She walked out of Mac�s room, leaving Nick asleep in a chair. She positioned a pillow under his head to make his as comfortable as possible. As the door was closing behind her James came into her sight. She instantly smiled when she saw him coming towards her. He pulled her into a hug and she felt so good in his arms.
�How�s she doing?� He was about to walk into the room and she pulled him away,
�She�s fine.� She took him by the hand and began to walk away,
�Come on, let�s go get something to eat. I�m hungry.� He looked a bit confused but he shrugged it off and followed her. She didn�t want him to see Nick in the room. She didn�t want to get in the middle of another argument. But more than that she didn�t want to upset James.
She really was hungry. He watched her as a plate of lasagna sat before her.
�I�ve been thinking and I�ve done some calling around.� He reached over the table and grabbed her hand.
�Ok, I just want you to hear me out. Ok?� She frowned at him and became a little nervous.
�I know you want to plan everything and you want the perfect ceremony but let�s get married now. While your family is here. We can do it. Then I can adopt Mac and we can start our life together. There�s nothing to wait for. What do you say?� She couldn�t believe her ears. The first thing she thought about was Nick. She wasn�t ready to completely dismiss him from her life and if she became married that is what she would have to do. She couldn�t have any type of relationship, physical or other wise, if she became someone�s wife. She just wasn�t ready to be married. Something about the entire thing just made her scared.
�James, I really do want to do it right. I only want to get married once and when I do I want it to be perfect.� She looked up from playing with her food and tried to smile,
�Besides, you can�t deny a girl her expensive wedding dress.� Just then Elliott walked over. She stood up and smiled, hugging him and silently thanking him for interrupting a very difficult conversation. She didn�t want to have to come out and tell James no. She didn�t want to hurt his feelings but she knew she wasn�t ready to get married at this moment.
�Hi James.� James didn�t do much to hide his disdain but he greeted Elliott,
�Hey.� Elliott tossed her a look,
�Am I interrupting something? I can leave.� She shook her head and spoke before James could tell him they wanted to be alone,
�No sweetie. Sit down. It�s been so long. How are you doing?� She hadn�t talked to Elliott in a long time but she knew she was being unbelievably rude to James. He stood up,
�I need to get going.� He didn�t bother to say goodbye or even look at her before walking away.
She was once again in Mac�s room with Nick and they were in the middle of an argument. It seemed as if she had been trying to defuse arguments before they began all day.
�Just tell me how much you need.� She rolled her eyes,
�Nick I said no. You�re already paying child support I�m not going to let you pay my way.� She turned to see him shaking his head at her,
�I�m just going to use the money you�ve sent already for child sup-� He shook his head and cut her off,
�No, that�s for Mac. Don�t be so damn stubborn Quinn. I�m going to help you and that�s all to it. Add up your bills and let me know.� His voice had such a definitive tone to it that she didn�t bother to argue with him any longer.
�Tell me something. Where is James during all this? Your fianc�.� She sighed,
�James helps me every way he can but he can�t pay my mortgage and his rent, two car notes, two sets of bills.� He stared at her then looked over at Mac,
�And this is the guy that you�re going to marry?� He pointed at Mac,
�He�s supposed to take care of you and my daughter? He can�t take care of you.� He was being very unreasonable. These were special circumstances they in no way proved James was incapable of being a good provider.
�Nick, that�s not fair. He can take care of us. Once I start working and pull our pay together there are going to be less bills and we�re going to have a very comfortable life together.� He shook his head,
�No. And it�s not just about money. Where is he around here? I hardly ever see him and when he is around it isn�t for long.� She wanted to tell him that he had just recently, in the last day and a half, stepped up and it wasn�t fair of him to criticize James in such a way.
�He�s been working. Nick, I didn�t want to talk about this ok? Let�s just drop it.� Dropping it was something he obviously didn�t want to do,
�For now, but we�re talking about this later Quinn. I�m not sure I like the idea of you marrying him. I mean, this is my daughter we�re talking about. I think I should have some say in who-� She couldn�t believe her ears. He was actually telling her he should have some final authority in who she decided to marry.
�What are you saying? That you get approval when it comes to who I marry?� She laughed wryly,
�Oh Nick please tell me you�re not saying that.� He shrugged,
�It�s like I have no rights. I didn�t get to decide if I wanted to be a father.� She crossed her arms,
�Oh yes you did. When you slept with me.� He sighed,
�You know what I meant. And you get to raise her. You get to raise her where you want and now you get to raise her as a family with who you want. And I have to just accept it. That�s not right.� She never really thought of it that way but she could see where he was coming from. He did have to accept it because as far as she was concerned it was fair. She carried the burden of raising a child, not him. He could walk out at anytime she couldn�t.
�Let it go right now. I�m asking you. You can pay the bills, you can visit her, but you can�t tell me who to marry.� As she walked over towards him so she could look down at Mac she heard him,
�This isn�t over.� She sighed and ran her hand over Mac�s leg. The last thing she wanted to deal with was a demanding Nick.
The door opened and they both turned to see Nate entering the room,
�Hi Nate.� He walked over and looked down at Mac for a few moments before turning and looking at her,
�I need to talk to you.� Nick didn�t hesitate to excuse himself and left her with her brother.
�What do you want to talk about?� He nodded his head towards the door,
�You and him. What's going on?� She was so tired of everyone in her life and trying to run it.
�Nothing is going on.� He shook his head,
�I don�t buy that. Anyone you slept with once you�re capable of sleeping with again�and again�and again.� She was so mad at him. Mad for being right,
�Whatever.� He snorted,
�Whatever huh? Tell me you didn�t sleep with him when he spent the night with you.� She hated that he could always read her,
Chapter 92 contd