“You’re always on my mind.”
“Because of the baby?”
I laugh and shake my head. “I’m not pregnant, Quinn. And no, I’m not just saying that, so you’ll leave and in ten years get a call about a mystery baby. Kellie suggested I take a test to be sure, and I did yesterday, but it’s negative.”
“Oh.” He looks away. I expect him to get up and leave. It’s what he should do. Instead, he picks up my hand and plays with my fingers. “A few things have come to light.”
“Such as?”
“Sofia. She told me everything, I think. I don’t know. But I know you didn’t bring them into my life, at least not intentionally.”
I’m thankful that he knows that, but it doesn’t change things. “I’m sorry for not telling you about Roy.”
He laughs. “Kellie said you called things off with him the day I called?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because I liked you and I’m not going to act like Roy. He’s the one having a baby, with another woman.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, bumping his shoulder into mine. “I’m sorry about a lot of stuff. Most of all not trusting you and for the things I said that night. I let the anger speak for me.”
“And I’m sorry for not telling you my name and about all of this,” I say, spreading my arms out. “I wanted to be someone else and when I met you, I had no idea we’d have such a connection. Can we start over?” I ask, but he shakes his head no. “Oh.” There’s defeat in my voice. He’s only here because he thought I was pregnant.
“I’m in love with you, Eleanora. God, it feels amazing saying your name and telling you this. I don’t want to start over because I don’t need to get to know you. I want to pick up from where we left off, minus that fateful night.”
“You do?”
He cups my face just as my fingers brush against his cheek. “You shaved.”
“Which do you prefer?”
“A little bit of both,” I tell him.
“May I kiss you?”
“Whenever you want.”
He closes the gap and presses his lips to mine. Fireworks go off, scaring the crap out of me. I jump and feel him smile against my mouth and go back to kissing him.
“As much as I’d love to get carried away, people are watching.” He motions toward the other side of the pond where my dad is standing.
“That’s my dad. Do you want to meet him?”
“Yes,” he says. “And your mom, although… I’ve never met parents before. This is a big step for me.” Quinn helps me stand, and as he does, I notice how underdressed he is. Poor guy is going to stick out like a sore thumb. “Eleanora,” he says, pulling me to him. “Is there really no baby?”
I shake my head. “Did you want there to be one?”
“I don’t know. When Kellie told me, all I could think is that I had to get to you, so you knew you wouldn’t be alone.”
“I would’ve found a way to tell you if I were. I was planning to fly to Los Angeles to talk to you, to tell you my side of the story. I didn’t want you to think I used you or was playing you.”
“That’s a relief.” Quinn kisses me again, it’s soft but has so much meaning about it. I suppose I should be upset and angry, maybe even yell and scream at him, but I can?
??t. My heart won’t allow it.
“Elle, she said some things to you?”