Page 54 of For Your Consideration

“You have two weeks before we do it for you,” Quinn quickly said.

“Great, it’s settled.” Noah nodded. “Thanks, Q!”

Everyone called out their goodbyes as he hung up.

“Any other votes needed this morning?” Knight asked as he pushed to stand, and when no one said anything he nodded and turned to leave. “I’m heading out.”

“Where?” Jaxson looked over at him.

“Getting a tattoo.”

“In the middle of the day?” Noah questioned but Knight didn’t even respond. We owned the business, it wasn’t like any of us tracked each other, he was just being a shit.

“Bet he’s getting a tattoo for Quinn,” Will said.

“Shocked he hasn’t already,” Oli added with a nod.

I followed Knight out so I could get some work done.

Later that night I knocked on their door. I had the code but since it was after eight, I didn’t want to just walk in.

“Ash?” Knight asked as he pulled the door open. Thor was standing at his side and let out a happy bark at seeing me but didn’t pounce. We’d worked on that while they’d been gone. “Friend.” Knight released Thor from his side so he could come toward me, barking and spinning in a circle as I leaned over to pet him.

I hadn’t let Knight and Quinn know I was coming, and I could tell he was surprised.

“Theo?” Quinn’s voice got louder as she got closer to the door.

As she came into view I blurted out, “I bought a house.”

“You what?” Quinn stood beside Knight as I ran a hand over my head.

“The house down the street.”

“Why are we having this conversation in the doorway?” Quinn looked startled as she stepped to the side, dragging Knight with her.

We made our way into the living room, Knight moving to the bar cart without me having to ask. Once the drink was in my hand, Knight sat on the armrest of the chair where Quinn had sat down, one arm going behind her as her free hand went to his thigh.

“Okay, let’s start again. What are you doing here, Ash? You bought a house?” Quinn watched me closely.

“I saw the one down the street was for sale while I was staying here. I bought it that weekend. Had Noah rush some renovations, and now it’s done. I can move in.”

“Okay…” Quinn looked up at Knight then back to me. “I’m thrilled that you’re going to be living so close. But what else is going on, Ash?”

I let out a sigh and ran my hand over my head again. Quinn might as well be my sister. She knew I wouldn’t just show up. I didn’t do this. “I don’t know what’s going on with me.”

Knight’s brows furrowed. “What’s going on? Do you need to see a doctor?”

Quinn rolled her eyes and squeezed his thigh. “He’s having feelings. It’s fine. Keep talking.”

“It’s not feelings,” I grumbled as I took a sip of my drink. “At first, I just wanted to figure Sutton out. Then I did that—I learned she has a kid. That explained why she was so tired. I helped her, got her somewhere stable. So why the fuck does my chest hurt every single fucking time she looks at me or touches my arm or calls me?”

Quinn sat there for a moment, letting it settle. But then she just continued to smile at me. I had no fucking clue why. I needed advice or help or something. “You like her.”

I shook my head. “That’s not what this is. I don’t like people, aside from you and the other men of course.”

“Ash…” she pushed.

“Fine,” I ground out. “I like her, everything about her apparently. I like how she carries herself, I like how she treats me and the people around her. I like how she’s the prettiest person I’ve ever seen. And everything is making me think of her. I see anything that’s fucking pink and boom, Sutton is on my mind because she told me it’s her favorite color and she wears it often.” I pushed up from my chair. I didn’t know what had gotten into me tonight. I’d been sitting in my apartment, having just finished a Facetime with Sutton and Sophie, with this tension in my body. I’d needed to get out, so I thought I’d go look at the constellations in my yard, but instead I’d ended up here. “What am I supposed to do about that?”