"That's not what I'm saying, Quinn." I reached for her, but she stepped back farther. "I saw what you were like in Vegas at the tournament. That's what I want for you. That freedom and self-confidence."
"Why does everyone think they know how to live my life better than I do?" she asked. "Everyone around the table tonight. Trent, my father, you, and probably even that poor Nicky. And Sienna sure thought she could live my life better, but now she's dead."
I dropped my hands. "You're right, Quinn. I'm sorry. It’s up to you. I just hope I get to be part of it."
CHAPTER TWELVE
Owen
I left Quinn's parents' house and headed home. It took a long time sitting in my car in the driveway before I went inside.
"Something wrong with your car, man?" Jasper asked. "You started it like five times and then it turned off."
"No, it’s fine," I said. My roommate was the last person I wanted to talk to about Quinn. "Did you get the dream job?"
"Yeah, it's all lined up and it’s going to be sweet," Jasper said. "In fact, I'm going out to schmooze with a few of my new colleagues now. Wanna come?"
"No thanks."
Jasper breezed by me and out the door, leaving a strange odor behind him. I glanced at the kitchen, but the last time Jasper had cooked was over a year ago. Something smelled burnt, but it was too faint to make it out.
I had just slumped down on the couch when my phone rang. I strangled it for a moment. It wasn't Quinn, it was Scottie. I debated and then decided that he might cheer me up. No one had more problems with relationships than Scottie. He and Alison had been on and off for eight years. No matter the constant drama, they could not keep their hands off each other.
"She leave you again?" I asked.
"Owen, glad you're home. Alison left me again. Wait, how did you know?" Scottie asked.
"I took a Premonition Potion."
"Yeah, well if those worked, I would have known in Vegas that she was only going to mess me up again," Scottie said.
"So what are you going to do now?"
Scottie always had a bold new plan. "I'm starting over. Making a fresh start. Finding a whole new world, fresh blood, all that. Hey, I hear there's a party over at Winton's. Wanna go?"
"Winton's a gamer. We've played with him for the last six years. How is a party at his place going to be a fresh start?" I asked.
"I dunno, he invited a bunch of newbies," he said.
The thought of Quinn made me cringe. "I don't know if I can tonight."
"You have to, Owen. Come on, I can't go if I don't have a wingman and I have to go. I need this," he said.
I looked around my empty apartment. Anything was better than seeing reminders of Quinn everywhere. She needed her space, and I was determined to give it to her.
A half an hour later, and we were trapped in the entryway of Winton's condo. Someone had called in when they saw me get out of the car. The door was packed with newbies. Some wanted autographs, some wanted gaming tips, and everyone wanted to snap a picture with me.
Scottie took care of it all with a broad smile. "Why didn't I think of this sooner? You're a celebrity. I've got a celebrity wingman. That's right, ladies, Light Slayer is my wingman."
"Is it true that your avatar evolved in two days? Is that some kind of record?" a pretty woman with blue eyes asked.
Her boyfriend pulled her back inside. "It was three. Besides I heard that new girl evolved just as fast. Why don't you ask her?"
The comment kicked me in the chest. Was Quinn at the party? It could not be true. I had left her angry in her parents' basement with a full night of studying ahead of her. It would not be like her to sneak out and go to a party where she knew virtually no one.
Then it occurred to me that they all knew her virtually. Quinn had made quite an entrance at the tournament. It would not be a surprise if Winton and the whole band of local gamers found her IP address and invited her along.
"Hey, there's Quinn," Scottie said. "No, wait, man, you can't leave me yet!"
Quinn spotted me halfway across the living room and rushed over so fast that I took two steps backward. "Did you set this up? You invited me on purpose?" she asked.
I stepped closer to her and looked down over my chest. "Let me guess, a Thief named LonesomeTown invited you. That would be Winton. Not me. I'm not in the habit of stalking newbies."
"Oh, so now I'm a newbie?" Quinn asked. "No more 'this is how you really lead your life’?"
"Look, Quinn, I'm not going to apologize for having an opinion or sharing it with you. If you don't want to listen to what I have to say, that's fine with me. Your life is your life. Don't think I want to get in the way," I said. Then I stepped around her and headed for the kitchen. I was glad to find a bowl of Winton's legendary blue punch on ice.
Winton himself poured me a glass. "So, I met your girl Quinn and I gotta say, man, she is perfect for you."
"Isn't she, though?" Artemis kissed my cheek and smiled. "You are so happy when you're around here. I mean the difference is huge. I'm so glad for you."
I had to laugh. Everywhere I went my friends told me how great Quinn and I were together – on the one night we had never been farther apart.
Scottie found me. "Don't worry, wingman, I've been doing just fine without you. Though I had a nice side chat with your girl Quinn. Man, she is wonderful. It was good seeing you two together in Vegas. Finally, someone that makes you happy, lets you be you," he said.
That was it. I put down my blue punch and turned to find Quinn. We ran into each other in the narrow back hallway.
"I was looking for you," Quinn said.
"And I'm supposed to say that I was not looking for you," I said. She was too close and I did not know what to do with my hands.
"I'm sorry for what I said earlier. You were just trying to help," she said.
"No, you're right. I shouldn't be pushing you towards something that I want. This is your life, Quinn. I don't want you to feel any pressure from me."
As soon as I said it, all I could think about was the pressure of her lips against mine. Her firm body pressed against me. The pressure that built between us when we moved together.
"Quinn! Hey! I was hoping you might be here," the young desk clerk from the Wynn Hotel called down the hallway.
"It’s okay, go mingle. Have some fun," I said.
She squeezed my arm and smiled. I wished she had noticed the hoarse longing in my voice. I cleared my throat and watched her go. Quinn was still free to make her own decisions. We both were. What had happened in Vegas might have just been a one-time deal.
#
Watching Quinn make the rounds of the party with Dave was too much. Her smile was too bright. I could not look away. He got her a drink, helped her through the crowd, and listened intensely to everything she said. Quinn enjoyed the easy flirting and it lit her up like a sparkling firework.
"Oh no, man, don't do this," Scottie said. He handed me a full cup of blue punch. "Not tonight. I need my wingman tonight and a wingman cannot have that look on his face."