Best of Me

Chapter Four

Hello hello! Here's the next update of this story. I'm currently in Canada for the holiday with my girlfriend and her family. I'm hoping to get some writing done when I can, but if not, I will resume updates after Christmas.

Quinn and Theo start to get to know each other a little better in this one.

Enjoy!

Chapter Four:

There is really not a lot of time before we have to be at my parent's house in Whiteridge. Two days. I have two days with Quinn to get our story down, to teach her all about my family, and especially to learn about each other. Two days to learn what should have been established over the last year-you know, if our relationship was actually fucking real.

Quinn gets off work an hour later and has kindly made me a new coffee on the house. I'm waiting for her at a table near the counter trying to figure out the best approach to getting to know each other. By the time she clocks out I have formulated a plan of attack for this ridiculous situation I've dragged her into. A small smile tugs at her lips as she walks toward me shrugging on her jacket.

"I don't care where we talk, but I can't stay here another minute longer," Quinn says as she approaches my table. "The smell of burnt coffee is entrenched in my skin." I crinkle my nose at the thought.

"We can go to my apartment, if you're comfortable with that," I say standing to put my own coat on.

"That's fine with me," She motions for me to walk out first, "as long as you aren't actually a serial killer, that is." I roll my eyes and ignore her comment. "It's a fair statement."

"I'm not going to kill you, Quinn," I unlock my black SUV that's parked out front. "Killing you wouldn't be beneficial to me." We both climb into the car and buckle in as I start the engine.

"Good to know," She mumbles as she settles into the seat. The drive from the café is short and silent. I'm not sure where to even begin with a conversation with her. There is so much I need to learn and need to teach that my mind is a whirlwind mess of information. She is a nice enough girl, beautiful for sure, and personable. My family will be happy, but only if we can convince them we are truly dating.

We pull up to my apartment a few minutes later and I park in my designated spot. Quinn follows me into the tall brick building quietly looking around. We take the elevator up to the fourth floor and walk to apartment number 405. I push into the apartment and shut the door behind us. My keys find their home on the hook by the door and my bag takes its place on the table beneath it. Quinn teeters in the hallway shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"Make yourself at home," I say and point toward the couch in the living room. "Would you like a drink?"

"I'm fine, thank you," She says taking her coat off and laying it over the back of the couch before taking a seat. She looks around taking in her surroundings. The beige walls have a few family photos from various years, a couple tattered posters that I've had since college, and a TV sits at the center of the wall in front of the couch. A basket full of throw blankets is between the TV and the DVD shelf. To the right of the DVD shelf is a hallway leading to the bathroom and bedroom that are as minimally decorated as the living room is. The kitchen is situated behind the living room, a small half wall separates the two. "It's cute."

"Hm?"

"Your apartment, it's cute," She clarifies.

"Oh, thank you," I take a seat opposite of her on the couch. "I-I got rid of a lot of stuff when Mae died. It was hard to look at." She nods.