Page 55 of The Devil's Reward
“I’m so sorry, Shadow,” Quinn says softly, putting her hand on mine.
I shrug slightly. “I took enough leave to deal with her affairs and then went right back. Honestly, Quinn, it wasn’t a sad experience for me. Yes, she was my mom, but she wasn’t important. She didn’t love me, and I’m not all that sure why she kept me around. I imagine mostly for the paychecks she got for me, but otherwise, she ignored me. I’m not telling you this so you can feel bad for me, though,” I quickly add when her mouth turns down into a frown. “I made out just fine.”
“I don’t know what I would do without Macy,” Quinn says, looking over to where Macy is playing with Arya and Sansa in the ball pit. “Bobby might’ve been an asshole, but he gave me her, and that’s the only reason I don’t hate him as much as I should. Even if he didn’t want her, I did.”
“She’s a damn good kid,” I tell her. “And you’re a damn good mom, Quinn.”
She blushes, but she smiles. “I try.”
We make small talk while we wait for our food, and I’m not bored. Quinn has many intricacies that make me want to peel back all her layers and learn everything I can about her. The way she smiles when she talks about Macy and some funny thing she’s gotten up to in the past. The way she blushes when I look at her a little too long or compliment her. How she’s eager to answer my questions, but also listens closely when I answer hers.
When the food finally arrives, she calls out to Macy, who pouts as she heads over, but then perks up when she sees the large pizza we ordered. “Wow,” she gasps as she climbs in next to her mother. “Is this all for me?”
I chuckle. “You don’t want to share with the rest of us?” I tease her.
She grins at me. “Can I have as many pieces as I want first?” she asks coyly.
“Macy,” Quinn says in warning. “How about you start with one piece and then we’ll see if you’re still hungry. And you have to share.”
“Fine,” Macy says dramatically, waiting impatiently as Quinn puts a piece on her plate. I wait until Macy and Quinn both have their slices before I grab mine. Macy attacks her food with vengeance, and I have to bite back a laugh. She acts like she’s starving and hasn’t eaten in days, and Quinn rolls her eyes my way.
“Slow down, Macy,” Quinn orders. “You’ll choke.”
Macy slows, but it’s clear she’s not happy about it. Then she looks at me and I see the calculating gleam in her eyes. “So are you my Mom’s boyfriend now?” she asks bluntly when she finally swallows her food.
Quinn chokes on her pizza and I freeze, pizza hanging in mid-air. “Uhhhh,” I start.
“Maddie’s mom’s best friend has a boyfriend, but he’s not as nice as you,” Macy continues like she doesn’t notice her mother silently freaking out. I promised slow, but this certainly doesn’t feel like something slow. “Does that mean you’re going to sleep over and stuff? I’m okay with it, but I don’t share my stuffed animals,” she warns me with a glare. “No boy germs allowed.”
“I think that is a very smart idea, young lady,” a deep voice says and I look up to find Simon Lincoln, his sons, Dale Lane, Bullet, and King all standing there. Simon is the one who spoke, and he winks at Macy. “Boys are no good anyway, right?”
“Right,” Macy agrees, beaming at him. “My Grandpa says they only think with one brain and it’s not the right brain. Do boys have two brains?” she asks curiously.
Quinn’s face is flaming and I can’t stop my laughter. The other men chuckle, while Asa steps away to keep from laughing like a hyena. King grins wickedly. “I’m afraid that’s a figure of speech, sugar,” he says to Macy, “but sometimes when boys get older they can act like they have no brain at all.”
“Brian from school acts like he has no brain all the time,” Macy agrees. “He’s always calling me Minnie and pulling my hair. Then he acts like he doesn’t do it and it makes me so mad. I wonder if his mom dropped him as a baby or something.”
I laugh harder, while Quinn just puts her head in her hands. “I like her,” King declares. “I think we need to keep her around. She’ll keep those boys on their toes and it’s going to be damn entertaining to watch.”
“Don’t encourage her,” Quinn moans.
“We need to pair her up with Rose and the girls,” Asa says gleefully as he comes back over.
“No!” Bullet and I both bark, sharing a knowing look.
“Speaking of which,” I say quickly, changing the subject, “who let the women loose on the unsuspecting population? Without chaperones?”
“You’re here aren’t you?” Simon replies with a wicked grin. “We figured they’d be in good hands with you around. Or you’d end up tied up in a closet when you tried to ruin their fun.”
“I had twenty bucks on that outcome,” Maverick whines.
I give him a cool stare. As if that would ever happen. He just grins at me, unperturbed. I introduce them all to Quinn, who blushes and shakes their hands quickly. “Now would you all leave us alone too so I can get back to my date?” I ask impatiently. “If you’re all standing here, no one is watching your women, and I am not pulling their as-I mean, butts out of the fire for you,” I quickly correct.
“I know you were going to say ass,” Macy pipes up.
“Macy Mae,” Quinn warns immediately in her best mom voice.
“What?” Macy asks innocently. “It means donkey. Grandpa said so.”
