Free Something Like Redemption (Something Like Normal #2) by Monica James Page B

“I know exactly what you need.”
    Lucky follows behind us, wagging his tail. I’m glad he’s able to stay inside with us.
    As I look at the rundown motel, I can’t help but compare it to Night Cats. Before all this shit happened, Quinn, Tristan, Tabitha, and I were working day and night to restore Night Cats, hoping to transform it into the immaculate condition it once was. And it was getting there. Hank was getting busier and busier, and day by day, he was digging his way out of his financial troubles. Now, I can’t help but wonder what’s happened to it.
    My eyes well with tears but I sniff them away as Quinn reaches our room, opening the door with the rusty key. He reaches behind the door and places the DO NOT DISTURB sign onto the handle before ushering me inside.
    He drops our bags onto the dirty red carpet, kicking off his boots.
    “I’ll be right back,” he announces before heading into the bathroom, mysteriously shutting the door behind him.
    I look down at Lucky for answers. But he only looks up at me, just as baffled as I.
    I switch on the tiny TV for some background noise, as I’m extremely tempted to press my ear against the bathroom door. Instead, I go through my shopping bags, looking at the new garments I purchased. As my fingers pass over the inky blue silk of my bra, my heart races at the thought of Quinn seeing me in it.
    Stop being an idiot, I berate myself, you have more important things to deal with than underwear.
    Fifteen minutes later Quinn is still in the bathroom, and I wonder what he’s doing. Judging by the size of this room, I can’t imagine the bathroom being any bigger than a shoebox.
    It remains unspoken between Quinn and me that we’re to stay at derelict hotels, as I’m unable to justify unnecessary spending, especially when we crash for a few hours at a time, and are out before the sun rises.
    I slump onto the end of the bed, toeing off my Chucks, and sit cross-legged, facing the bathroom, waiting for Quinn to emerge. I am near biting my nails to the quick when Quinn finally surfaces, the sleeves of his green plaid shirt rolled up to his elbows.
    “C’mon,” he says, poking his head round the bathroom door, and then disappears once again.
    I hesitate for a second, wondering what I’m about to walk into. But I trust him, so I know it’ll only be good.
    I pad over to the bathroom, which is only a few feet away, and as I step inside, my socks chilling on the cool tiles, my mouth drops open. I see that the small, but comfy pink bathtub is overflowing with bubbles, some floating over the tub. There is a single candle, which I’m pretty certain is a citronella candle, burning brightly on the cracked basin, but it does the job.
    “Quinn,” I gasp, looking at him quickly. “What’s all this?”
    He shrugs, scratching his scruffy jaw as he leans awkwardly against the white wall. “I thought you could do with a bath.”
    Looking at the bath and then back to Quinn, I slowly walk to the tub and sit on the edge, skimming the tips of my fingers through the boiling water.
    “Are you saying I stink?” I joke, giving him a small smile.
    He returns my smile, and the only sound permeating the air is the water swishing back and forth through my fingers.
    “You know you smell unbelievable,” he replies after a minute of silence.
    I don’t say anything because I’m speechless, and Quinn mistakes my silence for something else.
    “I just thought baths relax chicks and… shit. It was a dumb idea,” he says, reaching forward quickly, attempting to pull out the plug.
    “No!” I yell, latching onto his arm to stop him. “This is amazing. I’m sorry if I sounded ungrateful. What I should have said was thank you. This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me,” I confess, looking up at him, and I do something which feels natural.
    I yank on his collar and smash his lips to mine, kissing him passionately. As I deepen the kiss, because his mouth feels too amazing not to, I