Sacrifice
Page 112

Actually, she could. Despite nearly smashing her face in, up to that point, the music had seemed to carry her, like her movement and the song had combined to form something more potent than just a hastily thrown-together dance in a dusty backroom studio at the Y.
She bit the inside of her cheek, trying not to imagine how massive and ungainly she looked next to Adam. “When is your audition?”
“Next month. Four weeks.”
“Four weeks?” she exclaimed. “Are you kidding me?”
“Come on, that’s nothing.”
“Yes, but—but—”
“Don’t let her out of it,” Nick said.
Quinn swung her head around. “Maybe we can cut the commentary?”
Nick met her eyes from across the room, and held them. “Sure, if you say yes.”
“But I don’t—”
“Jesus, Quinn,” Nick snapped. “What else do you have to do?”
And that was one of the things she liked about Nick. He put up with her whining until she was almost sick of herself, and then he called her on her bullshit.
At least it would get her out of the house and away from her mother. And Jake.
And away from those idiot cheerleaders.
And maybe, somewhere deep down inside, she really wanted to see if she could do this.
She looked back at Adam. “All right. Let’s work it out.”
They sketched out a routine, modifying his original piece to incorporate a partner, putting together some moves that she could work on alone.
The whole time, Nick sat without complaint, even when she asked if he needed to go. He’d shrugged and said he was enjoying the music. She’d had other guys come to the studio before, but they usually sighed and started shuffling around after a half hour.
Nick watched. It was both flattering and unnerving.
They danced until her muscles ached and the director was walking around, turning off lights and threatening to lock them inside.
Then they were walking outside, stepping into the cold night air, their breath just starting to fog.
Yes, she was definitely regretting the little booty shorts. Quinn shivered.
Nick had keys in his hand, and he hit the clicker. The lights on his brother’s red work truck flashed. “Get in,” he said. “I’ll put the heat on.”
Oh, wow. She had to grab the handle over the door to even get into this thing.
Adam was standing there, watching her.
No. He was watching Nick. Nick, who was pointedly not looking back at him.
“So, tomorrow morning?” said Adam.
“Sure,” she said, even though he wasn’t even looking at her. “Nine?”
“You coming, too?” he said to Nick.
Nick shrugged and looked at the sky. “Can’t. I told my brother I’d help with a job.”
“So can I get your number then?”
Nick sucked in a breath, looking thrown, like Adam had socked him in the stomach.
Quinn stifled a giggle at his reaction. If Nick Merrick was into guys, half the female population at Old Mill would be sobbing. “Adam, he’s not g*y.”
For the first time all night, Adam lost the smile.
Nick ran a hand through his hair, looking completely unnerved. “Sorry, man—I just—”
“Nah.” Adam shook it off, and a shadow of his smile reappeared. “It’s cool. My bad.” He gave Quinn a wave and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Nick was quiet when they headed out on the road.
“Sorry,” she said, trying to warm her hands by the vents. The truck cab was freezing, and the engine didn’t seem to want to blow warm air. “He didn’t mean anything by it.”
Nick’s voice was somewhat hollow. “It’s okay.”
“He’s not usually that bold. I can’t believe he asked for your number.”
Nick didn’t say anything. Quinn wondered if he really was pissed.
That made her frown. “It’s not catching, you know,” she said.
He glanced over, and his voice was mild. “Quinn, I’m not upset about it.”
She chewed on that for a minute and wondered whether to push or to leave it.
Before she could make a decision, Nick reached out and touched her cheek. “I think you sell yourself short. You’re an amazing dancer.”
His hand was warm, and she leaned into the contact. “Thanks heaps, but you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He laughed. “I guess. But I couldn’t see any great disparity between you and him.”
“Disparity. God, sometimes it’s a wonder you and Gabriel are twin brothers.”
Nick sobered. “Why?”
“You’re like a walking SAT prep book. I guarantee if you went home, Gabriel wouldn’t even know the meaning of the word. On the outside, you’re absolutely identical, but on the inside, it’s like you’re polar opposites.”
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair again. “Trust me, I know exactly what you mean.”
CHAPTER 3
Nick threw the truck into park in the lot in front of Quinn’s condo building.
He made no move to kill the engine.
She made no move to get out.
In fact, she was staring out the windshield, clutching her sweatshirt to her chest again. The moonlight traced silver along the lines of her face, leaving her eyes in shadow. Her jaw was tight.
“Do you want me to drive you to Becca’s instead?” he said.