When Quinn gave me the address for her home, I felt a pang in my chest. I knew that complex, it was frequently in the newspaper under the police section. That section listed crimes that had occurred over the past week, and more often than not, they happened at that complex. A variety of drug deals, fights, and break-ins. She mentioned being new around here, only a few months, so by now, she had to know how dangerous it was.

Discussing her car repairs distracted me from her living situation until we pulled into the complex parking lot. A few people were standing around, some in their doorways. The place probably should have been condemned by now. I had so many questions about this beautiful girl sitting next to me and what led to her living here.

"I know it's rough, but hopefully, it's temporary." She squeaked out, sensing my apprehension.

"Yes, well, I wasn't thinking about that. Concerned, I suppose, for your safety and all." I pulled my hat off, scratching at my scalp for a second before returning it to place.

"I'm tougher than I look." She laughed, gathering her things.

"I need your phone number." I blurted, realizing too late how stupid I sounded.

"Oh."

"You know about the car stuff."

"Of course, yes." She rattled off her number as I put it into my phone then I shot her a quick text so she would have mine as well.

"I'll get started tonight and hopefully get it back to you soon." I was trying to think of anything that wouldn't make me look crazy to keep her from getting out. Something about her sucked me in, and I wanted to spend more time with her. I wanted to talk more with her, but I also wanted to keep her from being alone in this awful place.

"Thank you. So much. For everything. You've been too kind, but I'm incredibly thankful." She smiled genuinely over at me. It had been a minute since I had had an interest in a female like this. Of course, I'd casually dated here and there and a random hookup but this, this was something else, and I clearly had no idea how to act.

"Dinner." I blurted.

"Dinner?" She asked, raising a brow in confusion. Her hazel eyes twinkled with the street light glare.

"Yes. Um, do you have dinner plans? I should probably get started on your car, actually. Would you like to grab a bite to eat, though?" Fuck, I sounded ridiculous.

"Oh, well, thank you for the offer. I should really get inside, though. I have some things to take care of, and I need my car as soon as possible. Rain Check, though?" She seemed nervous, which made me feel even worse. She probably thought I was some kind of weirdo.

"Yes, sure. Sorry." I tried to hide the embarrassment on my face.

"Thank you again, have a good night, Wade." She spoke softly, grabbing her things and climbing out. I watched as she went up the stairs and waited until I saw her enter her apartment and close the door behind her before I left. I gave a quick call to a buddy of mine and had him tow her car out to my garage. On the way there, I grabbed some dinner for myself, deciding I would get to work and get her car back to her as quickly as possible.

*

Three days later and I was running out of ideas on getting this clunker of Quinn's up and running again. When I initially gave it a once over, I found it was overheating and low on oil. Took care of that, but still nothing. I started down the list of things I could think of, and short of a complete engine replacement; I'd done it. I hadn't heard from Quinn at all and I had been too much of a chicken shit to text her either.

I did, however, ask Grant and Carrie both about how she was doing at the office. I thought I was being subtle but Carrie, of course, picked up on it right away. She'd been hassling me about it since and, at the moment, was pulling into the shop parking lot to interrogate me. I grabbed my rag and wiped my hands in frustration, leaning against the back of the car.

She walked up with a big grin, holding a fast food bag. Then scrunched her nose up once she stepped into the garage.

"Can we eat somewhere else? It smells awful here." She waved her manicured hand around.

"We can eat in my office upstairs." I nodded toward the steps and she followed along. Once in the comfort of my clean office, she started laying out our sandwiches while I grabbed water. I slumped into my chair, sighing in exhaustion. Quinn's car was driving me insane.

"I just want to start and say that I am here solely as your friend. Your Father did ask me to try and speak with you regarding a certain account and firm, but I let him know I would not be doing that." She held her hands up in defense as she explained.

"Thank you. You'd be wasting your time and your breath."

"I am, however, curious as to why you are so interested in the newest employee at the firm." She took a bite of her sandwich, raising her brows at me, waiting for my response.

"Nosey," I grunted, chewing my bite.

"Pot meet Kettle." She pointed between the two of us. "How's the new girl doing? Did she make it to work on time? Is she figuring out the office?" You have never asked anything like that about any employee ever, not when you worked there and never since you left." She sat back briefly, crossing her legs and staring me down.

Carrie was gorgeous, with shoulder-length strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes, and legs for days. I was initially attracted to her when we first met, but after a few months of friendship, I started seeing her as more of a sister than anything else. It also helped when I discovered she was a lesbian as well. Despite her appearance, she was crazy smart and fierce at work, she was a little scary, to be honest, and the way she was glaring at me now I knew I couldn't bullshit her any longer.

"I was curious."

"Bull."

"It's the truth. I'm curious about her, she's... well she's definitely beautiful and sweet, I'm just curious about her and a little worried I guess. Is that weird?" I gulped my water.

"You're super weird, but being curious about a new girl in town isn't that weird. Why are you worried, though?"

"I met her broken down on the side of the road like she said. Her car is down in the garage and it's barely hanging on to life. She mentioned being new here and when I gave her a ride home, well she lives in Parc Place." Carrie's eyes grew wide when I mentioned the complex. "See. . so I was just hoping she was able to make it to the office without her car and considering where she lives." I shrugged.

"Interesting," Carrie replied with a smirk, after which we sat finishing our lunch in food-fueled silence.