Kate stood in the doorway with all three kids in tow.
“Hi, guys.” Quinn hoped the shock in her voice wasn’t too apparent.
“I am so sorry. Mark’s not home. I should’ve called and canceled, but I needed to
get out of the house. Never underestimate the power of adult conversation.”
get out of the house. Never underestimate the power of adult conversation.”
“No problem. We’re kid-friendly.” She lowered herself to child-height. “Hi, Kyra.”
“Hi, Aunt Quinn.” Kyra moved forward and wrapped her arms around Quinn’s neck. Her
younger siblings attempted to join, but only succeeded in knocking the group to the
floor.
younger siblings attempted to join, but only succeeded in knocking the group to the
floor.
“Kyra, get off Auntie and take the bag of toys to the living room.” Kate tried to
smooth the hair that had escaped her ponytail. She asked Quinn, “Are you sure this
is okay?”
smooth the hair that had escaped her ponytail. She asked Quinn, “Are you sure this
is okay?”
Quinn got off the floor. “Why wouldn’t it be? It’s just us. I’ll move the chips to
the counter, and the kids can spread out over the couch and table. We can always pop
in a Disney DVD for a while.”
the counter, and the kids can spread out over the couch and table. We can always pop
in a Disney DVD for a while.”
“Thanks.” She picked up four-year-old Thomas and two-and-a-half-year-old Nicole and
carried them to the couch. Kyra had already opened a ziplock bag of Little People
toys and dumped them in a pile on the area rug in front of the couch.
carried them to the couch. Kyra had already opened a ziplock bag of Little People
toys and dumped them in a pile on the area rug in front of the couch.
Quinn set the TV to a kids’ show. Kyra looked up at her, “Can I change this?”
Kate answered, “No.”
“What’s that about?” Quinn asked, nodding her head toward Kyra.
“She asked for your permission, not mine. She’s figured out she can ask Daddy for
things after I’ve said no. He usually says yes. God forbid, he think ahead and actually
be a parent.” Kate sighed heavily. “Sorry, I don’t mean to unload on you.”
things after I’ve said no. He usually says yes. God forbid, he think ahead and actually
be a parent.” Kate sighed heavily. “Sorry, I don’t mean to unload on you.”
“Unload away. I do it to you. What’s going on?” Quinn eased onto a bar stool at the
counter. The spot afforded them privacy for a conversation and the ability to keep
an eye on the kids.
counter. The spot afforded them privacy for a conversation and the ability to keep
an eye on the kids.
“I don’t know where to start. I’m miserable. Mark is never around. When he is, he
plays with the kids and disappears. He’s busy. He’s tired. What, like I’m not?” She
pulled a chip from the bowl and ate it. “This is lunch for me.”
plays with the kids and disappears. He’s busy. He’s tired. What, like I’m not?” She
pulled a chip from the bowl and ate it. “This is lunch for me.”
“I’ll make you a sandwich for now and we’ll order dinner in a while.”
“I’d rather have a margarita.”
“I can do that too.” Quinn moved into the kitchen and pulled out a blender and margarita
mix. “Go on.”
mix. “Go on.”
“I think Mark might be overwhelmed by everything, but I don’t know because he’s not
talking to me. He works more and more hours every week. I talk to his voice mail more
than I do him.” She munched on another chip.
talking to me. He works more and more hours every week. I talk to his voice mail more
than I do him.” She munched on another chip.
“I can take the kids for a night, or even a weekend if it would help. Maybe you guys
need some alone time. I can’t imagine trying to have a serious heart-to-heart with
the kids around.” Quinn poured drink mix and dumped ice cubes into the blender and
pulsed the concoction.
need some alone time. I can’t imagine trying to have a serious heart-to-heart with
the kids around.” Quinn poured drink mix and dumped ice cubes into the blender and
pulsed the concoction.
“I might take you up on that. I’ll have to check with Mark and his forever-growing
schedule.”
schedule.”
“Let me know when. I’m a free woman for the entire summer. I don’t remember the last
time I had a summer off. I don’t know what to do with myself. The kids will be a nice
distraction.”
time I had a summer off. I don’t know what to do with myself. The kids will be a nice
distraction.”
Kate took the glass Quinn handed her. “You have things to do. You have a list to accomplish
and romance to find.”
and romance to find.”
The buzzer rang again. Kyra jumped off the couch. “Can I get it?” “Sure. Press the
intercom button and ask who it is.”
intercom button and ask who it is.”
Kyra stood on tiptoe in front of the intercom and pressed the button. “Who is it?”
“You have to let go of the button for them to answer,” Kate said. She let go of the
button.
button.
“It’s Indy. Let me up.”
Kyra needed no further direction. She pressed the other button and danced in place.
“Auntie Indy’s here.” She pulled the door open and peered out. When the elevator dinged,
she ran out in the hall. “Auntie Indeeee!”
“Auntie Indy’s here.” She pulled the door open and peered out. When the elevator dinged,
she ran out in the hall. “Auntie Indeeee!”
“Why don’t I get that kind of welcome?” Quinn asked as Indy came through the door
carrying Kyra.
carrying Kyra.
“Because I’m the fun aunt.” She deposited Kyra on the couch and tossed her purse over
the back of one of the stools.
the back of one of the stools.
“I’m fun.”
Indy rolled her eyes. “Sure you are. In the conventional, safe kind of way. I break
the rules.”
the rules.”
“Whatever.” Quinn knew she was right. It irked her to hear it out loud, though. Kyra
loved her too. She didn’t need her name screamed in the hallway to prove it.
loved her too. She didn’t need her name screamed in the hallway to prove it.
“Early for drinks, isn’t it?”
“Rough day,” Kate answered.
Indy took a swig from Kate’s glass and looked over at the couch. “With the three of
them, I’d think every day would be rough.”
them, I’d think every day would be rough.”
Kate took her glass back. “Most are good. And they’re not the problem.”
“Mix one up for me,” Indy said to Quinn, who was already back at the blender. “What’s
wrong in
Leave It to Beaver
–land?”
wrong in
Leave It to Beaver
–land?”
“I wish my life were a TV sitcom. I don’t want to think about it anymore. Quinn needs
help.”
help.”
Quinn knew this would be difficult. Announcing life-altering decisions over margaritas
would cause a stir, but she needed Indy’s and Kate’s support. She decided to rip off
the bandage, get it over with, so she blurted, “I’m going to get artificially inseminated.”
would cause a stir, but she needed Indy’s and Kate’s support. She decided to rip off
the bandage, get it over with, so she blurted, “I’m going to get artificially inseminated.”
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