Taking Turns (Turning #1)(70)

I find everything I need for my tree downstairs in them. She must’ve really liked Christmas if she has this much stuff.

But then I remember—Quin took her to buy a big tree every year too. So she must've kept all this stuff—all her personal things—up here. Out of the way. Or maybe she just wanted to keep it private. Keep Bric and Smith separate from what she had with Quin in some small way.

For a second I figure I’ll just use her stuff and forget about Walgreens.

But then I shake my head. No. Not her stuff. If she was hiding it, she was doing it for a reason. It’s not mine. It’s not part of my world.

So I turn the lights off, make my way back down the ladder, and go with my original plan.

Once I’m showered and dressed, I grab my coat and head downstairs. It’s snowing again—which is highly unusual for Denver in December. But when I step off the elevator and look down the stairs, through the large revolving door, it’s so beautiful, I don’t even mind.

“Chella?”

I look to my left, up at Smith and Bric, where they are sitting at his table having a drink. “Hey,” I say, walking over to the stairs that lead up there.

They both stand as I approach the table. Am I allowed to talk to them if it’s Quin’s day? I’m not sure. But Bric called my name, so it must be OK.

“Where are you going?” Smith asks as I walk over.

“Out to buy ornaments. Quin took me up to the mountains yesterday to cut down a tree but I don’t have any ornaments.”

“Do you need a ride home to get them?” Bric asks. “We can get you a car?”

“I was just going to buy them new,” I say. I really don’t need another conversation about my lack of Christmas decorations at home. “At Walgreens.”

“Walgreens,” they both say at the same time.

“Chella,” Smith says. “No. That’s just not right. We have a ton of ornaments in the basement.”

“Oh, yeah,” I say, looking around. “This place is really decked out.” No fewer than three Christmas trees are in my line of sight right now. A huge one that appeared last week in the lobby. A small one on the bar, over in the dark corner of Smith’s room. And another largish one down in the Black Room. “I’ll take some Club decorations. If that’s OK.”

“I’ll have to go get them for you,” Bric says. “Have someone get them for you. You can’t go in the basement.”

“Right.” I say, resisting the urge to look at Smith.

“I’ll send them up later. Do you need anything else?” Bric asks.

“No,” I say, hesitating. “But I think I’ll go shopping just the same.”

“OK,” Bric says. “I’ll call for the car.”

“I’m gonna walk. There’s no place to park down here. It’s just a big hassle.”

I can tell they do not want me to walk, but they have no say in my day.

Because it belongs to Quin.





Chapter Twenty-Four - Bric




“Hello,” Chella mumbles into the phone when I make my midnight call.

“You were sleeping.”

“I’m awake. Are you coming up?”

“No.” But I smile at her interest. “Just checking in. Did you get the ornaments for the tree?”

“Yes,” she says, waking up a little. “They’re so pretty. Why didn’t you use them?”

“We have so many. And I only allow three trees. I like to make the Christmas season at the Club as short as possible. Can’t wait to see your tree though.”

“You could come see it now if you want. You live in the building, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I say.

“We’re neighbors.” She chuckles a little. “So no? Not interested?”

“I am,” I say. “But… you made the invitation, right? To Smith?”

“Yes.” She pauses. “Why? Does that change things?”

“It’s just courteous to include him from now on.”

“So wait,” she says. I think she sits up in bed for this little revelation. “Once I invite him in, then he has more power? And I lose my time with you?”

“Does that upset you, Miss Walcott?”

“Kinda. I mean… I like you, Bric. I don’t want this to change what we have.”

I smile into the phone. “That’s very sweet, Chella. But the whole reason we’re doing all this is to get you ready for all three of us at once. So it doesn’t matter what kind of relationship we have as a couple because we’re not going to be a couple. We’re going to be a quad.”

She’s silent.

“Chella?”

“I get that,” she says. “And it sounds super fun. But shouldn’t we be allowed to have a personal relationship without the other two?”

“How does that help us as a quad? Give me one example where a stronger relationship with Quin would help the four of us together.”

“Well, I don’t know. I’ve never done this before.”

“We have. We know the pitfalls, Chella. That’s why we have rules. It takes a lot of time to trust each other. Develop friendships. Not couple bonds, but just friendships. So now we’re invested in you. And we need to take every precaution to ensure this lasts for as long as it was meant to.”