A Broken Soul(32)

He looked like he was two seconds from having an aneurism, so I took pity on him. "I'm kidding! Me and Soph will order a pizza so we can Netflix and chill. Don't worry."

His lips quirked just a fraction, and I would have given anything to get a real smile from him. That quirk did nothing but make me more determined to wear him down. I was going to get a smile from him that actually reached his eyes if it killed me.

"I must be losing my mind," he muttered under his breath. "Okay, fine. Lilly's watching you tonight, Angel. That means you have to do exactly what she tells you. And no tricks."

I hadn't thought it was possible for a kid her age, but Sophia actually looked affronted as she declared, "I don't trick!"

Quinn gave her what could only be described as The Father Face. I knew it well. I'd gotten it from my own dad quite a bit growing up. The reminder of my dad sent a pang of sadness through me that I had to work to swallow down.

"Yeah?" he asked, unconvinced. "What's your bedtime?"

"Nine."

"Nice try," he grunted, turning from his daughter to me. "Her bedtime's eight. Don't let her play you. Trust me, she'll try."

I winked down at a bereft Sophia, earning myself a grin. "I think I can handle it."

"Famous last words," Quinn replied before taking his daughter's hand. "All right then. Does six work for you?"

"Yep. I'll be there."

Maybe it was the little girl in me, maybe it was because I was happy to have something to fill my time with so I could keep my mind off my dad, maybe it was just because I really liked Sophia and her father. But whatever the reason, I was excited for my sleepover tonight.





IT WAS JUST a little after eight-thirty when my cellphone rang. Picking up the remote, I clicked pause on the episode of Vikings I'd found in Quinn's DVR. I had to admit, the show was addicting. I was only on the first episode, and if Sophia hadn't run me ragged in the two hours she'd been awake, I would have probably stayed up all night binge watching. 

Hitting the green button on my phone I lifted it to my ear. "Hello?"

"Oh good," Quinn's voice came through the line. "You're still alive. I was afraid one or both of you would have burned the house down by now."

Despite the twitch in my lips, I fought a smile and deadpanned, "Your faith in me as a babysitter is touching, really. I'm swooning as we speak."

His deep, rough chuckle sent a shiver up my spine. I loved it when he laughed. He didn't do nearly enough of it. He was a good man, he deserved to laugh more. "She asleep?"

"Out like a light," I confirmed. "That shot of whiskey I gave her right before we watched The Walking Dead knocked her right out. Can't promise it'll help with the nightmares though. That show's gory as hell, Quinn. I couldn't believe it when she told me you let her watch it. What were you thinking?"

"What?!"

I burst into laughter. "I'm kidding! Would you relax? We watched some cartoon movie that now makes me wish I had a snowman of my own, and I read her Cinderella three times before she finally passed out."

He remained silent long enough for me to question my decision to joke around. When he finally spoke again, it wasn't what I'd been expecting to hear.

"I never thanked you for watching Sophia for me. I know you acted like it wasn't big deal for you, but it means a lot to me that you'd put your plans on hold for the night to babysit her at the drop of a hat."

For a man of few words, he sure was good at talking when he wanted to be. And seeing as our relationship started off with him pretending I didn't exist, hearing him say something like that felt really, really nice.

"She's a great kid," I said softly, pulling my knees up and hugging them to my chest. "You're doing well with her, Quinn. It might not feel like it sometimes, but you're a great dad. She adores you."

He spoke just as quietly as I just had when he said, "I can't tell you how much it means to hear that. Sometimes I worry that I'm screwing everything up."

Unable to sit still as Quinn opened himself up to me, showing me a new side of him I'd never seen before, I stood from the couch and began walking aimlessly. "I wouldn't have said it if it wasn't true. I work with children enough to know when they've got it good at home and when they don't. You'd be shocked how many parents are checked out of their own kid's life. You're doing the best you can, Quinn. It shows."

My words ended just as I my feet stopped moving. Right in front of his bedroom door. The door was opened just a crack and, for some reason, my curiosity was peaked.

"Thanks." His voice was gruff, but I knew he was being sincere.

"You're welcome," I replied, just as my fingers reached out of their own accord and pushed the door open a bit more.