Chapter Eighteen

Quinn gathered hercoat tightly around her neck. Although it was a beautiful, sunshiny day, the breeze held an icy bite. Last evening, when she'd landed in Bloomington and turned her phone off airplane mode, Dre's text explaining what happened with Mac and how Jamaal saved his life came through. She'd immediately called him. Dre sounded exhausted, and she wished she'd been there to comfort him and make sure he got proper rest. She felt terrible about being hell-bent on avoiding him yesterday. Even so, she was still confused about whether they had a future together.

After she spoke to him, she confided in her family that she was seeing Andre Biel and her uncertainty of where their relationship could go. Her brothers told her she was crazy for not going for it, and although her parents didn't give an opinion, by their expressions alone she could tell they thought the same.

She walked toward the school with her parents. They'd been forced to park three blocks away because the streets were lined with cars. Carnival rides and food booths were set up outside Rohan High School with excited kids and adults buying tickets and waiting in line. Ike and Shane left home an hour ago to work in the snow cone booth. When her parents stopped to talk with friends, Quinn entered the cafeteria.

A silent auction took up one side and a Mexican buffet with tables and chairs the other. Crowds of people milled around checking out the items for the auction and standing in line to eat.

Jolene, Oliver's sister, rushed over to hug her. "You never change. Except, I think living in Texas has made you even prettier."

Quinn appreciated the words, but they weren't true. "I have changed. I started living again."

"It's about damn time." Her friend smiled. "Please tell me this living you're doing involves a man. A wonderful, hot, make-your-heart-stop man."

"It does." She grabbed Jolene's hands and tugged her away from the others. "But he's an athlete."

"Well, shit." Jolene crossed her arms, her dirty-blonde hair and light features so much like Oliver's.

"He had a serious injury during a game recently and still wants to continue playing." The panic around the trauma of Oliver's collapse and Dre's injury made it hard to get out her words. "I-I-I don't know if I can watch him do that."

Jolene wrapped her in a hug. "Tell me the best thing about him."

She said what Dre had said to her at the beach cabin, "He makes every day better." A smile beamed from her heart. "He calms me with a look or a touch. I'm so in love with him I can't think of anything else. I think I fell in love with him the day he helped my grandmother off the floor and called Grandpa a genius for eating off a Frisbee."

"A Frisbee?" Jolene's brows furrowed.

"Long story. The point is Dre has a way of making the people around him feel special."

"Dre is his name?"

Quinn bit her lip. "Andre Biel."

"Holy fu—" Jolene planted her fists on her hips, looking like she wanted to yell. She hissed instead. "You haven't mentioned anything in your texts. You've been seeing football's golden boy and didn't bother to tell me?"

"Don't feel left out, I just told my family last night. It's been a crazy few months with my grandparents, the tornado, teaching and—"

"Falling for the hottest man on the planet." Jolene laughed.

After they spoke a minute more, someone called Jolene to help with the auction. Quinn walked around and greeted the people she knew.

"Hi, Quinn," a familiar female voice called from behind her.

Gathering her courage, she spun around. At seeing Gabriella Stone's brown eyes, Quinn waited for the spike that had repeatedly jabbed at her the last ten years at the sight or even the thought of Gabby.

Any second the pain would assault her.

Any second.

It didn't happen.

Watching Oliver die on the court would have been enough to destroy Quinn, but what she'd witnessed between Gabby and Oliver the night before the game, how she'd never told a soul, made his death so much harder, so much darker.

Yet, none of it mattered any longer.

I forgive her.

The betrayal Quinn harbored since Oliver's death completely fell away. For the first time in ten years, a smile easily curved her lips as she looked at Gabby. They'd been so close throughout high school.

"It's wonderful to see you." She stepped forward and embraced her friend. After waiting years for Gabby to confide and apologize, Quinn finally understood why Gabby never said anything—she'd been protecting Quinn. And by keeping what she knew a secret, Quinn had done the same for Gabby. "Come tell me about your life in New York."

An hour later, Quinn got in line for the Mexican buffet. She and Gabby had laughed and talked for an hour, rekindling their friendship. Gabby still seemed hesitant, and Quinn hoped she'd realize what happened in the past needed to be left there.

Pictures of Oliver were scattered around and each one made her smile. She remembered how silly he acted at times. How he laughed at the strangest things, like horror films. The time they'd tried a cigarette, drank their first beer, and the first time they made love—the first time for both of them.

Forgiving Gabby had opened up a treasure trove of happy memories of Oliver. From the age of five, he and Quinn had been friends. That's what she would remember from now on. Maybe for the first time since he died, she was excited to celebrate Oliver and everything they'd meant to each other and how much brightness he brought into her life.

That made her think of the brightness in her life now, the reason for her transformation, her change of mind, her forgiveness.

Dre.

"Excuse me," came over the speakers.

Her heart leapt.

Surely, she was dreaming. She couldn't think of him only to have him appear. Right? Not wanting to wake if this was a dream, she closed her eyes.

"I'm looking for Quinn Weldon."

"Hey, you're Andre Biel!" someone yelled. "Saw you go down in the Denver game. How are you feeling, man?"

She wasn't dreaming.

"I'm healing well. Thanks for asking. About Quinn—"

"She's in line!" Jolene hollered.

Still stunned, Quinn blinked her eyes open and faced the stage.

Her gaze collided with Dre's. Gorgeous, dressed in a red Stop Sudden Cardiac Arrest t-shirt, he winked. "Found her, thank you. I feel privileged to be here today to remember Oliver Eckhart and raise money for sudden cardiac arrest. Please excuse my interruption." He jumped from the stage and started her way. People crowded around him, asking for autographs and to take pictures with him.

"I'll be happy to after I have a private moment with Quinn." He darted through the crowd and made it to her. "Is it okay that I'm here?"

"I'm thrilled you're here, but it's too soon after your surgery." She swallowed back the happy tears stinging her nose and throat. "And Jamaal needs you. Why did you leave him?"

"For this." He put his arms around her, and the next second his lips covered hers. It wasn't passionate, yet not a simple peck either. It declared ownership. He ended the kiss and hugged her tight.

"You came all this way for a kiss?"

"Sweetheart, I'd go to the ends of the earth for the slightest glimpse of you."

Joy sparked from her heart to every part of her body.

"I didn't learn why you were coming until your grandparents explained it to me late last night. I needed to be here, with you. I got here as fast as I could."

She beamed at him. "How's Mac?"

"Good." He rubbed her back. "We'll talk after I mingle a bit."

He took pictures, signed clothing, programs, and even skin. She loved how he spoke to each person, especially the children, giving them his full attention. Then she introduced him to Oliver's family, her friends, her parents, and her brothers.

"You must be Ike." Dre shook Ike's hand, and then turned to Shane. "And you must be Shane. I've watched some of your games with Quinn. You both are..."

Her brothers looked surprised he'd known their names, but recovered quickly and started chatting with him. While they talked, she fielded questions from the others on how she and Dre met.

After a while, Ike and Shane took off to get ready for their basketball game, and Dre returned to her side. "I brought some items for the auction. Can you help me get them?"

"Of course." They walked out of the gym hand-in-hand. The cold air greeted them with scents of funnel cake and popcorn.

"A lot of people showed up today," she said as they walked down the street where her dad parked. "I'm not surprised. The Eckharts are well known and Oliver's death shocked the community."

Dre stopped at a car and popped the trunk with a fob. He reached inside. "How are you?"

"There's so much I need to tell you. I should've explained long ago. I obviously don't need to explain how Oliver died. There was more than him dying on the court though."

He set down the jerseys he'd picked up, straightened, and faced her.

"I've never told this to anyone." She glanced around; making sure no one was close enough to hear. "Oliver and I started liking each other in eighth grade. We'd talked about being together forever. I thought he wanted to marry me. During our senior year, Oliver lived in his parents' pool house. It was like he had his own place. I spent a lot of time there. The night before he died, I snuck into the pool house to surprise him. When I entered, I heard noises. I peeked into the bedroom and saw him in bed with another girl. I immediately left and waited in my car to see if I could recognize the girl when she left. A while later, one of my best friends came out."

"Oh, sweetheart."

"I felt betrayed by both of them. I didn't get a chance to confront Oliver prior to the game. Then he suddenly died, and I couldn't be angry with a dead man." She shrugged. "I don't know if they'd been together that one time or if they'd been running around behind my back. I'm unsure if he saw other girls."

"Did you confront your friend?"

"I thought about it. Hell, I've thought about it for ten years. But what good would it do?"

"Closure?"

She shook her head. "I don't see how. I can't imagine I'd appreciate any answer. Anyway, I was not in a good place for far too long. Oliver's dying and his unfaithfulness were the reasons I refused to date athletes. I wasn't sure if I could trust one, or anyone, with my heart."

"That would screw with anyone's head, honey."

"The hardest part was I've never tried to treat my friend any differently than before, but I couldn't forgive her," she admitted. "Until now."

"What happened to change your mind?"

"You." The joyous tears she'd been holding in since she heard his voice flooded her eyes.

"Me?" He reached out and laced his fingers through hers.

"Yes." She squeezed his hands. "The way you love me has healed everything inside me." Hot tears trickled down her cold cheeks.

He pulled her close. His scrumptious citrusy scent tickled her senses as he kissed her forehead. She buried her head in his chest, his arms a fortress of love.

~

While they sat andate, different people roasted Oliver. Some stories funny, some sad. After the auction winners were announced, Dre grabbed a couple of plate warmers and headed into the kitchen to help the others who were picking up. The cafeteria kitchen had stainless steel counters, a sink, and serving line bars. Long cabinets surrounded three walls and the other had four stoves.

A woman turned from the sink and dried her hands on a towel. He recognized Quinn's friend, Gabby. She motioned to the counter. "You can place them there. Thank you."

"You bet." He set the warmers down and headed back toward the cafeteria.

"Andre, got a second?" she said.

Interest peaked, he wheeled around.

"Oliver's death traumatized us all. Perfectly healthy one moment and gone the next." Her voice slightly choked. A haunted expression passed over her face and sadness radiated from her. He instantly knew this was Quinn's friend who'd slept with Oliver, and she more than likely hadn't gotten over his death or her betrayal of Quinn.

"Quinn took it hard. She went through the motions of living, but the light had disappeared from her eyes." She smiled. "Today, I saw that light in her eyes again. It's beautiful to witness after being gone for so long. You've helped her over her grief. If you're merely having fun with her, please make sure she understands. I don't want to see her get hurt."

"What if she hurts me?" he teased.

Gabby's lips made a straight line. "She wouldn't know how."

True. Quinn was too sweet, too soft to hurt anyone, yet clearly a strong person. How much strength must it have taken for her to not tell anyone what she'd seen and never confront this woman?

Quinn entered the kitchen, her arms full of bowls and platters.

Gabby took a couple and put them in the sink. "I hope to see you both at the Eckharts' house later tonight." She left the kitchen.

Quinn set the rest of the platters on the counter. "The gathering isn't until eight. I'm sure you're tired and need to rest beforehand." She walked toward him, her green eyes bright.

"I will need a nap after I make love to you, so we might be a little late to the Eckharts'."

~

A delicious shiverskated through Quinn as she glanced at the entrance to the kitchen to make sure no one heard Dre. Her exhaustion from talking with her family until three in the morning vanished the instant she'd heard Dre's voice over the loudspeaker. But a nap sounded wonderful and making love to him even better.

"Are you sure it's okay I just showed up?"

"I'm so glad you're here." Dre coming today, and Quinn forgiving Gabby, freed her to fully open herself to him. The blossoming love she'd felt since meeting him burst from her heart. "Nothing compares to the love I feel for you, in you, around you. You care about people, you sympathize and empathize. I sense it in you."

"You do?"

"I do. Your life is a paradox. Your job is brutal, yet you have the gentlest, kindest spirit."

He looked uncertain as he said, "I can't promise you I'm quitting football. I'm torn about the whole thing. My body doesn't recover as fast as it used to, but I've come this far and would like to get the record for receiving touchdowns."

"I understand. That was another reason I didn't tell you about Oliver. I didn't want my past to be part of your decision of whether to retire or not. And I have a confession. I didn't want to run into you yesterday before my flight after you spoke about possibly playing again. It was silly. Even so, I can't say I'm thrilled about you playing or that I won't obsess or freak out if something happens to you."

"That's fair." He pulled a hotel keycard from his pocket and held it out to her. "I'm going to your brothers' basketball game. It starts in fifteen minutes in the gym. They told me there was no way you would attend, and I respect that. Why don't you go to my hotel and nap until I get there."

Her heart pounded. She hadn't been to any of her brothers' games since Oliver died. It was unfair to them and to herself. Totally unfair. "I want to go to the game."

He studied her.

"I do," she assured him. "I feel strong enough to go now."

With a promise to Jolene that they'd be back to help with the last of the cleanup, Quinn and Dre stepped inside the gym five minutes before tipoff.

Her brothers were on the court practicing jump shots. Ike saw her first. He bumped Shane's shoulder and pointed at her. They both stared.

She easily found her cheerleading voice. "Let's go, Rohan!"

Both of them ran over. Ike looked at Dre. "Thanks for convincing her to come."

"I didn't," Dre responded.

"What made you come, Quinn," Shane asked.

She made her complicated reason into a simple reply. "I've always supported you guys. You know that. Today I want to do it in person."

The referee blew the whistle.

"Go," she said. "Have a great game."

Both boys hugged her before they ran over to their bench.

She turned toward the crowded bleachers. Most everyone on Rohan's side wore red shirts, having come from the fundraiser. The visitors were pointing at Dre and murmuring to each other.

Her dad stood up, the biggest smile on his face, and motioned them over.

"I'm so glad you came." Mom excitedly moved down to make room for them.

Quinn sat next to Dre, tightly holding his hand the entire game. Her brothers both scored in the double digits. Afterward, she congratulated them and told her family they'd be at the Eckharts' party later. She and Dre returned to the cafeteria kitchen to help Jolene, but everything was spotless and no one was still around.

She turned to Dre and put her hand on his chest. "Will you ask me again?"

A quizzical look on his face, he placed his hands on her hips.

"Please," she whispered. "I never answered you before."

His expression cleared and understanding crossed his features. "No you didn't, did you?" He swiftly hoisted her onto the kitchen counter.

She let out a surprised squeak.

"I'm not letting you down this time until I get an answer." He tugged her body close to his as her feet dangled off the counter. "And you can't distract me with sex this time."

A laugh bubbled from her. "I did no such thing."

"I believe your exact words were, ‘We've never even made love, Dre. Who knows if we're sexually compatible?' That, my love, was a distraction and a challenge you knew I couldn't resist."

She smiled. He was right.

Dre stilled, his gaze filled with love. "My darling Quinn, will you marry me and spend the rest of your life chasing time with me?"

"Yes, every single day." Lifting her hands, she framed his face. "I love you beyond all measure."

He leaned forward, his lips against hers as he answered, "I hear that's what marriage is all about."

You changed my life without even trying, and I don't think I could ever tell you how much you mean to me. I can't imagine what things would be like if I hadn't met you. ~ Steve Marabol