by Doyle, Dawn
“Oh?” Quinn’s head tilted to the side, considering him. “I seem to recall you asking my girl, here, if she wanted to go to a party with you,” he shot back, but his voice was so soft it held a dark threat in the calm tone.
“I-I didn’t know you were together, I swear,” Colby stuttered, his face growing paler by the second as his eyes bounced back and forth between us.
“Yeah,” Quinn drew out.
I opened my mouth to tell him we weren’t, and that it was the last damn thing in this entire universe that I would be part of, but Quinn’s arm tightened around me with a silent message to shut the fuck up.
“Sorry, Kinsley, I had no idea.” Colby spun around and took off, his feet kicking sand up in short bursts, and he practically ran toward his buddies.
I shrugged Quinn’s arm off of me and whirled on him, jabbing my finger toward his face. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I spat, trying to keep from screaming in his face. “And if you say you were trying to save me, so help me, I’ll tear your fucking eyes out.” I hoped he would because that way, I wouldn’t have to see into the depths that had me transfixed.
Quinn took a step toward me, towering over my five-six frame. I refused to be intimidated—to move back—because there was no goddamn way I was going to show any weakness to that douchebag.
“Wow, fighting words coming from the girl I just got out of a really fucking awkward situation.” He smiled wide, his lips tightening as though he couldn’t help himself.
You stupid, interfering, pig-headed…
I had to stop my thoughts before they found themselves flying out of my mouth and into the ears of everybody around us because that’s how my rising temper would make it. It was simmering just below the surface of my already heated skin, bubbling away, just waiting for that last catalyst so it could erupt.
Fuck, he gets me so fucking irate!
Stinging surged into my wrists and into my forearms, the pain making me ease my clenched fists. The second I removed my nails from my palms, the pulsing began to subside.
“And she’s speechless,” Quinn said with a snort. “A win-win.”
“Oh, I’m not speechless,” I seethed. “I’m just trying not to recite every curse word I have ever heard at you right now.” He raised a brow, and I took a calming breath so I could continue. “And there’s a lot, so give me a damn minute, so I don’t cause a fucking scene right here and now.”
He folded his arms across his chest, the broad expanse giving him a wider appearance, especially when he planted his feet apart. “One, two, three,” he counted.
I glared at him. “Not. Fucking. Literally.”
“Oh, because I went to math today. I learned some numbers,” he said proudly.
I closed my eyes and sucked in a long, centering breath, then blew it out slowly. When I opened my eyes, Quinn was watching me intently. “Okay, I’ll start again. What the hell?”
He jerked his chin behind me and, stupidly, I turned. Nothing was there except a few dozen partygoers trying not to stare in our direction. When I turned back, Quinn was so close I could feel his body heat, even over the enormous bonfire not too far away.
“Quinn—”
“Don’t yell at me, Kinsley,” he said, slowly lifting his hand. He hooked his finger under my chin and tilted my head back. “Everyone is staring, so just act like this is normal.” He moved a little closer, his face inches from mine. “I’m not going to kiss you, so don’t even think of leaning in for a taste.”
My eyes bulged. The smile I forced was so fake it was ridiculous. “You don’t have to worry about that, Quasi,” I snapped through my tight mouth. “I’d rather not vomit in public, so I wouldn’t intentionally cause that to happen.”
He smirked with the barest hint of a snarl, his slightly crooked nose turning up just a fraction. “My my, you do have an attitude, little miss.”
“Same could be said about you, but that’s not much of an attitude,” I scoffed.
“Oh?” he asked, humor touching his eyes. “And what would you say it is?”
I stepped back out of his reach. “I’d say it was a lack of respect for others, their personal space, and, to top it off, permission to insert yourself into their business.”
Quinn’s hand dropped, and so did all the pleasantries he poorly attempted. “You want Colby to come back and whisk you off your feet?” he ground out. “Or any of the guys that were waiting for the right time to hit on you? Be my fucking guest.”
I barked out a laugh. “How the hell would you know?”
He tipped his head a tiny bit, gesturing behind him. “I could see you from way over there. In the dark, where nobody knew I was even here.” His lips crept up at the corners, a sinister expression turning my stomach into balls of chaos, crashing and exploding inside of me with violent randomness. “Now, are we going to discuss this like adults, or do you want to bicker some more? I haven’t got all night, Kinsley. In fact, I’m going to be leaving soon, and I’d rather make sure this shit was settled first.”
“Look,” I sighed, but the pounding in my chest made it sound like a shaky breath falling from my lips. I swallowed hard. “I don’t know who you are, or why you insist on continually pissing me off, but whatever this ‘shit’ is that you need to settle, you don’t need me for it.” I took a step to the side to walk around him, but his massive frame got in my way. I tipped my head back to look up at him. “What do you want, Quinn?”
His long lashes cast shadows over his cheeks, the dancing flames from the fire making them jump about. That’s when I noticed a small scar in his right eyebrow. I was so close to him I could see a few freckles across his nose, so light that they were easy to miss.
“Finished staring at my face?” he growled.
I blinked a few times but didn’t look away. “I wasn’t,” I lied. “I was wondering where your next cut is going to be, or the next bruise.” I let my eyes wander over his features, taking note of the defined cupid’s bow in his top lip, and the small dimple in the center of the bottom one. God, he was beautiful up close. A shame he was such a dickhead. “Maybe even a black eye on the other side?”
Quinn’s hard expression relaxed, and he straightened up. “You pay attention to me,” he stated.
I shrugged a shoulder. “I’m an art major. I pay attention to everything regardless, so don’t go thinking you’re special.”
“So, we’re all art to you?” he snorted.
“Sometimes, but you… I’d say you were abstract.” I grinned, adding a touch of snark.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
I snorted. “You take English, I’m sure you can figure it out.”
I looked over Quinn’s shoulder, what I could see anyway, and spotted Miley and her friends staring at us. “Look, this was soul-destroying, but I should get back to the girls—they’re waiting for me.”
Quinn shook his head. “Just give me five minutes. Over there, in private.” He gestured to the shadows where he’d come from.
I flinched in surprise, my brows shooting upward. “You’ve just taken up at least ten of the precious minutes I’ll never get back.”
He reached out and touched my bare forearm, his warm fingertips causing my skin to break out in goosebumps, tiny prickles racing up my arm like reverse dominoes right to my scalp.
“Two, then. Everyone’s already staring, and no doubt Colby has passed on that we’re together, so talking to me isn’t going to look out of the ordinary, is it?” he ground out.
I narrowed my eyes and glared hard. “Fine, but if you try anything stupid, I’ll make you regret the day you ever spoke to me.”
His brows furrowed. “Try what, exactly? Kinsley, what do you think I’m going to do?” His concerned face gripped me, my heart racing again as he examined my features too close for my comfort.
“I don’t know, Quinn, why don’t you tell me?”
“Hey, I want to talk to you about something, okay? I’m not going to touch you… At all.” He g
lanced around once. “If I were, I’d be fucking stupid to do it with this many witnesses.”
My shoulders dropped, and I huffed out in resignation. “If it means you getting out of my face sooner, then sure. Let’s discuss whatever the hell it is you want.”
He turned, and I walked beside him, nodding to Miley to let her know I was okay. Phoebe and Jojo were staring after me, while Josh and Rachel were busy talking.
Once we were out of sight, Quinn sat down on a long piece of driftwood, just enough space for me to sit, too, but I stood.
“Sit down,” he said, gesturing to the open space next to him.
“I’d rather not.”
He rolled his eyes. “You look fucking stupid standing there. How does it look for my girl to be avoiding me?” He smirked.
I scowled, my hands curling at my sides. “Not funny, and I still don’t know why you did that.”
“Sit, and I’ll explain. You promised me five minutes.”
“Actually,” I corrected him, “it was two, and you’ve had way more than that.” When he deadpanned, I huffed but sat anyway. “Okay, shoot. What did you want to say?” I breathed in, a fresh scent of body wash and aftershave flowing up my nose, the mix of citrus and something clean and fresh oddly complementing each other.
“Actually, it’s a proposition,” he said, breaking my thoughts, and my mouth fell open. Cool air blew across my face, drying my wide eyes.
I blinked fast, then choked on a bitter laugh. “Excuse me?”
“Jesus, not like that,” he admonished. “A deal. Kind of an I help you, you help me, deal.”
“Doesn’t sound any better.”
“Hey, then that’s you with the dirty mind, little miss.” He chuckled, then stopped when I looked pointedly at him, but his smirk stuck in place. “Okay.” He shifted in his seat, seemingly a little uncomfortable, then faced me. “I need you to be my girlfriend.”
“What?” I shrieked, my hands flying out. “Are you fucking insane?” I tried to stand, but his hand caught my arm. I spun and grabbed his hand, quickly twisting his thumb backward to make him let go. The bastard didn’t even flinch, so I added more pressure, pressing harder and harder until my hand was shaking from the force.
So much for not touching.
“Had enough?” he asked.
I looked down and saw that he’d already released me, but I’d kept pushing against his still suspended hand. In my instant response to being grabbed, I’d gone further than necessary to remove him. There was no reason for me to try to hurt him other than I couldn’t stop.
I let go, then rubbed my wrist. “Depends,” I fired back. “Are you going to try to grab me again?”
He held his hands up and shook his head. “Consider this a touch-free zone. I’m sorry if I scared you.”
My head tipped to the side. “You’re apologizing? You don’t seem the type to apologize for his behavior. In fact, I’d say you’d celebrate your asshole-ness if you could”
“Of course,” he replied, an indignant expression settling across his features. “I shouldn’t have done that, so I’m sorry.”
I watched him for a few seconds, guarding myself as I lowered to the space next to him. His warmth was welcome against my side from the chill that was growing in the late air.
“Okay, so why the crazy proposition?” I asked when it was clear he was waiting for me to relax. His deep blues were on me intently, running over my face and back up.
“I want to be left the hell alone,” he began, jerking his chin toward the party. “I get that it looks like I am right now and that this request is fucking weird—believe me, I know how ludicrous it is—but I know you want to be left alone too.”
I dropped my head and stared at my knees. “You don’t know me, Quinn,” I said, barely above a whisper. “You don’t know what I want.”
“No? Then why do you guard yourself? Why do you look like you want to run away when a guy comes up to you? Why did you clam up when Colby asked you to the party, that I know for a damn fact you didn’t want to go to?
His words cut through me like a sharpened blade. Going in was painless, but the agony began when it was twisted, intensifying more and more with each uttered syllable.
I snapped my head to him. “You don’t know a damn thing, Quasi,” I practically yelled. “And you can kiss my ass if you think I’m going to agree to this shit-show because that’s exactly what it’ll be.”
He adjusted his angle, facing me a little more. “It’s all pretend, Kinsley.” He rubbed his forehead, agitation evident in his movements. “Look, it’s clear we don’t like each other—it’s a perfect relationship for us.”
I leaned back a little, completely astounded at his ridiculous request. “How the hell do you figure that out?”
“It’s convenient. We just act like we’re together, be kinda civil in class, sit together sometimes for lunch—maybe—and tell people we don’t like to make a big deal out of it.”
“Your time is up," I stated, standing quickly. “Find somebody else to be your bodyguard because it won’t be me.”
“What? What do you mean, bodyguard?” He stood too, his footsteps loud on the sand behind me as I walked away. “I don’t need a fucking bodyguard, Kinsley.”
I rounded on him. “That’s what this is, right?” I barked out, jabbing my finger into his chest, the hard muscle causing my finger to bend back. “Somebody to keep your adoring public out of your face.” I laughed dryly. “You need me to do this for you. I don’t need you for anything!” I ran my eyes over the length of him, his dark hoodie with a small silver emblem, and matching sweats and curled my lip up in distaste. “Go to hell, Quinn, and take your imaginary groupies with you.” I spun back and stomped off in time for Josh to come barreling past me, asking Quinn if everything was okay.
It wasn’t. Far from it. My night was already going downhill; he’d just kicked it straight to the rocky bottom without a safety net.
I’m going home.
Chapter 5
Quinn
That had gone down like a fucking lead balloon.
Yeah, it was insane. Yeah, it looked like I didn’t have the problem I’d suggested this train wreck of an idea I needed to solve. Kinsley had been about as useful as a candy machine in a diabetes clinic. What the hell did she think I wanted from her? A real relationship? Ha! I don’t fucking think so. I’d tried to convince her it was what she needed, too, and it had blown up in my fucking face.
What I couldn’t forget was her reaction when I’d stopped her from leaving right away. The defensive maneuver, the way she tried to hurt me even after I’d let go. Her face… Fuck, I’d scared her, and I felt like shit. I’d said I wouldn’t touch her, but I did and deserved what I got, but the fear in her eyes… Jesus, I couldn’t get it out of my head.
“We still on for the circle tonight?” Josh asked, shoving a spoonful of cereal into his mouth. He chewed loudly, the crunch of cheerios irritating me for no other reason than I was pissed… Again.
“Yeah.” I sipped my orange juice, then bit into my toast. After I swallowed, I looked up to see his eyes on me. “What?”
“Nothing. Just wondering what happened at the beach? You and Kinsley—”
“We talked for a bit and then she left—end of story.” I wanted to end the conversation, but he’d been at me to get information since Friday night.
“It looked pretty fucking heated from where I was standing, Quinn, and it was way over on the other side.”
I ran my hand over my head then down my face. “I did something stupid, she blew up, and that’s that.”
“What did you do?” he asked, his voice condescending like I was a kid in trouble.
I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”
He finished the last spoon of cereal, leaving the spoon to clink against the ceramic bowl when he was done. “Would you like a mirror? Because the ‘everybody’s gonna get it today’ look you have going on says otherwise.” I mumbled my answer like a scared prick. “Sorr
y, what?”
I screwed my eyes shut and dropped my head back. Blowing out a long breath, I blurted it out. “I asked her to be my girlfriend.”
Josh’s face slackened, his eyes blinked a few times, then he doubled over, laughing his ass off. “You what?” he guffawed. “Girlfriend? Oh my God, Quinn, are you kidding right now? Please tell me this is a joke.” When I didn’t say a word, he asked, “Is this your big plan?” He continued laughing, holding his stomach with one hand and wiping his watery eyes with the other.
“It’s not for real!” I shot out.
“You’ve taken too many knocks to the head, my friend,” he said between outbursts. “Because that girl, that girl, hates you.”
“I know,” I growled. Hearing it coming from Josh’s mouth, it did sound worse than ridiculous, not to mention something that looked like it came from some teen flick. Well, except for the lovey-dovey shit and running around each other until they eventually fucked. I was not planning on any of that happening. Although, Kinsley was definitely hot, her body slender, her hair glossy, and the little freckle that sat just above the left side of her top lip was like a damn homing beacon. But, that’s not what I was interested in.
Josh studied me, his eyes narrowed, and he chewed on the inside of his mouth. “Are you sure you’re okay, Quinn? This isn’t like you to do something so out of it.”
I stood and picked up my glass and plate, heading over to the sink. “I’m fine.”
“Okay. Whatever you say.”
I gripped the edge of the sink until my knuckles turned white. “We’re gonna be late for class.”
Josh snorted. “Already are, man. Class started fifteen minutes ago.”
Fuck!
I’d sat there for longer than I’d thought, going over the car crash again and again, not able to stop it from coming back.
“See you there,” I called out, grabbing my backpack and helmet from the hallway. Why did I care that I was late? Mrs. Montgomery would probably be standing there with a disapproving look on her aging face, but she wouldn’t do anything about it; she never did; she couldn’t. But, thinking of her had me thinking about Kinsley and that first day I’d seen her.
