Jack: Don’t curse your needy pussy. It’s not her fault.
My mouth falls open when I realize what he must think he just heard. I groan, my head falling back against the headboard.
I snatch Milo under his two front legs and pull him up to my face, squishing my cheek against his soft fur, and snapping a selfie in the low light of the room.
I send the picture to Jack as an explanation and hear a bellowed, “What the fuck?!” from the other side of the wall.
I snicker at his jealous reaction and send him another text.
Quinn: Goodnight, Jack.
Kronk is still snoozing away, disturbed by neither Milo’s appearance nor the chaotic sounds coming from both me and Jack.
Pathetic dog.So protective.
I guess I’m snuggling with the cat tonight.
My screen lights up again with an incoming text.
Jack: Goodnight, baby.
The fact that he is respecting my boundaries is both endearing and infuriating.
I’m looking forward to thoroughly pushing him over the edge tomorrow.
I curl my body around Milo’s and close my eyes, quickly falling into a dreamless sleep.
23
THE OBSESSION I HAVE WITH THIS MAN
QUINN
The windowsin Jack’s office are massive—definitely not part of the original architecture. The room itself is charming; dark wood furniture and scattered stacks of papers. It smells like Jack, which makes me want to curl up in his chair and take a nap instead of going to class.
I stand near his desk, cradling Sienna in my arms as she coos and giggles, her tiny fingers grasping at the air. At least it’s not my hair this time.
Jack is busy arranging his lecture notes, a look of concentration etched on his face. He’s not supposed to be at work today.
"Are you sure about this?" I ask, shifting Sienna to my other hip. "I can always skip class today. It's not a big deal." I would argue that I’m fine on my own, but I’m not sure I am.
He looks up, his blue eyes softening when they meet mine. "I’m not letting you get any further behind than you already are. You need to finish your degree this semester, and you have enough to worry about without adding piled-up schoolwork to the list. You've worked too hard to let some creep disrupt your life." He walks over, gently taking Sienna from me. "Besides, Sienna loves visiting Daddy’s office. Right, little bear?"
Sienna giggles, her eyes wide and curious as Jack bounces her. The sight of them together always fills my heart with a warmth I never thought I'd feel again regarding father figures. I love the love he has for her so much it hurts.
"I know, but I hate feeling like a burden," I admit, biting my lip. "You already do so much." Dad of the year and professor extraordinaire, not to mention the new tasks of keeping me sane and alive.
"You're not a burden, Quinn," He says firmly, his expression serious. "You're our Quinny. Our family. We want to be near you.Iwant to be near you."
His words make my heart swell. Family—something I haven’t had outside my aunt and Kruz—and hearing Jack say that he considers me such makes me feel valued in a way I haven’t felt in such a long time. I nod, taking a deep breath. "Okay. But if anything happens, you’ll come get me, right?"
"Promise. I'll be right here, just a phone call away."
I give Sienna a quick kiss on her forehead, inhaling her sweet baby scent, and then turn to leave. The hallways of the college are already buzzing with students, their chatter and laughter a stark contrast to the anxiety that gnaws at my insides. I clutch my bag tightly, scanning the faces around me, wondering if any of them are people I need to be worried about right now.
Jack insisted on driving me to and from classes, but the thought of being watched, of not knowing who could be a part of all this bullshit, has me constantly on edge whether he’s around or not.
I wouldn’t call the feeling I feel fear. More like annoyance and anger.
