Part 2
The following morning, Quinn woke and looked at Payton sleeping. The events of the previous night, the pain, the confusion, the near-fatal despair, felt like a nightmare. But the dull ache throbbing beneath his makeshift bandages was a stark reminder of reality. He knew what he had to do now.
He headed to the bathroom and started running a bath, carefully adjusting the water temperature. He eased himself in, wincing as the warm water lapped against the bandaged cuts on his arms. He tried not to get them wet, carefully manoeuvring to keep them above the waterline. The warm water soothed his aching muscles and frayed nerves. He closed his eyes, letting the silence and the heat wash over him, a fragile sense of peace settling within him.
When Payton woke to find Quinn not there, panic shot through her. Yesterday had been terrifying, witnessing his raw pain, his descent into darkness. She needed to know he was alright. She saw the bathroom door was shut. She jumped from the bed and banged on the door, her heart hammering against her ribs.
“Quinn?”
“Yes?” his voice was muffled by the door.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’ll be out in a minute.”
Quinn took a deep breath, steeling himself, and opened the door. He forced a smile. “Morning.”
Payton’s eyes scanned him, searching for any sign of the pain she had witnessed the night before. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better. Everything is clear now,” he said, his voice firm. “Look, I’m sorry I put you through that. I am.”
“It’s alright,” she said softly, touching his arm. He flinched slightly, and she quickly withdrew her hand. “I’m just glad I was at hand.”
He met her gaze, his eyes filled with gratitude and shame. “You saved my life. Anyway, I’ve ordered breakfast for us,” he said, changing the subject. “And I thought maybe you would like to come to the studio with me later?”
Payton’s face lit up. “I have to drop some books off at the bookstore first.”
“That’s fine, then we go to the studio. Oh, and I thought maybe you would like to come to lunch? I’m meeting my mom and sister.” The words tumbled out of his mouth in a rush, an invitation he hadn’t even realised he wanted to extend until now.
Payton hesitated, a flicker of apprehension in her eyes. “I’d love that, but I don’t want to intrude.”
“Intrude? You wouldn’t be intruding at all. My family… they need to meet you,” he said, sounding more genuine than he intended. He realised he genuinely wanted her to meet his family. He wanted them to see the woman who had pulled him back from the edge.
Payton smiled, the apprehension fading from her face. “Okay,” she said. “Lunch with your family it is.”
As they ate breakfast, the comfortable silence between them was filled with the clinking of cutlery and the murmur of conversation. Quinn felt lighter than he had in months. He knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but he also knew he wasn’t alone. He had Payton. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough to begin healing finally. The studio and the lunch with his family weren’t just distractions; they were the first tentative steps towards a brighter future, a future he hadn’t dared to imagine until she had shown him it was still possible.
The aroma of strong coffee and toasted bagels hung heavy in the air. They had breakfast, a quiet affair filled with the unspoken weight of the previous night. Still feeling a tremor of adrenaline, Payton excused herself to shower and get dressed. She chose a simple sundress, hoping to blend in.
Then, met Quinn in the hotel lobby. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet, a familiar energy radiating from him, though Payton could still see the faintest shadow of vulnerability in his eyes. They headed out, the morning sun contrasting with the darkness they had navigated the evening before.
First stop: the quaint little bookstore Quinn frequented. They dropped off a box of signed copies, and Quinn joked with the owner about needing more shelf space for his friend’s best seller. Then they hailed a cab to the studio, where Quinn was filming a scene for a new indie film.
The set buzzed with activity. Cables snaked across the floor, lights glared, and a small army of crew members scurried around. The film’s cast, a mix of veteran actors and fresh faces, eyed Payton curiously. They knew Avril, Quinn’s volatile girlfriend, but this woman was a stranger.
Quinn caught the confused glances and pulled his buddy, Ellis, aside. After a mumbled explanation, Ellis’s eyes widened. “Dude, seriously? She saved you. A guardian angel indeed, man!” He slapped Quinn on the back and gave Payton a respectful nod.
After a couple of hours of filming his part, Quinn, his energy slightly flagging, took Payton’s hand. “Come on,” he said, a small smile on his lips. “I want you to meet my mom and sister.” He led her to the waiting cab.
The restaurant was small and intimate, the air filled with the murmur of conversation and the clinking of silverware. April, Quinn’s mother, was a warm, elegant woman with kind eyes. His sister, Eden, was younger and more vibrant and looked at Payton with undisguised curiosity. When Quinn turned up with Payton, his mom looked at Eden and smiled; something sparkled in her eyes.
“Mom, don’t get your hopes up,” Edan warned
April didn’t like Avril and hoped Quinn would find someone more congenial. April always thought that Avril caused Quinn a lot of stress, and she had noticed the bandages on Quinn’s wrists, a visible reminder of the turmoil in his life.
As lunch went on, April engaged Payton in conversation, firing a barrage of questions about her life in England, work, and travels. Payton answered honestly, finding herself surprisingly comfortable in their company.
When Payton excused herself to the ladies’ powder room, April leaned across the table. “Quinn, what happened to your wrists?” Her voice was low, laced with concern.
Quinn hesitated, then poured out the story. He recounted the despair that had gripped him, the darkness he couldn’t navigate, and Payton’s sudden, unexpected presence. He told them how she had talked him down and stayed with him until the darkness receded.
“Omg Quinn,” Eden gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Payton saved my life,” he finished, his voice thick with emotion.
As Payton returned to the table, April rose and embraced her, a fierce, motherly hug. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
“I’m not sure what you are thanking me for, but thank you,” Payton replied, a little bewildered.
“You know what you did. Quinn has just told us everything.” April pulled back, wiping a stray tear from her eye.
“I’m just glad I was there,” Payton said, her gaze meeting Quinn’s. An unspoken connection flickered between them.
“I am taking Payton sightseeing now,” Quinn announced, standing up. “She goes back to England tomorrow.” He looked at Payton, a question in his eyes.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Garret,” Payton said, extending her hand.
“And you too, Payton,” April replied, a genuine smile gracing her lips. Eden squeezed Payton’s hand, her eyes bright with gratitude. “Thank you,” she mouthed silently.
As they left the restaurant, Quinn squeezed Payton’s hand. “So, sightseeing, huh? Got any requests?” he asked, his voice lighter than it had been in days. The city stretched before them, a palette of vibrant colours and endless possibilities. Payton knew this was only the beginning. The real work of healing was just about to start. Quinn felt hopeful about the future for the first time in a long time. They swapped numbers the morning after he took Payton to the airport, and he told her he would call. Payton smiled, but she thought he would be too busy to contact her and would soon forget her.
Thank You for Reading
Deborah C. Langley
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