Chapter 71 Please Stay With Me
Grayson's POV
"I just want to make sure the path I'll have to cross to get Dylan down," Quinn replied at last. She hid her hands behind her body.
Oh it's a good thing she was willing to answer me. Because I thought I made another mistake that would make her angry again. But apparently not.
But, I don't know what Quinn is thinking right now because she keeps looking at me. Not with a blank stare but a stare that looked like someone who was searching for answers, a stare that was deep and full of doubt.
I finally cleared my throat. "Can I help you with something?"
"No," she replied immediately.
I was now looking behind me because Quinn was still in the same position and because now I felt like she wasn't looking at me anymore.
At first I still didn't realize what Quinn was looking at until later when I examined her eyes again, I saw the reflection of a hockey stick. That's when I turned my body around and looked at the cabinet where I kept the stick she gave me that I picked up from the trash.
I scratched my unitchy hair as I approached the cabinet. It was the cabinet I used to store all the trophies and certificates I'd earned during my career as an ice hockey player. And the stick from Quinn I placed on the top because I thought it was very valuable, more than the trophies and certificates I had received.
It was a special gift from someone special. Because I had never received a gift from anyone close to me or even my family that can be used in my current profession. Because they always gave gifts that I didn't want and it was always related to my family's business, so I was sick of receiving them.
Quinn's gift was different. She was the only one who thought to buy me a stick and it was even custom ordered. Which means she also thought of me when making it.
With that evidence, I was sure that I was not only in love alone, but also possibly in love together with Quinn.
I cleared my throat to explain to Quinn why the thing she threw away was now in my house and displayed there.
"About that stick...." I began. "I found it while visiting your flat. I'm sorry I took it because it had my name on it so I thought it was for me."
"It was for you."
I really didn't expect Quinn to respond to me and even confirm it. Because I thought she would deny and make other excuses like saying it was actually a gift from my fans that she accidentally brought to deliver to me.
Quinn's confession was completely unexpected and was the second source of happiness I got besides finding her today. It was like giving me the green light to go ahead with my conviction.
"Thank you," I said sincerely and earnestly. I couldn't even help but smile this time.
"For what?"
"For giving me the gift I really wanted.”
"I threw it away so it can't really be called a gift anymore."
"Because it still had my name on it, so I thought it was for me," I said confidently.
Quinn turned her face to the side. This time I stepped forward as the tension between us slowly eroded.
"Quinn," I called. "How about you and Dylan staying here tonight? It's not because you gave me something and I want to repay you, but think of it as my gratitude to Dylan."
"What's wrong with Dylan?"
I held back my smile so as not to ruin the atmosphere. "Because he has done a great--"
"If you mean it by making you find me, then forget it.’
"No," I interrupted. "I want to thank him for being such a great fan. He's great because he's come this far without giving up. I think that's really hard to do but he did it. So I appreciate his hard work and willingness to heal. With that, I want him to have fun at least today by staying here, at his idol's house. So it's not because of you."
Quinn gave me a flat look. Which made my heart beat very fast because I didn't know what decision she would make. It could be agreeing with me or the opposite.
Right now the odds were 50-50.
"Wait a minute," she said after a long silence.
"Yes, I'll wait," I replied. And as she turned around, heading back up to the second floor, I widened my smile.
I couldn't wait to see her come down again and say: okay, I'll stay here tonight with Dylan.
I even took a bite out of my shirt because I wanted to scream to vent my happiness. Because if I managed to get Quinn to stay, that would mean-
Thud.
The sound of a door slamming loudly suddenly sounded. It instantly made me run to the room Dylan was in. Where it turns out Quinn was dragging Dylan out of the room without using a wheelchair.
I ran over to them and stood in front of Dylan. "Quinn, what happened? Why are you doing this to Dylan?"
Quinn looked at me, her eyes already glazed over. "Don't meddle in my business. I'm his sister and his guardian, so I have the right to decide whatever I think is right for him."
"Quinn you're hurting me!" Dylan yelled as Quinn forced him to stand up.
This was a tough decision for me. If I stood up for Quinn, it wouldn't be fair to Dylan. But if I defended Dylan, Quinn would only hate me more. But if I kept quiet, it would only prove Quinn's assumption that I didn't really care about her or her brother.
Ah hell, never mind. I finally grabbed Dylan and carried him beside me. I kept him away from Quinn.
"Bring me my brother, Grayson!"
"No, Quinn. You need to calm down first. Please have mercy on Dylan. He's scared. He wants to stay here. He doesn't want to leave."
Quinn's shoulders rose and fell. This time she seemed really angry. She's even creepier this time than when she was mad at me in the restroom the other day.
Right now Quinn was like an older sister who was forbidding her younger brother’s will. Very scary, like a goose that will peck if approached.
I stretched out my arm as I helped Dylan back into his wheelchair. Only then did I take him to his room and close the door. And now I was facing Quinn again.
Quinn, she was still in the same place, with her hands clenched into fists and her eyes reddened. Even I'm sure that if I uttered offensive words about Dylan, her tears would slide freely.
"You...," she said in a hoarse voice. She didn't continue her words but covered her face with both hands.
As I approached, she stopped me by stretching one hand forward. "Stop right there. Give me some time alone until I calm down."
Without arguing, I quickly left, joining Dylan in the room. Because I knew and realized Quinn had never asked me for anything in all this time. So when she asked for some time, then I would definitely grant it.