Midnight Muse

QUINN

“Idon’t have class right now,” is what I decide to go with, but the lie is easily detectible. I’ve never been great at skirting the truth to my parents, and the look my father shoots me as I let them inside tells me he knows it, too.

“Hi, my baby, I’ve missed you!” Rory’s mother barges into the kitchen, racing to her youngest daughter and throwing her arms around her. I try not to roll my eyes. Of course, I would be the only one getting scolded for skipping out when we’re both supposed to be in class right now.

I hug my mom on her way in and am about to do the same with dad but he stops in the doorway, assessing me as if he’s taking note of all of the things that have changed about me in the two and a half months I’ve been away from home. To me, he looks the same, brownish hair peppered with gray streaks, those familiar laugh lines crinkling when he squints at me as if I’m about to reveal a secret truth to why we aren’t in class right now, but I don’t break his hazelnut stare.

Finally, he relents, grinning as he pulls me into his arms. I release the door and fold myself into his warmth, familiar and comforting and loving. Tears prick my eyes as I squeeze him as tightly as I can. I’ve missed my parents so much. Talking on the phone has nothing on this.

“How’s my girl doing?” He asks as he pulls away, ruffling my hair. I scowl, batting his hands as I reach for the door to shut it. The sound of the elevator dinging draws our attention, my father grumbling about the age-old contraption and how he and Zak could have it in perfect working condition before the weekend ends.

I’m sure my landlord would love that, actually.

“I’m good, dad,” I answer, distracted by the doors opening. Why I thought our neighbors would go to class is my bad. I should know them better by now.

Knox leads the pack, Slate and Ace on his heels. They’re all laughing about something and my breath catches in my chest at the sight of Knox’s easy smile.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen something better.

Said smile slowly falls when he sees me standing in the doorway to my apartment. His steps slow and that’s when Ace and Slate finally take notice of me as well. They’re all carrying cases of beer like it isn’t eleven in the morning on a Friday.

Knox’s jade gaze flits over my shoulder where my father stands at my back. It dawns on me then, eyes widening, that I need to shut this door right the fuck now before my dad puts together that these are the noisy neighbors I’ve complained about so many times.

It seems that he does realize that it’s them.

“So, you’re the boys that have been keeping my daughter up all ends of the night?” My dad asks, puffing his chest and crossing his arms. I want to slap my hand over my forehead as embarrassment flares. Slate is the only one that can’t force back a snicker, and my father scowls.

Knox’s stare burns me to my core, the minuscule slash of amusement he allows me to see. I blush—hard—and something takes flight in my stomach the longer he looks at me like that.

“Wow, dad,” I mutter, shoving him desperately into my apartment before turning back toward the hall. I glare at the three boys before shutting the door in their faces, and yeah, it does feel kind of good, actually. I can’t blame them for doing it to me and Rory. Except that I can, and I will. “Only three minutes in and you’ve already mortified the fuck out of me.”

“Language,” my mother scolds and I roll my eyes before diving into her arms.

“I’ve missed you, but you’re early. A little warning would’ve been nice.”

She pulls away, scolding me lightly. “Why? Because you would’ve actually gone to class?”

I shake my head. I’m never going to live that down now. I really wish Sam was here so I could blame this on him somehow, but the fucker already visited me and his refusal to fly down for parent’s weekend still stands.

Older brothers.

I bet if Peep came calling, he’d rush out here like a chicken with its head cut off. He’s been ignoring my prying every time we’ve spoken since her party and it’s more than annoying because I’m his sister—he should want to tell me things. Then I remember how I accidentally let it slip to our parents that there’s something going on with them and now both sets of parents are trying to force this thing between him and Peep even further.

Oops.

“I know, I know, I should’ve gone to class. It won’t happen again, I promise,” I say, guiding them further into the room. Rory and her mom are already hastily making plans, while her father roots around in the fridge. “Is there anything else you want to hear, or can we start having fun now?”

My mom shoots me a reprimanding look, shaking her head before twirling a strand of my hair around her fingers as she admires me. “Look at how long your hair has gotten,” she exclaims, eyes getting teary, “My baby girl, looking so grown up.”

“Mom,” I whine, easing myself from her grip. “You don’t see Mrs. Wilson doing that to Rory, do you?” I ask, gesturing to where my roommate sits with her mother who is doing exactly that.

Okay…moving on.

“How about you girls give us a tour of the campus?” Mrs. Wilson suggests, and I’ve never been quicker to agree to something in my life. Anything to get my parents out of our apartment before the wild boys next door start cranking their music, or worse. I don’t need my dad barging over there and embarrassing me even more than he already has.

Knox’s amused gaze still lingers in my mind.

“That sounds like a great idea, Mrs. Wilson! Let’s go!”