Chapter 15

chapter fifteen

Quinn

Ava and I had fallen into the perfect little roommate routine. In fact, we had actually created our own little on-campus bubble. Our dorm was a safe space and I loved that. Ava didn't bring random people here, or random guys, and I liked that. I won't lie and say I wasn't worried that I'd have some inconsiderate roommate that would bring different guys in every night. I was worried.

Like, what a nightmare. Having to listen to people fuck right next to you? Ick.

Ava was a good friend. She'd only been with one other guy and she said she wouldn't get with anyone else unless they were in a relationship.

She was a relationship girl, and so was I. You know, until the cruise when I decided to lose my mind and sleep with a guy I just met.

Call it a minor lapse in judgment.

I shrug, slipping out of my bed and into my slippers. I look down at my phone and the three missed calls and sigh. Something might be wrong, my sister usually wouldn't call me back to back like that.

"Quinny, oh my god, are you okay? I've tried calling you like a bajillion times."

I tilt my brows in, "You called me three times this morning, and I just talked to you yesterday. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, Jake proposed!!"

"Oh. Em. Gee!" I squeal. "That's amazing!!"

"I knowwww," she drags. "I thought he was gonna do it on the cruise but he waited until we went to visit his family in Banff. Oh my God, Quinn. This place is so beautiful."

"I'm happy for you," I tell Liv, letting her gush on and on about Jake, explaining every little detail about her wedding plans. "And I know I should ask you in person but I'm just too excited. Quinny, will you be my maid of honor?"

My eyes fill with tears and my throat burns. Mom won't be there. She won't be there to see Liv get married. She won't see me get married.

"Of course," I choke, trying not to bawl my eyes out. "Of course I will."

"Don't you dare start cryin' on me, sis."

"I'm not," I sniffle. "I'm just so happy for you."

"That's enough about me. How are things at Ridge U? Settle in okay?"

I sigh, thinking about everything that's happened this far with Grayson. "Yeah, everything is good. My new roommate is great."

She is silent for a beat before her wary voice comes through, "And how are things with Grayson there?"

I take a deep breath and sigh, "Did he tell you?"

Her voice instantly goes up an octave, "Tell me what?"

I wonder what exactly she knows, if Grayson told her the truth, or if he lied to Liv too. Then it hits me, there's no way that she knows. She'd never keep anything like that from me.

Part of me wants to offload it on her, tell her everything, but the other part of me wouldn't dare ruin her perfect day with this. I'll tell her, but now just isn't the right time.

"Nothing," I quip.

"Quinn, for god's sake, if something is going on please tell me. Otherwise, I'll just sit and worry."

I clutch the charm on my necklace between my forefinger and thumb, fiddling with it, "Liv, I'm fine. I promise."

She doesn't prod, for once, and we go on to talk more about school and Ava. I even tell her about Remi and how he might be one of the coolest people I've ever met. Then we end the call, after me promising a hundred times I'll call her more.

"Your sister is getting married?" Ava asks, pulling her outfit from her wardrobe on her side of the room.

"Yep," I say falling backward dramatically on my bed, "Honestly, I can't believe it didn't happen sooner. They've been dating for a gazillion years."

Ava raises her brow, "Really? A gazillion?"

I giggle, "Well, not a gazillion but a solid few. He's great."

"Sounds romantic," she sighs. "Meanwhile, I can't even get a guy to invite me to a party and not be fucking some girl by the time I get there."

I growl in frustration, "Guys are dumb."

"That one guy from Voltage with the glasses, though, what was his name again? You know, perfect teeth, perfect attitude, perfect ass?"

I can't help but grin as she rambles, "Remi?"

"Yessss," She drawls. "Rem-ing-ton. Now that is a man."

I can't help but smile as she gushes on about him.

"Quinny, we should go to the football game this weekend. I bet there will be loads of muscular, sexy men there."

I tilt my brows in, "By loads, you mean one? Remi?"

"Okay, fine. Yes, Remi."

I cross my arms over my chest to argue, "I don't want to go. Grayson will be there."

She cocks her hips out, "So? You can't spend the entire semester hiding, Quinn. Fuck him."

I lower my eyes at her shorter frame, "Fine. You're right."

"I am?" She smirks, batting her eyelashes dramatically. "I love when you say that."

I shove her arm, knocking her off balance, "Don't get used to it."