Fireworks: A Holiday Bad Boy Romance (55 page)

"Sick is more
like it," I said.

"I know a
cure for that," Owen said. He gave me a smacking kiss and got us two more
beers. He really was not kidding about wanting to drink and party.

My only
consolation was that Anya appeared to be captivated by Jasper. Owen told me
they had flirted very heavily the night she stayed over and it seemed like they
were picking up right where they left off.

"Wouldn't
that be a good couple? Then they could both go off to wherever his new job is
and leave us in peace," Owen said.

"I like the
sound of that. But I wouldn't want to break up your clan," I said.

"Quinn, it’s
a game," he said. "I know it’s my job, but it’s also just a game.
This is real life." He slipped his hand around my waist and squeezed.

"How drunk
are you?"

He shook his head.
"I can handle it. Sienna never liked me to drink."

I frowned. It was
the most effective way to get me off his case, but I was disgusted that he had
used it. "Well, you have fun with that and I'm going to go look up your
roommate. Something still doesn't feel right."

Jasper had moved
Owen's computer to a kitchen cupboard and I pulled it down and tucked myself
into the corner. From there, I was not shocked to pull up scant results for
Jasper Collins. He had a few social media accounts, but there was nothing about
his work. No profile webpage, no advertising, no freelance hub connections.

I looked up and
accidentally caught Jasper's eye. He was watching me with a steady look that
belied his carefree partying facade. The look made a chill run up the back of
my neck. It only got worse when I saw Anya shamelessly flirting with Jasper.
She rubbed her tightly clad body along his, but her eyes were on Owen.

"Not in the
mood to party?" Owen asked. He leaned heavily against the counter next to
me.

"I guess I'm
still wishing our quiet night together had stayed that way," I said.

I knew Owen needed
to relax and I knew he was surrounded by friends. If anyone was allowed to cut
loose and drink, it was him. He was home, he wasn't going anywhere, and he
needed to blow off some steam. Still, I did not like the smell of alcohol on
his breath or the semi-glaze creeping across his eyes.

"Can I make a
confession?" he asked.

"Are you sure
you want to do that now?"

"You
mentioned earlier and earlier I couldn't really find the right thing to
say." Owen took both of my hands. "I probably still can't figure out
the right words, but I've got a better chance now that I've had a few
beers."

"A boozy confession?
How romantic," I said.

"Really,
Quinn? I'm about to tell you that I think I've always loved you and all you can
do is judge me for drinking a few beers?" He dropped my hands.

"You know
that's not true. I'm not judging you. I just think maybe this isn't the time or
the place. There are other things you should be worrying about," I said.

"I don't want
to worry, that's the whole point," Owen said. His voice was getting too
loud. "Sienna made me worry all the time. The only time I felt like I
could be myself was with you."

"Please,
Owen, can we at least go outside?" I asked.

"You know
what she used to say about you? Sienna used to call you flighty. Said you
weren't really that good at anything so you tried anything. She said you tried
your whole life to find something you could do better than her. Is that the
reason you're with me? Is that the reason you quit your nursing program and
have been messing around with my profession?"

My chest hurt, but
I took a deep breath. "You know better than anyone the hurtful things
Sienna could say when she was on a downswing."

"What? You
don't think I noticed?" he asked. "You don't think I asked if she
wanted to get help?"

"I think
maybe this conversation really has nothing to do with me," I said. I
pushed out of the kitchen corner, but Owen grabbed my arm.

"I'm trying
to tell you how much I care for you and you're walking away?" he asked.

"You're drunk
and you're hurting me. I'm leaving," I said.

I yanked my arm
free and dodged through the crowded apartment to the door. I thought the fresh
air would help, but as soon as I got to the front steps and took a deep breath,
I felt a sob rise up from my chest.

Owen had not meant
any of it to come out that way. He had drunk a few beers, let his guard down,
and his filter was gone. I knew if I just went home, I would probably hear
drunken apology messages all night. It would be best to just wait and see him
tomorrow.

I started down the
sidewalk but turned around after two steps and jogged back inside Owen's
apartment building. Trent was on his way up the driveway. The fact that Jasper
had found out Trent's connection to Owen and myself and still invited him
creeped me out. He had to be up to something. I decided I had to go back
upstairs and try one more time to get Owen out of there.

I headed up the
back staircase and almost laughed out loud at myself. I was being ridiculous
and tiptoeing. Maybe Owen was right and I was acting paranoid. I was debating
heading home again when I came around the corner and stopped dead in my tracks.

Jasper was
standing at their downstairs neighbor's door. The old man that lived there had
always been very friendly. He had lived there for eight years and was close
friends with the landlord. Lately, I knew he had told Owen about his car
breaking down. He was retired and on a fixed budget and had asked Owen and
Jasper if they could help him shop for a cheap car online. Owen had been happy
to help him out.

Jasper and the
neighbor were whispering back and forth. The neighbor had his phone out and the
two checked their watches as they talked. Then Jasper handed him an envelope.
The neighbor tucked his phone back in his pocket and checked the cash contents
of the envelope.

I slipped back
around the corner and stood there with my heart pounding.
What on earth had I just seen?

"Hiding from
me?" a voice asked.

I stifled a
scream. When I whirled around and saw it was Trent, I slapped his arm hard.
"Why are you sneaking up on me? What are you doing here?"

"Jasper
invited me. Didn't he tell you we met? How's that for a coincidence? Though,
I'd like to think maybe it was fate," Trent said. His normally flamboyant
energy was subdued and even his smile was a lower wattage than normal.
 

"Fate? What
are you talking about?" My heart was still in my throat.

"I miss you,
Quinn. I know you've moved on and you don't really want to forgive me, but I
have to know we can at least be friends," Trent said.

I peeked around
the corner and was relieved when Jasper was gone. The neighbor's door was shut
tight. "Alright, friend, help me figure out something," I said.
"Let's say I have this other friend who keeps getting his apartment
searched by the cops. Then I see his roommate paying off a neighbor with an
envelope of cash."

"So, the
roommate's setting up your friend," Trent said.

"But
why?"

"You know
you're sounding crazy, right?" Trent asked.

I pushed my hair
back. "Yeah, I know. How about you just tell me how you and Jasper met,
instead?"

"It was the
night of that awful dinner party at your parents' house," Trent said.

I stifled another
scream, this one of frustration. "You mean the dinner party that you
brought your 'boy toy' to? You are the one that made it awful."

Trent shrugged.
"Well, anyway, my 'boy toy' as you call him wanted to go out clubbing.
Then it turns out he likes to get high too. Before I know it, he's off dancing
with this group of locals. Turns out one of them was Jasper. I mentioned
Summerlin and he talked about living here with Owen. I put the rest together.
Crazy, right?"

"Where did
Nicky get the drugs?" I asked.

"Who?"

"Your 'boy
toy,' Nicky? Where did he get the drugs?" I asked again more slowly.

"From the
locals. Good stuff too. Maybe you should try some pot, it might mellow you out.
Though I have to say you are looking really good."

"Do you think
he got it from Jasper?" I asked.

"It wouldn't
surprise me." Trent smiled, catching on. "Wait, is Owen your friend
and Jasper the shady roommate that's paying off the neighbor? That makes so
much sense."

"How does
that make any sense?"

"If Jasper
really is a drug dealer, then he has a built-in scapegoat with your boy Owen.
It’s easy for people to believe a 'professional gamer' is a pothead that
probably sells to his friends. So, when Jasper starts to feel a little heat, he
moves on and leaves Owen to take the blame," Trent said.

"Oh my God, I
have to find Owen," I said.

"Right behind
you," Trent said. I waved him away, but he was never one to turn down a
party invitation or the possibility of a scene.

CHAPTER
TWENTY

Quinn

I
tried to ditch Trent at the door to Owen's apartment, but he would not be put
off. So, it was almost a relief when Jasper came over.

"Trent, good
to see you again. Isn't it crazy that we all know each other?" Jasper
asked.

I laughed.
"What a coincidence. And thanks for inviting my ex-boyfriend to your
party. That's not weird at all."

Jasper held up his
hands. "Whoa, I thought you were friendly. Trent said it was a mutual
breakup."

"Of course,
he did." I gave Trent a look. The whole situation was a farce, but I had
to go along with it. "Trent was just telling me he'd love to see some of
your work. He knows a lot of students at UCLA that are thinking about starting
their own businesses over the summer. Maybe he can recommend you to do the
website design."

"Oh, you're
into website design? I didn't know that," Trent said.

"I know
you're starting a new job and all soon, but go ahead and show him your
freelance work," I said.

Jasper nodded, his
eyes cool. "Sure, sure. But how about a drink first?"

"Speaking of
drinking, have you seen Owen?" I asked.

"Yeah, he
does seem to be getting into the party spirit," Jasper said. "I think
I saw him head outside. I thought he was chasing after you. Good thing he
didn't see you two walking in together."

"Thanks,"
I said and turned around.
 

I stopped in the
stairwell and considered my choices. I could just knock on the neighbor's door
and confront him with my suspicions. He might break down and admit to calling
the police and trying to frame Owen for drugs.

Or I could head
back up to the party and continue asking Jasper's so-called friends how they
met. He would catch on to me quickly, but that was the best way to force the
strange situation to a head.

Maybe I could even
ask Anya what she knew about Jasper. If he thought she was trying to make Owen
jealous, he could have tried to involve her in his set-up plan.

I was halfway down
the stairs again when I realized it did not feel right. Why did I believe
anything that came out of Jasper's mouth?

I turned around
and dove back into the crowded apartment. Owen's height made him easy to spot,
but I could not see him anywhere. The only other place besides the bathroom
that he could be out of sight was his bedroom. I headed down the short hall.
His door was ajar and I pushed it open, calling his name.

"Owen?"

He was stretched
out on his bed with Anya draped over him. Her black hair draped over their
faces, but I could see what was happening. Owen's hands roved up her body then
froze as my voice registered.

"Wait. Quinn?
Quinn!" he called.

Anya sat up and
smiled. She did not move out of the way and Owen fumbled to sit up around her.

"I thought
you left," he said.

That was the last
thing I needed to hear. I should have left. I should have gone home and left
this entire mess behind me. Why did I keep thinking this was a good part of my
life?

I rushed down the
short hallway and into the crush of people in the main room. In a panic, I
moved to the right so Owen could not see me. A group of Jasper's strange
acquaintances were chatting by the windows and I slipped behind them. Owen
dodged drunkenly out of the hallway and towards the door. My only thought was
to make my way around to the kitchen. If he came back in, maybe he would assume
I had locked myself in the bathroom and I could slip out.

The only wrench in
my tearful plan was Trent. He met me in the living room. "Are you okay?
What happened?" he asked.

"You are the
last person I want to talk to right now," I told him.

Trent caught sight
of Anya sauntering out of the bedroom. "No way. Please tell me he
didn't."

"Didn't do
what?" I skirted around a few more partyers and into the crowded kitchen.

Trent followed me
and grabbed my elbow. "Tell me he did not cheat on you with that chick in
the green dress."

"He's drunk.
I don't know what I saw. Maybe he went to lie down and she kissed him," I
said.

"Honey, no
matter what, you know it’s not okay," Trent said.

"This coming
from you?" I asked. I pushed past more people and slipped around to the
wall near the entryway. If Owen came crashing back in, I could slip out without
him seeing.

"That's why I
came tonight," Trent said. "I get it. I was so full of myself that I
thought I could do whatever I wanted. Then, you broke up with me and I used it
as an excuse to go wild. Now it’s been long enough that it’s all worn off, like
a giant hangover. I feel terrible. I want to make it up to you."

"You
understand that now is not the time, right?" I asked. I blinked back my
tears hard. I stood flat against the wall as if it was the only thing holding
me up. I was not strong enough to elude Owen and get away from Trent.

"Please,
honey, just let me be your friend," Trent said. He peeled my hands off the
wall and kissed my knuckles. "What do you want me to do? Beat the shit out
of him? Get you out of here? What?"

"Yes, please,
just get me out of here. Without him seeing."

"Without him
seeing what?" Owen asked. He had appeared in the doorway while Trent was
tugging on my hands.

My throat closed
up. Owen scowled at our joined hands.

"You didn't
want me to see you with your ex-boyfriend?" he asked. His eyes were more
glazed than before.

It was more than I
could take. I shoved Owen hard in the chest and marched out the apartment door.
I knew both he and Trent were chasing me down the hallway, but I refused to
run.

Owen caught me at
the top of the stairs. "You're with Trent?"

"No. But I am
the one that caught you kissing Anya in your bedroom or did you somehow forget
about that?" I asked.

"That wasn't
what it looked like."

"Oh, you
alone on your bed kissing another girl doesn't look suspicious, but me talking
to Trent in a room full of people is something to get angry about?" My
voice was too loud, but I did not care.

"Owen, are
you okay?" Anya appeared in the door of his apartment.

"You've got
to be kidding me," I said. I crossed my arms and waited to see how Owen
would act.

"I'm fine,
everything's fine," Owen said.

"Yeah, sure,
everything's fine," I said. "Oh, by the way, Jasper is paying one of
your neighbors to rat on you to the police. He's a drug dealer and is planning
to blame you so he can make a clean getaway and set up in some other
town."

"Quinn, it
sounds like maybe you've had a little too much to drink," Anya said. She
came down the hallway and took Owen's arm.

I felt my heart
tumble down the stairs when he did not pull away from her. "Owen, I'm
serious. Let's just get out of here. Let's go to the trailhead and cool off for
a while."

"And get a
DUI?" Anya asked. "Seriously, Quinn, are you looking out for him or
trying to get him in more trouble?"

"She's
right," Owen said. "I drank too much and I should just stay
here."

I had nothing else
to say. I tried to look in Owen's eyes, but he looked tired and drunk. Anya
tugged on his arm, and he started to turn around and follow her back to his
apartment. I wanted to grab him, to shake him, to make him see that I was not
the one acting crazy, but I couldn't. It hurt too much.

I was tired of
chasing after everyone else's problems. When I looked around, I saw Anya pining
after a man that did not really want her. Owen was being set-up by someone
close to him. Trent was wanting to fix a mistake he could not take back. None
of those problems were mine.

I could just walk
away.

So I did.

I walked across
the front lawn and wondered how long ago I should have done it. My whole life I
was always tied up with Sienna's problems or plans. Or I was helping my mother
cope with hers. Or I was trying to please my father. Or I was loving someone I did
not think would ever love me back.

I should have just
walked away.

The thought was
freeing. I felt like walking out into the desert. There, at least, the cold and
desolation would make sense. Freedom was supposed to be exhilarating.

Then I heard footsteps
crashing down the sidewalk behind me and my heart started to beat again. I did
not want to ignore other people's problems, I wanted to help, but first I
needed someone to need me.

"Quinn, wait,
let me drive you home," Trent said. He caught up to me and gave a sad
smile when he saw my face. "Yeah, I know. You wish it was him chasing you.
I wished you would have chased me to Vegas that night."

"The night
you embarrassed everyone and tried to flaunt your 'boy toy' in my face?" I
asked.

"I was trying
to make you jealous, I guess. It was awful. I know," he said. "If it
makes you feel any better, Owen's a wreck."

"How is that
supposed to make me feel any better? Here I'm trying to help and nothing
helps," I said.

"Quinn,
sweetie, it’s not up to you to save everyone," Trent said.

Sienna flashed
through my mind so sharp that I bent over as if her memory cut me. The tears
started, ones that should have been shed long ago, and I could not stop. Trent
helped me into his car, got in, and locked the doors.

"What are you
crying about?" he asked. "It’s about her, isn't it?"

"She was
mean," I said. "No one ever believed it, but she could be really
mean. Still, I loved her. I only wanted her to be happy. I spent my entire life
trying to keep her happy. Owen understands that. Maybe that's all we had. Maybe
it was all wrong."

"I don't
think any of that," he waved up to the still-crowded apartment, "has
anything to do with your sister. I think that is a man who has loved you for a
long time and let himself get scared."

"How would
you know that?"

"Let me see,
you two got close, like really intimate close and it felt really good. Then, a
bunch of his friends came around and he felt good enough to cut loose. Then, he
drank too much and freaked himself out. The more he drank, the more he felt for
you and the more he drank because it was a scary feeling. Then, he did
something he never intended to do and it screwed everything up," Trent
said.

"Yeah, maybe.
That might be right," I conceded. "It seems like something that might
happen. I just wish it wouldn't keep happening to me."

Trent kissed my
cheek. "How about I make you a deal? I'll drive you home and then I'll go
back to the party and nut-punch Owen if he tries to do anything stupid
again."

I laughed.
"What's my end of this honorable bargain?"

"Just let me
try to be your friend?"

"I'll try,
but I might have to see it to believe it," I said.