The Home Game

11. Closed Doors

Author's Note:

Hello and welcome back! I hope everyone is doing well!

Alright friends I got this chapter done so much quicker than I thought I would. I think it's been one of my favorites to write so far, but I swear they just get longer and longer 😅 I don't think there's any issue with that though right? Let me know if they get too long.

We left off with tension between Quinn and Nika and a bonding session between Quinn and Paige. Maybe we'll see how some of that plays out this chapter, but there's only one way to find out. As always thank you all so so much for the support and the comments, I love them always and I can't believe this book is now over 5k reads???? Insane, thank you all 💙

See you at the bottom!

Word count: 15630

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11. Closed Doors
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Waking up Monday morning Quinn felt almost more tired than when she went to bed. She groaned, rolled over, and checked her phone to see if Nika had responded. When there was nothing she tossed her phone down and got out of bed to use the bathroom before quickly getting back into bed and wrapping herself in the covers.

The ache in her arms had returned, but it was far better than the day before. It was just another thing she had to thank Nika for. Quinn sighed and covered her eyes with her arm. Nika. What was she going to do about Nika. Quinn was still so at a loss from the night before. She never tried to play the hero and wanting to be there for Nika wasn't an act so why did Nika seem to think it was? Regardless of if Nika had just said it when she was mad some part of it had come from truth. Whether it was how she felt about Quinn, or Nahiem, or even just herself in that moment it had come from somewhere and Quinn wanted to figure it out.

She pulled her phone out again and sat staring at her unanswered text to the basketball player, unsure of what else she could even say. When nothing came to mind Quinn decided action was better than nothing and pulled herself back out of bed. She replaced her shorts with sweats and pulled a hoodie on over her cut off. She stopped by her bathroom again and got herself ready for the day, hoping she wouldn't be back for a while. Quinn grabbed her keys and went down to her car.

She got in shivering from the cold air and started her car, hopeful it would warm up quickly. She blew hot air onto her fingers a few times to help get them warm before putting her car in reverse and leaving the lot. Having spent a lot of time by herself Quinn had gone to a lot of different food places around campus that not a lot of people frequented. One of which was a small mom and pop bagel shop down the street. Quinn had stopped in almost daily her sophomore year, and thankfully earned the affection of the older couple who ran the shop.

She parked her car and made her way inside. The bell on the door sounded as it opened, the warmth of the shop and the smell of the bagels and baked goods comforting Quinn. The familiarity of it helped lift her mood, a small smile coming to her face as she heard movement in the back of the shop.

"One moment, I'll be right with you!" Rita, the older woman who owned the shop called out. Quinn didn't respond, instead she stepped up the the counter and waited patiently with her hands in her pockets.

"Hello, how can I help you today?" Rita asked tying in her apron without looking up. When she did her eyes lit up and a smile came to her face "Oh! It's you! Quinn! Tom our baby is back!" Rita called over her shoulder before stepping around the counter to hug Quinn. Quinn couldn't help but smile as she got wrapped in warm, strong arms. Rita may have been a 65 year old, 4'11", retired Filipina nurse, but she was quite possibly the strongest person Quinn knew.