“Quinn!” His father’s loud bark called out from behind them and all four cringed, shrinking slightly at the familiar tone.
“Oh, shit,” Kane muttered. “You did it now.” Everyone but Quinn scattered fast.
Quinn turned to see his father striding toward him, knowing that he had to man up to whatever lecture his father was about to deliver. “Uh, hi, Pops.”
“Can I see you in the office for a minute, son?” Seamus asked, but there was no doubt that this was not a request. Standing over him, his voice was commanding.
Nodding, Quinn followed his father back through the gym and into the offices. Seamus dropped into one of the chairs and motioned for him to sit in the one across from him. They stared at each other for a minute, Seamus’s arms crossed over his chest.
His father spoke first. “Want to tell me what the hell you’re doing beating the shit out of employees?”
“Not particularly…is that an option?” Quinn gave the tiniest smile, trying to break the ice. A lot of his anger had seeped out of him with the physical altercation, and he just felt emotionally exhausted now.
“Quinn,” Seamus warned.
Okay, so joking wasn’t going to get him out of this.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Pops. I misinterpreted what I saw between him and Casey. Got a little carried away.”
Seamus exhaled loudly. “Well, hell, if he was hitting on Casey, you should have hit him harder.”
Quinn laughed. “He wasn’t. He’s a good guy.”
He wasn’t even sure where that statement was coming from, but his hatred for Flynn had dissipated the moment he saw blood rushing out of his lip. Quinn appreciated the fact that Flynn hadn’t tried to hit back or even made that huge a deal out of it. So far, at least. Plus, seeing that Casey was no longer interested in him suddenly made Quinn like him more.
Shit. He needed to apologize.
“Listen, can your old man give you some advice?” Seamus picked up a pencil off the desk, fiddling with it between his fingers.
Quinn shrugged. “Sure.”
“Don’t end things with Kiera.” His father said it so matter-of-factly, like it was such an easy thing to do.
“That’s really not an option…”
Seamus cut him off. “Why not? Because she’s moving? Son, you’re twenty-seven with nothing stopping you—why can’t you move out there with her?”
Quinn frowned. “To Seattle? Are you serious? Pops, I work here. For you. I live here. I’ve always lived here.”
“Listen, I’m not saying it wouldn’t be an adjustment—or that we should tell your mother I’m encouraging this—but you’ve been walking around here miserable and angry for weeks.” Seamus sighed. “And back when Kiera first left for college, I thought you’d never recover from that heartbreak.”
Quinn swallowed hard, both not wanting to be reminded of it, and a little embarrassed his family had seen him like that.
“But when you two were together, that was the best version of my son I’ve ever seen—and I love all the versions,” Seamus continued, leaning forward and propping his elbows on his knees. “Do you love her, Q?”
Quinn didn’t hesitate—there was no question there. “Of course I love her.”
“Enough to fight for her?”
“She wants to go, Pops. I can’t stop her.” He didn’t want to stop her. He wanted her to pursue her dreams and be happy—even if that meant he wasn’t. It’s what he’d always done, put others’ needs before his own. “Hell, I’m not even sure if she’s already moved or not.”
Seamus reached out a hand, dropping it on Quinn’s shoulder. “You might not be in a ring like your brothers, but you’re a fighter. Quinn, you’re the strongest fighter I’ve ever had in my corner, but now it’s your turn. You need to fight for what you want. If you love this girl, you need to fight for her…for yourself.”
Quinn contemplated his father’s words. If there was one thing he’d never done, it was fight for Kiera. Back then, or now. He’d just let life happen and expected Kiera would make the best choice for herself, assuming he shouldn’t interfere.
But she was wrong this time. He was wrong. They belonged together. He’d known it since they were children—that hadn’t changed.
The simplicity of the revelation surprised him—fight for what he wanted. A lifetime of putting others first and he’d never once considered that what he wanted mattered, too. And he wanted her. He always had.
“What about Legends?” Quinn asked, his mind going a million miles an hour as he considered what it would mean to go after what he wanted.
Seamus shrugged. “Quinn, I’ve been wanting to fire you since the night of your art show.”
“Wait, what?” Quinn was stunned. “Why?”
“You don’t belong here, kid.” His father’s face was beaming, unmistakably full of pride. “You’ve got plenty of money saved up while you’re getting off the ground, and now you’re getting commissioned pieces. You’ll be a successful artist in no time—and you can easily do that in Seattle. It would be a great injustice to the world—to this family—if you were stuck behind this desk or on the sidelines of a ring for the rest of your life.”
Warmth rose in his cheeks at his father’s words. “Pops—”
“I’m serious, kid.” Seamus cut him off. “I know this business, this family, is all you’ve ever known, but it doesn’t have to be. I appreciate everything you’ve done for us—hell, I can’t even begin to say that about your brothers. You stepped up when we almost lost everything. You stepped up when I didn’t have anyone else, and we wouldn’t be the business we are today without you. And that’s exactly why we will be fine without you. It’s your turn, kid.” Seamus stood and patted Quinn on the shoulder again, before walking toward the door. Pausing, he turned to look back at him. “Hey, Quinn?”
Quinn, still seated, looked up at his father. “Yeah?”
“You’re fired,” Seamus said. He took another step out the door then quickly poked his head back in. “Unless your mother asks, then you quit and I tried everything to convince you to stay.”
Quinn laughed, definitely not looking forward to his mother finding out. “Thanks, Pops.”
Alone in his office, momentarily insulated from the outside world, Quinn leaned back in his chair, locking his hands behind his neck. The thick door muffled the everyday sounds of the busy gym, dulling them to faint thuds and clanks and every once in a while a cheer. His stomach rolled with anticipation—a mixture of excitement and terror—at the idea of a fresh start, at the idea of pursuing both a career and a woman he wanted.
He loved Legends and the work he did there. He was proud of it even, but it was still only a job. When he was in the studio, molding metal and creating figures from flames, he felt alive in a way he’d never known before. It was even similar to how he felt around Kiera—awake, as if for the first time.
Resolution stirred in his gut. He was going to fight—for her and for his art.
He was going to fight for himself.
Chapter 28
“Quinn!” Fiona greeted him, swinging the front door open. She and Kieran lived in a huge renovated condo over the flower shop she owned in Woodlawn.
“Hi.” Quinn smiled at his sister-in-law. “I know I didn’t call first, but, um…can I come in?”
Fiona stepped to the side and extended her hand. “Of course you can come in. That’s not even a question. You’re always welcome here!”
“I actually brought something with me,” he said, pulling the small white puppy with the black eye out from his coat and holding him up in his hands. “Meet J.D.”
Fiona gasped, her smile widening as she scooped the puppy from his arms and cuddled him to her face. “Quinn, he’s such a cutie! I didn’t know you got a dog.”
Quinn looked around their living room to see if anyone else was there, but it was just the two of them. He walked over to the couch and dropped down, shuffling his coat off behind him. “Actually, I didn’t.”
Sh
e looked between him and the puppy, her smile slowly fading as she realized what he was saying. “Quinn—”
“Hear me out, Fi,” he interrupted. “I know I’m a total dick. An unexpected puppy is a terrible Christmas present—I get it. Vet bills, food, time…”
Fiona chuckled. “You’re selling this really well.” She sat next to him on the couch, rubbing J.D.’s belly as he rolled in her lap. “He is a cutie…”
“Jimmy found him and his brother, Turk, outside my studio. I’ve looked everywhere for their owners—nothing. Put up signs, posted online—nothing. The clinic can take them, but I was thinking…maybe we need them,” Quinn explained. “After Ace? No one dog could fill his shoes.”
A soft sigh slid from Fiona’s lips. “Oh, Ace. I miss him, but Shea? She’s been devastated.”
“I’ve noticed she’s struggling with it,” Quinn said, his heart pulling for the little girl. “That’s why I was thinking maybe J.D. would be able to help. Rory’s already fallen in love with Turk and refuses to part with him.”
Fiona looked between him and the puppy currently chewing the edge of her thumb. Sighing again, a smile lit up her face. “There’s certainly no replacement for Ace,” she said adamantly, looking at him, then looking back down at the puppy, a softer gaze in her eyes. “But there’s room in our hearts to love another creature.”
“So you’ll take him?” Quinn clasped his hands together, as if in prayer. He adored the little pups and had loved having them the last few weeks, but big changes were happening in his life, and puppies didn’t fit into that equation. Plus, the look on his family’s faces when they cuddled these dogs warmed his heart. He was almost certain now that Ace had sent these puppies to the Kavanaghs—still protecting them from doggy heaven.
“I’ll take him,” Fiona agreed. “I’ll have to convince Kieran, of course. And Shea might not be easily won over—change is hard for her. She loved Ace so much.”
“I understand. Rory said if you didn’t want him, he’d take both puppies,” Quinn explained further, having already talked to Rory about this possibility. He didn’t want to push Shea into something she couldn’t handle. “I really just want to see Shea happy and reading again. I think this might be good for her.”
Fiona nodded. “I think you’re right.”
“Thanks, Fi,” Quinn said, leaning back against the couch. “When’s Kieran get home? I’d love to say hi.” Or rather, goodbye.
“I’m not sure. Shea’s in her room, but he’s at your mom’s house helping her prep for the party,” Fiona said, distracted by the puppy she was now playing with on the floor.
Quinn furrowed his brow. “What party?”
“Oh, shit.” Fiona froze. “Um…nothing. No party.”
“Fi…” Quinn pointed a finger at her. “Tell me there’s not going to be a surprise going-away party for me.”
“There’s not…not…going to be one,” Fiona said, grimacing slightly. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to spoil it. Everyone loves you, you know. They just want to say goodbye.”
The party didn’t surprise Quinn in the least. In fact, it seemed pretty standard for his mother to want to get everyone together for any reason. He was, however, surprised she’d managed to not spill the beans herself.
He wasn’t looking forward to saying goodbye to his family. Despite the fact that he knew in his heart he was doing the right thing, it was also really hard. He was starting over in a brand-new place, and potentially, all alone.
No Kavanagh had ever moved away from Woodlawn, and the majority were somehow connected to Legends—Jimmy being the only exception. He didn’t know what he was going to do without Sunday dinners with everyone yelling over each other, or nights with his brothers watching the game at O’Leary’s Pub, or even the occasional sparring at the gym. These people had been such a big part of him for so long, he wasn’t sure who he’d be without them.
Who he was…period.
“Hi, Uncle Quinn,” Shea said, walking through the living room and into the kitchen. She didn’t stop to look at them, something he was used to with her.
“Shay-Shay, come look what we have!” Quinn called her over.
“It’s reaaaally exciting,” Fi added, a singsong tone to her voice as she poked her head up over the couch to look at her little sister.
A tiny barking sound came from her lap, and Shea immediately whirled around to find the noisemaker.
“Ace isn’t here,” Shea said, slowly approaching the couch. “He’s gone.”
Her words were stoic and choppy, but Quinn could hear the strain beneath them, the loss of her friend. “No, he’s not here, Shea. But this is J.D., and he’s pretty great, too.”
Quinn lifted the puppy from the floor and held him up to Shea.
“He’s very little, Shea. He needs someone to take care of him,” Fiona told her.
Shea didn’t look directly at them—she never did—but she did survey the puppy. Shea lifted fingers to the dog’s head and slid them down his back, then again. After a few moments, she sat on the couch and Quinn laid J.D. in her lap where she continued to cuddle and pet him.
The dog responded to her almost immediately. His normal puppy energy seemed to dissipate, like he knew she needed calmness. He rolled into her arms and stared quietly up at her, his paws lifted so she could pet his belly. The dog seemed almost as in love with Shea as she was with him.
“I can take care of him,” Shea said resolutely. “I can do it. I know I can.”
Fiona smiled at Quinn over the top of Shea’s head. Tears brimmed her bottom lashes, and Quinn knew this must mean a lot to her. He still struggled to understand every part of autism spectrum disorder and how it affected Shea, but he loved the little girl and he wanted to help when he could.
“He’s yours, then,” Quinn told Shea. “You can keep him.”
“I can?” Shea turned to her sister. “Fi, I can keep J.D.?”
Fiona nodded, smiling. “Yep. We can go out tonight and get him all the stuff he’ll need.”
“Good. Ace would have liked him,” Shea said. “He loved babies.”
“He did,” Quinn agreed, remembering Ace’s devotion to Murphy and Shea. “He loved you.”
Shea turned her attention back to the dog with slow, rhythmic strokes. “I’m going to miss you, Uncle Quinn.”
“Thanks, kiddo,” he said, hugging her with one arm, which she quickly stiffened against. “I’ll be back to visit plenty, though—I promise.”
“You better,” Fiona said, her finger pointed at him. “We need our favorite uncle.”
“For Christmas, can I get ‘Quinn’s our favorite uncle’ in writing?” Quinn asked, laughing. “I want to frame it and hang it in Kane’s house.”
Fiona chuckled and shook her head. Silence lapped the moment, and the two watched Shea petting J.D. The quietness was so full of emotion and memories and grasping at everything he was about to leave behind that it was almost loud. He’d miss being a hands-on uncle. He’d miss seeing his family often. But it was time.
Not just for the woman he wanted, but for himself. He had to explore who he was and what he loved to do. He had to find out who he was outside of his last name. It would be hard, and it would be painful for everyone involved, but it had to happen.
He had to be true to himself—that couldn’t be a mistake.
Chapter 29
This is a mistake.
Kiera stood at the edge of her living room, her hand against the cool glass window that ran floor to ceiling along one entire side of her new apartment. Seattle stretched out beneath her and all around her, sparkling lights reaching up toward the dark blue sky. There were barely any stars visible, just long, thin clouds—wispy and expansive. She’d only just arrived, but it was as beautiful as she remembered from all the years she’d lived here during college.
But it felt different now.
It felt muted—a thick blanket of barrenness covering the vibrant city. The excitement she once felt here was gone, and her heart felt h
eavy. A lone tear slid down her cheek, falling to the wood floor beneath her. It wasn’t a secret why she suddenly hated this city, or why all she could think about was booking a flight back to New York and knocking on Quinn’s door until she’d convinced him that they were meant to be.
He doesn’t want me, she reminded herself. I promised to protect his heart, and then I broke it. Again.
The more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that she’d deluded herself into thinking they were more than they actually were. If he truly loved her as much as he’d claimed to, if he’d truly been in love with her his whole life, then he wouldn’t have let her go. Or he’d have come with her. Or they’d have made it work long distance.
She didn’t have the answers, but she knew breaking up wasn’t on the list. Fingering the necklace she still wore—his heart—she wondered if she should take it off. Throw it away. Move on with her life and find someone who wanted her in that forever kind of way she’d thought they had.
Sighing, she let it go and it fell back against her chest. Not yet.
Turning away from the glass, she surveyed her new home. Rich wooden floors, deep navy walls accented with white trim, with fixtures and appliances that screamed money. Aside from her few suitcases still in the front hallway, the place was empty. No furniture, no bed, no dishes—hell, she didn’t even have lightbulbs.
She didn’t understand what had happened because this was not the apartment she’d signed for.
The realtor she’d worked with had sent her pictures of a cheap, ground-floor apartment in her price range. It had looked sketchy as hell, but hey, she could afford it on a resident’s salary. It was also supposed to be fully furnished, since she didn’t have the budget for that, either.
Yet when she’d shown up at the realtor’s office, he’d given her this address and these keys. It was beautiful, and she’d make it work on some blankets by the window tonight, but first thing tomorrow morning she’d have to march back down to his office and fix their mistake.
Things could be worse than spending one night in a luxury apartment overlooking the city, she thought. She pulled her suitcases into the living room and unpacked her pillow and some blankets—never one to travel without such necessities. She put together a makeshift bed and, to be honest, it was uncomfortable as hell. The floor was hard, the apartment was dark, and the window was chilly.
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