Quincy

I can’t believe I basically jumped Cohen. Okay, I can totally believe it. But, I shouldn’t have done it. Except I wanted to, and he wanted to, and yeah—I need to start talking now.

“You scare me, C. What I feel for you, what I think you feel for me, our kids wanting to be siblings—it all scares me.”

“You called me ‘C’ like I’m part of your special club.”

“That’s what you got out of this?”

“You don’t even call Wave and Kenny by their initials, so yeah, I’m basking in this.”

I roll my eyes as I bat him with a pillow. “Pay attention. And B and I use initials because it helped her learn her alphabet. Plus, who wouldn’t want to be called the same letter as a 007 genius?”

“Why do the women I love think hitting me is the answer? And yes, Q is cool.”

“You better be talking about your mom or my daughter when you say you’re getting hit by women.”

“My mom,” he says, and there’s that smirk of his.

“Shut it.”

“I didn’t say a word.”

“That smirk said it for you.”

“I promise I’m paying attention. I don’t like that I scare you, but we’ll talk more about that when you’re done.”

“You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever met, you treat me like I’m sexy too, and my kid wants you to be her new daddy. How am I not supposed to be scared by all that?”

“First, can I tell the Studkateers that I’m sexier than they are? Owen says I have provisional membership until you officially claim me. It’s bullshit because I’ve been helping the Society since Wave saved Knox, but whatevs.”

“Wait, that’s really a thing? You guys have your own secret group? Ken told me, but he seemed annoyed by it.”

“It’s a thing, and it’s not really a secret. You know Kenny’s gotta love Matisse calling him a stud, but he’ll never admit it to us. It’s enough that we know.”

“Just when I get used to something at C&C, another new fun fact pops up.”

“I doubt anyone but Reina knows them all, but I digress. As for the rest of what you said, if you don’t completely believe you’re sexy, I’m doing something wrong. There should be no doubt in your mind. None. Nada. Nyet.”

“How many languages do you know?”

“I know important words in lots of languages, but I’m only fluent in Spanish. And sometimes, English too.”

This man. He makes me smile so much my cheeks hurt, but I wouldn’t change that for anything. “Good to know.”

“Oh, and if you were trying to scare me with the whole ‘new daddy’ thing, you should know I’m down with that. Pick a ring and a date, and I’m all yours.”

“That is the worst proposal I’ve ever heard.”

He points at me. “From the sexiest man you’ve ever met, so you want to say yes, don’t you?”

Yes. I do. Not just because he’s sexy, but because I really do love him. Not going to admit that yet, though.

“I’m not done talking about my feelings.”

“That wasn’t a no.”

“Or a yes. Now hush.”

“Yes ma’am,” he says, zipping his lips. I lean over and give them a peck.

“You scared me, and then you fell. My fear of trusting that you really wanted me turned into a fear of losing you before I ever had you. That’s what had me going all in with you.”

“And then I blew it all out of the water.”

“No, I did. I stopped worrying about what I’d miss out on if we weren’t together, and started worrying about just losing you. If you hit your head and died, I’d be devastated. But what about if you hit your head and lived—but lost some of your memory? If you forgot me, it would almost be worse than death. I was being selfish.”

“We’re all selfish sometimes.”

“Bianca had to beg me to go to your event.”

“I wanted to die so I wouldn’t see my mom die. That’s why I started doing drugs and shit back then. I should’ve told you that when it was my turn, but I barely told my mom that, and I didn’t think I was ready to tell anyone else yet.”

“That’s why she hit you.”

“Yeah. Here’s my other cheek,” he tells me turning his head.

I lean over and kiss it. “I’m so glad you lived.”

“And I’m so glad you decided I was worth facing your fears for.”

“You’re more than worth it.”

“You still ran.”

“I ran because I was about to throw up. I saw you graze the platform. I was watching for it, and it was like my biggest fear manifesting itself. I still thought it was okay, but when I saw you floating there underwater, with your eyes open, I thought you were dead. I should’ve jumped into that pool after you, but instead I felt like I was going to throw up, or pass out—or both—if I didn’t get away.”

“Quince.”

“I only ran as far as the patio on the top deck. I heard the crowd cheering so I knew you were alive. Matt found me still trying not to throw up, and talked to me about fears and love. He must’ve known you’d go back, so he tried to stop me from looking. I got around him and saw you back up there. I thought you were playing chicken with death, and I wouldn’t have survived that.”

“I wouldn’t have expected you to. After talking to my mom about how I behaved when she was sick and seeing you there supporting me when it scared you, I knew I wouldn’t risk myself again.”

“I should’ve stayed and talked to you.”

“I wish you would’ve, but I understand why you didn’t. I understood it then too.”

“You’re better at this relationship thing than I am.”

“Says who?”

“Me.”

“Well, yours is the only opinion I care about on the subject, so I’ll take it. Maybe it’s because I’ve fucked up so much that I know what not to do.”

“You’re genuinely not freaked out about our kids planning a wedding for us?”

“Did you already forget my proposal?”

“Yes. It was ridiculously ridiculous, and I’ve blocked it from my brain.”

“Ouch. Harsh much?”

“You promised me romance, dates, and spoiling and you then you give me that crap? Please.”

“The next time I ask you, it’s going to be right.”

“And then I just might say yes.”

“You know you’re still thinking about how sexy I am and considering a yes right now. Substandard proposal or not.”

Still not admitting it to him. “So, where do we go from here?”

“That three-bedroom apartment upstairs Chloe said she could renovate to have the best of both our apartments in it?”

“An outdoor shower, and my bed in the bedroom would be perfect.”

“I agree.”

“Let’s do it.”

He claps his hands together. “Yes, let’s. Now, tell me all about this new fantasy of yours.”

“What? No. We’re not there yet.”

“We’re not going for round two?”

He looks so confused, and it’s absolutely adorable. “We’re definitely going a few more rounds tonight, but my fantasy isn’t available here.”

“What? We have a game room, a theater room, an ice rink, a roller rink, pools, and stables. What else could you need?”

“A sex club.”

“Y-you want to go to a sex club?”

“Yes, but there’s time for that later. You mentioned the pools and I remember you mentioning us getting together in one.”

“I was thinking of a private pool, without cameras.”

“Ainsley will turn off the cameras for us.”

“Then she’d know.”

“Do you care? Because I don’t.”

“Make the call, put on a bikini, and lead the way, babe.”

“You need swim trunks.”

There goes the smirk. “No, actually, I don’t.”

Oh Holy Hell, he’s going into the pool in his tux? While I’m in a bikini? This is going to be hot. It always is with him, but this is going to blow everything else out of the water. Literally.