Across The Hall (42 page)

compare to Quinn.

Quinn closed my phone, laid it on the table in front of him, and picked up the remote. He sat back and closed the laptop, placing it on the floor

next to the couch. He threw his arm around my shoulder and pul ed me next to him. I breathed in deeply. I loved the smel of Quinn. It was uniquely

him and I could never get enough of it. He placed a kiss on the top of my head and I felt him draw in a deep breath and knew he was taking me in,

too.

“Sylvia it wil al be okay. Don’t worry. I wil never let anything happen to you.” He whispered it, and I wasn’t sure if he was reassuring himself or

me. He turned the TV on then and we sat together like that and flipped through the channels, each trying to put Beau from our minds.

Quinn and I spent the lazy day I had looked forward to. It would have been perfect if Beau hadn’t continued to text throughout the day. In the end,

we were both on edge and started to snip at each other over little things. I would have liked some time apart but I knew there was no way he was

going to let me out of his sight any time soon. Final y I grabbed some of the work I had yet to turn in from last semester and worked on that.

I didn’t pay any attention to the time. When Quinn asked me what I wanted for supper I realized the sun was gone and it was already dark out. I

stood up to make something.

Before I could Quinn suggested. “Let’s just order delivery. I feel like some Chinese tonight.” He smiled at me and I knew it was an attempt to

lighten the tension.

“That sounds perfect. I think I have some menus somewhere around here.” I started for the kitchen to look in the junk drawer but Quinn stopped

me. He pul ed me into a big hug.

“I know where they are. I’l get them. You keep working and I’l cal the order in.”

I smiled and thanked him, tel ing him what I wanted. I went back and worked on my paper until the food arrived. We ate in the living room, sitting

on the floor in front of the coffee table. Quinn turned on The Princess Bride and we laughed as we watched, both of us quoting along with the movie.

It was relaxing, even though Beau texted once more. I didn’t open it. I would worry about it later.

We were both up fairly early the next morning. We needed to go to the grocery store and it was going to be a busy day. Sloane and Kai were due

in just after 2pm and Reed and Kerri at 7pm. Quinn had promised to pick them up, which meant two trips to the airport.

I was looking forward to seeing them al again. I real y missed them. It had been less than two weeks, but for me it was real y closer to six. I hadn’t

real y been myself after the accident and didn’t actual y interact much with them since before Thanksgiving. I was ready for some girl time. I couldn’t

wait to hear al about the proposals. They both cal ed to tel me they were engaged, but both wanted to wait and share the stories when we were al

together. I was excited for them but I also knew that it was going to send them both into planning mode. I hoped they would talk to each other about

it more than me. I hated that stuff, but I would go along with whatever they wanted or needed because I loved them. They were, for al intents and

purposes, my family. Although after Christmas I realized I also had the Lobatos. It felt good knowing that I belonged with al of them.

On the way back into the apartment from the grocery store, I shivered. I had the eerie feeling that I was being watched. I looked around, but didn’t

see anything suspicious. I scanned the parking lot and street, expecting to see Beau’s truck or motorcycle. I didn’t see either one but I stil couldn’t

shake the feeling. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and my stomach was queasy. Quinn stopped and turned back to me when he realized I

wasn’t behind him.

“Sylvia?”

“Sorry. I’m coming.”

“Is everything alright? You look pale.” He was examining my face trying to detect what was wrong.

“Yeah it’s alright. I just had a strange feeling. I’m being paranoid is al ?” I was sure that was al there was to it. The texts obviously stil had me on

edge.

Quinn looked around, too, careful y taking in our surroundings. “Let’s just go in, okay?” I nodded and he pul ed me tight to him.

Once we were on the third floor, he started towards my apartment. I had a sudden surge of panic. Even though I choked it down I stil couldn’t

bring myself to want to go in.

“Can we put this stuff in your apartment?”

He looked at me with confusion. “Sure.” The word was drawn out and I knew it was more of a question than an answer. I felt like I needed to

explain myself.

“I just have a strange feeling and just don’t want to be in my apartment right now.” I tried to shrug it off as no big deal but I knew Quinn knew better.

“That’s fine. We can put it in mine. My cupboards are bare anyway.” He tried to sound reassuring, but I could hear a hint of suspicion in his tone.

I was so relieved that he didn’t make a bigger deal out of it. While we were putting away the groceries I got another text. I knew it wasn’t Kai or

Kerri because they were supposed to be in the air about then.

Beautiful Sylvia I miss u please call me I need to hear ur voice - B

This time I was angry. I tossed my phone down and went into a rant. “Seriously, does he think I’m real y going to cal him back? Why does he

keep texting me? Why won’t he get the hint? I don’t want anything to do with him. Ugh.” I yel ed it at no one, but I knew Quinn heard every word.

He came up behind me and pressed against my back. He placed his hand on my thigh, effectively stopping me from kicking the cupboard in front

of me.

“Sylvia, he’s getting a rise out of you. It’s exactly what he wants. He wants you to be thinking about him. Don’t let him. Why don’t you go watch

some TV or something to take your mind off it and I’l finish putting away the groceries?”

I knew Quinn was right. Beau was just trying to get to me.

“I want to get started on a few things for tomorrow’s party. I’l just stay in here and work on that.” I planned to make a big meal for al of us and even

a few treats. I had put it off al week and now I was down to crunch time.

“That sounds like a good idea. I’l turn some music on and finish with the groceries then I can help you out.”

I cringed a little. Sometimes Quinn in the kitchen was a bigger hindrance than a help, but I was far enough behind that he could be useful with little

tasks like chopping or stirring.

We worked together in the kitchen until it was time to go get Kai and Sloane. I sent him over to my apartment several times to get things I

needed. We decided to have the party at my place since it was the only one between the two of ours that was decorated. Which I suspected Kai

had done sometime before she left. I didn’t recal her doing it but everything before Christmas was a haze. After getting Kai and Sloane we worked

some more until it was time to get Kerri and Reed.

It had been Kerri’s first time going to Reed’s and the way home from the airport was fil ed with laughter as she told us the craziest stories about

his family. Even though I had yet to hear about the proposals, I did get to ooh and ah at their rings. Kerri’s was the classic big rock. I didn’t

understand carats and cuts, but from the way she went on it must have been a big deal. Kai’s was smal er but circled with brightly colored stones.

We left Reed and Kerri in their apartment and stopped off at mine to pick up their presents. We took them back to Quinn’s and wrapped them. By

the time we were done I was ready for bed. I was exhausted and needed to be up in the morning to start the ham I planned to make for lunch.

Before I went to bed I checked my phone, only to see that the battery had died. Quinn ran over to my apartment and grabbed the cord so I could

recharge it. Once that was set up, I went to sleep.

I slept restlessly, even though I was in Quinn’s arms. My dreams always started out good. In one I was walking down the aisle towards Quinn, but

once I was there I looked up expecting Quinn’s brown eyes only to be met with Beau’s steely blue ones. In another I walked through a large house,

possibly a castle, and I was looking for Quinn. Yet every door I opened was empty. I was about to give up but I tried one more only to step in and

have the door close behind me. I tried opening it but it wouldn’t budge. I heard laughter and turned to find the source of it, it was Beau standing in

front of me. He said,
“You are mine now, Sylvia. You will never leave me again.”
I woke up screaming from that one.

Quinn calmed me down, holding me and humming to me. I fel asleep once again and this time I dreamed that I was in the hospital. I was holding

a baby in my arms and arguing with someone over the name. We were arguing about girls’ names, so I assumed the child was a girl. Something

inside of me told me that I was arguing with Beau yet when I looked up, it was Quinn smiling back at me. I didn’t recal anything after that.

I awoke later than I intended to the next morning. Quinn was stil sleeping peaceful y beside me. I slipped out of bed quietly, hoping I wouldn’t

disturb him. I went over to my apartment to start the ham. I figured there was no sense to making it at his place if we were only going to end up at

mine for the day anyway. While I was there, I straightened up the place and took a shower. After I was done, I went to my room to get dressed.

I was standing in front of my vanity when I realized something was missing. The pendant I had hanging on the mirror wasn’t there. It was the

pendant my dad had given my mother when I was born. It had been his mother’s and his grandmother’s. It was passed down whenever the first child

was born. After my mother’s death Dad gave it to me. I never wore it but hung it from my mirror where I could always see it. I looked around the top

of the vanity but didn’t see it. I figured the vanity was probably bumped into and it fel off. I just got down on my hands and knees to look for it when I

heard my door open and Kai cal out to me. Sighing I stood up to go see what she wanted. I would just have to look for it later.

“Sylvia?”

“Don’t you ever knock?” I scowled at her then started giggling. I was just happy to see her.

“I thought you might be in the shower. I came up to see if you needed any help.”

“Like you would know what to do in the kitchen. I’m good with it al . Quinn and I started most of it yesterday. Just come talk to me. I want to hear al

about your Christmas.” I pul ed her with me over to the couch and we both sat down.

“So you and Quinn were cooking huh? I see that things are going wel between the two of you.” Her eyes were currently sapphire and twinkled

knowingly at me.

I bit my bottom lip and then grinned, as visions of Quinn and me al over the apartment played through my head. “Very good. In fact, I think it may

be going even better than it had before.”

“Oh, Sylvia. I am so happy for you,” she squealed and hugged me. After she pul ed back, her face was serious. “And how is everything else?” Kai

held on to my hands and squeezed them, gently letting me know she cared and was concerned.

I sighed. “What exactly are you referring too?” I wasn’t sure if she wanted to know how I was dealing with the grief or if she somehow knew Beau

was back in the picture.

“Al of it. I want to know how you’re feeling. The glow of love is overshadowing everything, but I can see there is something more going on in your

head.”

I nodded and told her al about my breakdown, how I yel ed at Quinn and sent him away and how he came back. I talked about staying at the

Lobatos’ and how great it felt. I explained why Quinn broke it off and how even though I stil don’t agree that it was the right decision; I at least

understood why he made it. I blushed as I briefly revealed parts of our blissful week alone. We giggled together and she teased me that if I wasn’t

careful I would turn into Kerri.

Once the laughter died down the mood become sober as I fil ed her in on Beau’s texts and how Quinn thought he’d seen him on the street. I held

back about feeling like I was being watched. I never was able to confirm it and I didn’t want to concern anyone or make them think I was going crazy.

She asked why I hadn’t gone to the police, and I explained to her how we looked it up and didn’t think he had done enough for them to do anything.

We sat silently for a few seconds after I was done. I suspected she knew I was leaving something out but she didn’t press me on it.

“What about you? I want to hear al about your vacation. How was the fam?” For just a moment, she had a far away dreamy look in her eyes. I

could only imagine what she was thinking about. She snapped out of it and proceeded to give me a play by play of her holiday. She stil wouldn’t tel

me about how Sloane proposed. She just got that same starry eyed look and smiled softly and shook her head. By the time she was done it was

time to start the rest of the lunch.

“I wonder where Quinn is. I figured he would have been over here the moment he realized I wasn’t at his place.”

Kai was moving decorations around on the tree. She didn’t break from her task as she answered “Oh, Sloane wanted to talk to him about a

couple things. He knew that I wanted some time with you.” She stepped back and looked at her work and frowned a little before switching a couple

things around and smiling, obviously pleased with the results. I watched her and shook my head, she was such a perfectionist.

Kai helped me go over to Quinn’s and get al the food I had over there. Quinn and Sloane helped us carry it al over. Then Kai and Sloane went

home to get their gifts and check on Reed and Kerri. Quinn helped me finish up the meal as we waited for the others to come over.