fun you were.” She handed him the papers and snagged a cookie and some punch before leaving. Tomorrow is a new day, she told herself as she drove home, certain that her meeting with Quinton would be much more helpful.
***
Aubrey slipped on her best shoes because she knew Quinton would be checking them out—if not trying to sneak off with them. Here he was the one with the foot fetish, and he’d dumped her. But Quinton had been so nice and romantic, taking her ballroom dancing and shopping. Seriously, how many guys do that? Well, Ian always danced with her at weddings, and carried her shopping bags at the mall—but Quinton had really seemed to enjoy it. She’d always thought Quinton had really understood her, but he just called things off one day with no good explanation.
She parked outside the café and looked for Quinton at one of the patio tables. He’d emailed her back that he’d love to see her, and would be waiting at a table outside the cafe. Checking out the customers sitting under the cheerful umbrellas, she didn’t see him. Her heart fell. Had he stiffed her? That sounded dirty, she thought, remembering they hadn’t even got that far in the relationship before he broke things off. Maybe he just hadn’t been willing to wait for the good stuff. Aubrey had always liked to take things slow. Well, except with Ian, but she hadn’t been able to help herself.
“Aubrey, is that you?” asked a woman
She looked over to the table where the voice had come from. A pretty woman sat smiling at her.
Cute hairdo, Aubrey thought. Kind of looks like mine. “Yes?”
The woman giggled. “It’s me, Quinton. But I’m going by Quinn now.”
Aubrey grabbed the chair in front of her. “Quinton?”
The woman smiled and nodded, then patted the chair next to her. “Sit, let’s talk.”
Aubrey walked over and dropped into the chair. Her heart was in her throat. This beautiful woman was Quinton—Quinn? “Wow. Look at you. Love that blouse.”
“I got it at the boutique just around the corner.”
“I’ve been meaning to go there.”
“We should go shopping sometime.”
Aubrey nodded. “Why not? I always did love shopping with you.”
They stared at each other for a few more moments. “Wow,” Aubrey said again.
“I know, I know. You can ask me questions later. But first, I’m dying to find out what has you tracking down your old boyfriends. This sounds so exciting, like a romantic comedy starring Emma Stone. Tell me all about it.”
Aubrey took a deep breath. “I’m just frustrated with my love life, and thought the best way to figure out what I’ve been doing wrong was to go straight to the source. My old…boyfriends.” She cleared her throat. “So, why did you break up with me? What did I do wrong?” Aubrey pulled out her packet of questions. “You can fill this out in private and mail it to me if you’re too uncomfortable to tell me.”
Quinn laughed and pushed the papers back toward Aubrey. “Oh, honey put that away. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not that I didn’t want you—I wanted to be you.”
“Huh. Is that why you took my shoes?”
“I wasn’t brave enough to buy my own yet. But you were just so sweet and pretty, and I’ve always felt there was a woman inside me just like that. And I knew when I wasn’t fantasizing about having sex with someone like you, something was wrong.” Quinn patted Aubrey’s hand, a flashy ruby ring glinting in the sun. “You tried real hard to make things work between us, but I’m sure you can see that was a hopeless cause. You helped me become the woman I was meant to be. Thank you.”
Aubrey set her hand over her heart. “I had no idea. You’re welcome.”
Quinn smiled at her. “I understand if you’re uncomfortable and would rather skip lunch.”
“No, not at all.” Aubrey shrugged. “I do have a few questions.”
Quinn folded her hands on the table and leaned forward. “About the process? The surgeries?”
Aubrey checked out Quinn’s impeccable manicure and shook her head. “No, I was wondering how you get your hair so shiny?”
Quinn patted her hair. “This great new conditioner. I’ll call you later and give you the name.”
“Perfect.”
The two of them spent the next hour talking, and then Aubrey got up to leave. “It was great seeing you Quinn. I’m glad you’re so happy with your new self.”
Quinn stood up and hugged her. “I’ve gotta say, I like you a whole lot more