"Goodnight," Mr. Thomas said.
I left the kitchen and went down the hallway past the guest bathroom. The next door led to the basement, and I slipped down it. Mr. Thomas generally retreated to his office after dinner and would not notice my car still parked out front.
I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and heard the blood pounding in my ears. I was angry. Angry that a father could ignore the problems of his family and pretend everything was perfect. Angry that people really expected life to be perfect and they fell to pieces when it wasn't. I could not watch Quinn give in to that way of thinking. It would destroy her, and the thought made me see red.
"I think you should go home," Quinn said. She jogged down the stairs. "It’s been a pretty rough night. I can't believe you stayed."
"I was going to tell you the same thing," I said. I caught her hands and held them tight.
"It’s okay, really," Quinn said, but she would not meet my eyes.
"Fine, we won't talk about it," I said. "Maybe we do better when we don't talk." I kissed her, hard.
When our lips met again, I realized why I had felt so restless. I felt as if I had been taking on water, sinking lower and lower. All it took was Quinn's kiss to buoy me back up. I hoped it did the same for her.
It was impossible to read her chocolate brown eyes. She pushed against my chest, broke the kiss, and looked up at me for a long time.
"I'm worried, Quinn," I said. "I don't think this is you. You are the woman I saw in Vegas. Confident, inspired, and open."
"You mean carefree and fun," Quinn said. She turned away. "Sorry, Owen. This is my real life."
"Why?" I asked. "Why do you think you have to stay here? I know they are your parents and I know you love them."
"And I owe them," she said.
"Not as much as you owe it to yourself to live your own life."
Quinn stepped back and crossed her arms. When she turned to face me, her eyes flashed. "And how am I supposed to do that?" she asked.
"By leaving here. By telling your parents that you quit the nursing program. Go out and find what you want to do. I know of a job. You'd be an amazing Beta Tester. Your win at the tournament and a recommendation from me would get it for you, no problem," I said.
"So, that's it?" Quinn asked. "I ask how I'm supposed to live my own life and you have an answer all ready? You even have a job lined up for me. Tell me, Owen, if I jumped from my parents’ house to your apartment and this whole vision you have for me, is that really living my own life?"
"That's not what I'm saying, Quinn." I reached for her, but she stepped back farther. "I saw what you were like in Vegas at the tournament. That's what I want for you. That freedom and self-confidence."
"Why does everyone think they know how to live my life better than I do?" she asked. "Everyone around the table tonight. Trent, my father, you, and probably even that poor Nicky. And Sienna sure thought she could live my life better, but now she's dead."
I dropped my hands. "You're right, Quinn. I'm sorry. It’s up to you. I just hope I get to be part of it."
Chapter Twelve
Owen
I left Quinn's parents' house and headed home. It took a long time sitting in my car in the driveway before I went inside.
"Something wrong with your car, man?" Jasper asked. "You started it like five times and then it turned off."
"No, it’s fine," I said. My roommate was the last person I wanted to talk to about Quinn. "Did you get the dream job?"
"Yeah, it's all lined up and it’s going to be sweet," Jasper said. "In fact, I'm going out to schmooze with a few of my new colleagues now. Wanna come?"
"No thanks."
Jasper breezed by me and out the door, leaving a strange odor behind him. I glanced at the kitchen, but the last time Jasper had cooked was over a year ago. Something smelled burnt, but it was too faint to make it out.
I had just slumped down on the couch when my phone rang. I strangled it for a moment. It wasn't Quinn, it was Scottie. I debated and then decided that he might cheer me up. No one had more problems with relationships than Scottie. He and Alison had been on and off for eight years. No matter the constant drama, they could not keep their hands off each other.
"She leave you again?" I asked.