“I may have to crash on your sofa.”
“Of course you can. Let’s do that. I’ll order a pizza, we’ll open another bottle of wine and deal with the disaster our love lives have become.”
“That sounds like a perfect plan.”
Sienna looked at her sister. “You’re not happy.”
“I miss Quinn.”
Sienna waited.
Courtney grimaced. “I know, I know. I’m an idiot. A wonderful man loves me, and I send him away because I’m scared. It’s what I did with my job. Hiding behind what was safe. Am I hiding again or being sensible?”
“You’re hiding.”
Courtney rolled her eyes. “You don’t want to think about that before you answer?”
“Sorry, no. Look, it’s always easier to see what’s wrong with other people than with ourselves. You knew I didn’t love David. I know you care about Quinn a lot more than you’re willing to admit. So what are you going to do about it? Be brave or be stupid?”
“Ouch. Are those my only choices?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Sienna had to admit she was feeling pretty damned smug. She didn’t have to deal with her crisis for over a week. So it was easy to tell other people what to do.
“Do I have to decide tonight?”
“It would probably be best if you didn’t.”
“Then I won’t.”
“That’s my girl.”
The new recording studios were currently empty, but soon they would be filled with equipment. Soundproofing had been added to make sure that no outside noise got in, and no inside noise got out. Upstairs were offices, workrooms and a large kitchen/living room area. Writing and recording took time and energy. Sessions could go well into the night. People needed access to food and a chance to unwind.
For a couple of days, Quinn had toyed with the idea of putting in a couple of bedrooms, where artists could crash between sessions, but he’d decided against it. The sofas in the living room were enough. Access to a bedroom was only going to cause trouble with the nonmusical partners.
“It’s totally rad,” Peter said, his voice filled with awe. “I can’t wait to record here.”
“Me, too,” Collins added.
“The equipment gets delivered next week,” Wayne told them. “State-of-the-art. Quinn picked it all himself.”
“So if you don’t like it, you know who to blame.” Quinn pointed to the stairs. “Be careful when you go up. It’s not finished yet.”
He didn’t want his most successful band getting injured by falling through a wall or down stairs.
“We should be up and running by the middle of September,” Wayne told him when the guys had disappeared upstairs. “Just let me know when you’re ready for me to start looking for a house for you. I’ve heard good things about a local real estate agent. I’m going to get in touch with him.” Wayne looked momentarily uncomfortable. “Should I, ah, talk to Courtney about the house?”
Quinn knew there would come a day when hearing her name wouldn’t be a big deal. When he wouldn’t feel the fist to the gut or a drowning sense of loss. Eventually, he would be able to be pragmatic. No big deal. They’d had a good time and then it had ended.
“What?” Wayne demanded. “What happened?”
“We’re not together anymore.”
His retired marine assistant actually flinched. “You didn’t say anything.”
“I didn’t want to talk about it.”
“And now?”
“Still don’t.”
“What happened?”
Quinn told himself not to take anything out on Wayne. Nothing was his fault. “I told her I loved her and she ran. Literally. It was impressive.”
“She’s scared.”
That was what he thought, too. Given her past—all she’d been through—she wouldn’t trust easily. Wouldn’t want to take the risk. She’d been so angry at his declaration. He knew that fear lived behind the anger, but that didn’t make being without her any easier.
“She’ll come around,” Wayne told him.
“Not so far.”
“When did this happen?”
“On the way home from LA. I told her in the car.” He grimaced. “Not my most romantic moment.”
“She’ll come around,” Wayne repeated. “You two are good together. You’re happy with her and she’s happy with you. Don’t give up.”
He’d never been a big believer in hope. It generally let him down. He was more of a doer. But in this case, he wasn’t sure what he should be doing. His heart said for him to go to her. His head said to give her time.