The XOXO New Adult Collection: 16 Full Length New Adult Stories

by Brina Courtney

  Liam sighs and pulls out another stool to sit on. “With you back in L.A., JD won’t want to come here. He’ll be asking me to come back there to work.”

  “Don’t put this on me, Liam. You want someone to blame; blame Sam or hell, blame Katelyn for the bullshit. If she didn’t want me, she should’ve just stayed away. I was doing fine from a distance, but no, she had to show that she was jealous of other women and act like she cared so that I’d pursue her harder.”

  “I know you’re hurting.”

  I shake my head. “Nah, man, it’s beyond hurt. I can’t look at her without wanting to kiss her and shake her at the same time. I don’t get it.”

  “She’s scared.”

  “Well, that’s no way to live your life and we all know how short life can be.”

  “I believe in second chances,” Liam says. I know he does, or he wouldn’t be getting married the day after tomorrow, but not all of us can be so lucky. “If you need time, you should take it.”

  “It’s not me needing time. I know what I want. I want those three girls upstairs to be in my life permanently. I want my son to have Katelyn as a mother figure, because that’s what he wants. I don’t need the time to figure that shit out. I already know it.” I rub my hands over my face and groan. “It’s not me, Liam. I’m not running or shutting doors. I’m moving because it’s too hard to sit back and watch her life go on while mine is teetering on the edge, waiting for a glimmer of hope that she might, someday, want to be with me.”

  Liam comes over and pats me on the back, squeezing my shoulder. “Josie says brunch is in thirty minutes.”

  “I’ll be up.”

  No sooner does Liam shut the door than it opens again. This time, my visitor is a short and sweet little girl with a black velvet ribbon in her hair. She comes over and climbs into my lap. Her arms wrap around my neck as she hugs me tightly. I squeeze her back with all that I have, hoping that I leave an impression for her.

  “How come you don’t come over for dinner anymore?”

  I’m not sure how to answer her. What do you say to a child who has lost so much in her life? “I’m busy with writing music. Sometimes it takes a lot of my time.”

  I adjust Peyton and set her on my knee. “Mommy cries a lot at night again.”

  “What do you mean, ‘again’?”

  She shrugs. “I think she stopped for a little while, but now she does it again.”

  I push her hair behind her shoulder and offer her a smile. I don’t know what to say. Part of me hopes she’s crying because we aren’t together, but I should know better. She misses her simple life and with that, comes the longing she has for her husband. She doesn’t shed tears for me.

  “Wanna play?” I ask her, holding up the sticks. Her grin spreads from ear to ear as she takes them from my hand. She spins in my lap and is ready for me to give her the signal.

  Except this time I don’t.

  This time I bring out another set of sticks and play with her. We pound on the drums, creating our own music. When we have a decent rhythm going, I hit record on my laptop and we play again and again until it’s time to eat. When we’re done, we’re tired and sweaty. Peyton hugs me again. Her arms are tight around my neck. I hate that it’s taken so long for us to be friends and now that we are, I’m leaving her.

  “I love you, Harrison.”

  “I love you too, Peyton.” My response is automatic. My heart is beating wildly in my chest, threatening to come out or break at a moment’s notice. If loving her, Elle and Katelyn is right, why does everything I do feel so wrong?

  CHAPTER 38

  Katelyn

  “Are you ready?” I ask as I straighten out Josie’s train. It’s pinned to the French braids that meet at the back of her head. Her dress is strapless and tight around her waist. The silk is bunched and pinned statically, making her dress poof more. Jenna does a last minute fix on her make-up, as Josie is nervous and keeps touching her face.

  “Stop touching,” Jenna says, slapping Josie’s hand.

  “Why are you so nervous?” I ask.

  “I don’t know. This is a huge step.”

  Jenna and I start laughing. “Seriously? You have a son and you live together. Usually this step happens first.”

  Josie closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “What if he’s not there?”

  “Oh my God, Josephine, get a grip. It’s time to go.” I push her toward the door. Jenna opens it and Mr. Preston is standing there, waiting for his daughter. I give him a kiss on the cheek as I pass by him.

  Jenna, the twins and I walk into the vestibule. Music is playing softly. We wait for our cue. The girls walk out, dropping rose petals along the path. Their dresses match Josie’s, except with straps. Their beautiful hair is braided to match Josie’s, with pieces curled and hanging down. Jenna steps out next. I count to twenty like we practiced in rehearsal, and step out.

  The three white roses that make up my bouquet are held tightly in front of me. My dress, crimson red, falls just below my knees, with a bow in front, just off to the side. I love my dress and not many people can say that about their bridesmaid dresses. The strapless, form fitting top and flow of the dress makes me feel sexy.

  I avoid looking ahead for fear of what may break my heart even more. I smile at the guests on the sides, all eyes watching me until I pass. Each pew is decorated with white roses and red ribbon. Jenna and Aubrey have done a wonderful job with the flower arrangements.

  I make a mistake and look toward the front to see Liam, wondering what expression he’s wearing. I don’t see him or Jimmy, even though they’re both there. All I see is Harrison, dressed sharply in a black and white tuxedo. His hair has been cut and styled nicely. He doesn’t look like the man I’ve declared my love for. He’s too covered. He’s not the storybook I’ve become accustomed to seeing.

  His eyes connect with mine. I bite my lip to send a sharp reminder to my brain and my heart that I’m here for a reason, and that is Josie and Liam. Anything to do with Harrison will have to wait until my duties are done.

  I step forward and take my spot next to Jenna. The girls are sitting on the steps, as are Noah and Quinn, who had the duty of escorting the guests today. They are dressed to match Harrison. I glance at Quinn, who smiles at me. His hair is tousled and in need of a trim. I shouldn’t have those thoughts though, but I can’t help it. In Noah’s lap is the ring pillow. It’s fitting that he holds the bands that will tie his family together.

  Everyone stands as the music changes. I know I should be watching Josie come down the aisle, but I can’t take my eyes away from the man who is staring at me. He’s not looking at Liam or Josie, but at me. I don’t know if I should smile or look away. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. Josie and Liam step up to the minister and in my line of sight. I’m no longer connected to Harrison. I can no longer see him clearly.

  The words from the minister ring out over the church. He talks about love, life and finding someone that makes you happy. I know the words aren’t meant for me, but they hit home. In the short time that Harrison and I were together, I was happy. He made me smile and feel loved. He treated my children as his own, and even though we are no longer together, he still does. That should be enough for me.

  “Liam, please recite your vows to Josie.”

  Liam rolls his neck and shakes out his shoulders. The guests laugh.

  “You’d think because I’m a musician this would be easy, but let me tell you, finding the words to say to this woman is very difficult.”

  Liam clears his throat before he looks into her eyes.

  “Josie, in your eyes, I have found my only home. In your heart, I have found my only love. In your soul, I have found my only mate.

  “Josie, with you, I am whole, full and alive. You make me laugh. You allow me to cry. You’re my every breath and every heartbeat. I am nothing, if you’re not mine as I am yours.”

  Josie sniffles. I don’t blame her. I have tears pooling in my eyes as well. The minister n
ods at her, letting her know that she can start. She takes a deep breath and starts speaking to the love of her life.

  “Liam, I promise to encourage your individuality, because that’s what makes you unique and wonderful. That’s what makes you mine.

  “I promise to nurture your dreams, because without them, we wouldn’t be standing here today.

  “I promise to help shoulder our challenges, because we’re a team and are stronger than ever.

  “I promise to always be your best friend, your lover, your wife and most importantly, your partner.

  “I promise to share with you the joys of life, because with you, they’ll be that much sweeter.

  “Liam, lastly I promise to you perfect love and perfect trust, because tomorrow will never be enough.”

  Josie never shared her vows with me and I’m thankful for that. When she speaks about a perfect love and trust, she speaks from experience. She’s been through more than just losing the love they shared once, she’s had to learn to trust the public side of Liam, and she’s done it gracefully.

  Noah hands his parents their rings. Liam gives him a fist bump, much to the guests delight.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Liam, you may kiss your bride.”

  Whistling and laughter ring out as Liam dips his bride back and kisses her. When he rights her, he raises their hands in the air. I hand Josie her bouquet, and watch as my two best friends rush down the aisle to start the next chapter in their lives.

  The kids follow, Noah with Peyton and Quinn with Elle. I step forward and loop my arm into Harrison’s. This is the closest we’ve been in weeks. It doesn’t feel forced or uncomfortable. It feels natural. It feels like home.

  The moment the wedding party is announced, Harrison leaves my side. I know I shouldn’t have expected him to stay next to me, but a small part of me hoped he would. That small part hoped that the wedding vows and the love in the air would spur him to take a step and demand that I talk to him. No such luck, and there’s no one to blame but myself.

  Josie and Liam move right into their first dance. They hired a band to play live music tonight. The band plays one of the songs Liam wrote for Josie. Why she chose this, I’ll never understand, but it’s their song. When they finish, we all sit and enjoy dinner. The atmosphere is so laid back you’d think we’re at a party, not a reception. I’ve been to many and while most have been boring, this has a nightclub vibe going on. I have a feeling this will be an all-nighter for some.

  The dancing begins as soon as the dinner plates have been carried away. Liam, Josie and Noah all dance together for one song, uniting them as a family. Jimmy stands next to Harrison. Both of them are without their jackets now. Jimmy’s bow tie is undone and his hair is standing on end. It makes me wonder which one of these women is his date for the night as I look around for someone who looks like they just came out of the coat closet. That image is enough for me to be thankful I didn’t have to coat check anything.

  Time moves too fast. The cake has been cut. The bouquet tossed and Liam performed a very erotic dance to take off Josie’s garter. If she wasn’t embarrassed, I was enough for the both of us. Harrison caught the garter and spun it around his finger. He smirked when he caught me watching him. He licked his lips before turning away. That’s the rocker side of him showing, reminding me what I gave up.

  The singer of the band tells us it’s time for our speeches. He helps me step up on the stand and lowers the microphone stand.

  “Hello,” I say. “It’s hard to prepare a speech for your best friends, especially when mine are so special to me. I could thank them for the countless hours they’ve been by my side or tell you how they’ve been my rock through my most troubling time, but that doesn’t tell you about them. I’ve known them forever and it was only fitting that they became a couple. Whether we did this years ago or today, it was bound to happen. Today, I watch the union of two people who have triumphed over every obstacle thrown at them. They’re truly the epitome of romance and love to me. To Josie and Liam, thank you for showing me the path that I need to take.”

  They meet me at the side of the stage and we hug. When Harrison takes the stage, my heart stops beating. That’s where he’s most comfortable. Where he shines.

  “Good evening,” he says into the microphone. “As the best man, it’s my honor to give this speech. I’ve known Liam for over eleven years now and we’ve been through just about everything one can imagine. When he invited me into his home just over a year ago, I saw with my own eyes what had been missing from his life. I’m proud to stand up here tonight and congratulate my friend on finding the missing piece to his life, for having the guts to chase it down and for taking the steps he needed to make it his. Liam and Josie, you’re an example for us all.

  “Before I leave, I have a gift for you. Weeks ago, four very talented people came to me and asked for some help. What they asked for, I thought couldn’t be done in weeks, but they practiced every free minute they could. These four persevered, and I’m proud to introduce to you Noah Westbury and Quinn James on guitar, Elle Powell on lyrics and Peyton Powell on drums. And for the record, I didn’t pick the song.”

  My mouth drops open as the kids take the stage. I have to blink to be sure, but Harrison is right, my daughters are there and one is sitting at the drum set. Harrison moves around each child making sure they’re all set. When he gets to Peyton, I see it. I see how they connected.

  Josie and Liam come over to me and stand. “Did you know about this?” Liam asks. I shake my head. “I’ll be damned.”

  As soon as the music starts, the guests start laughing. The kids are playing their own version of Call Me Maybe. The lyrics Elle sings don’t really set with me because I’m focusing on Peyton. She’s so poised and determined behind the drum set and most importantly, she’s smiling. I haven’t seen her smile that big in a very long time and she’s doing it because of Harrison.

  When the song is over, Peyton hugs Harrison before she comes rushing off stage. I pick her up and hug her tightly. “Oh Peyton, I’m so proud of you.” I set her down and she beams at me.

  “Was I great?”

  “You were the best drummer I’ve ever seen.” It’s not a lie, at least not for me.

  “Harrison taught me after the boy at school started teasing me. He said to take out all my anger on his drums. He didn’t care if I broke them.”

  I replay her words over in my head. I don’t remember a boy teasing her. “What are you talking about?”

  Liam sets his hand on my shoulder. “When you were in L.A. there was a mishap at school. I thought Harrison would’ve told you, but I’m guessing now he was trying to save his relationship and it slipped his mind.”

  “Is she being bullied?”

  Liam shakes his head. “No, Quinn took care of that.”

  I try to make sense of what they’re saying but I can’t. I need to hear it from Harrison. I look around for him, but don’t see him anywhere.

  “Where’s Harrison?”

  “He went home. He has an early flight to L.A. in the morning.”

  “Why?”

  Liam looks away and down at the ground before meeting my gaze. “He’s moving back.”

  CHAPTER 39

  Harrison

  As soon as I step off the stage, the boys start their riff. We had to modify their song just slightly, but it works. Peyton has the hardest part and has worked really hard to learn her beats. I stand behind her, waiting to lend a hand if she forgets. But she doesn’t forget. She nails it each and every time she’s supposed to.

  I watch the crowd, looking at all the guests lined up to support the kids. I couldn’t be more proud of the four of them, and am so happy that they asked me to help them put this together for Liam and Josie.

  Peyton looks over her shoulder at me. I step up and guide her hands where they need to be. It only takes her seconds to remember what she’s supposed to do. Standing behind her, I have a clear shot at Katelyn, who is standing there in the mid
dle of the dance floor staring, not at her daughter who is singing, but the one playing the drums. Her mouth is open in shock and honestly, if I was standing next to her, I think mine would be too. I can’t imagine what these guys look like to the rest of them, but to me, they look perfect.

  As soon as they’re done, Peyton jumps into my arms. I hold her tightly. She tells me thank you over and over again. Her words make my throat tight. I can’t find the words to tell her what she means to me or tell her how much I’m going to miss her and her sister. I’ll be back next week, but only to get Quinn and say my good-byes. I can’t say them today, not like this. Not on a happy day when everyone is laughing and enjoying themselves.

  “You should go see your mom,” I say, reluctantly letting her go. She smiles and runs off stage, right into her mother’s waiting arms. I can’t watch them. It’s too much. I wave at Quinn, letting him know that I’m ready to leave.

  He comes over and gives me a high five. “I missed a riff.”

  “It’s okay, you did good.” I ruffle his hair. “I’m going to go now. I’ll be back in a week unless you need me to come back sooner. All the things you need are at Liam’s, okay?”

  “I love you, dad.”

  “I love you too, bud. Call me tomorrow.”

  Quinn waves and goes back to the party. He’s getting pats on the back for his performance. I never thought about what I’d want him to be when he gets older. If music’s his thing, then so be it and if he wants to be a doctor, that’s fine too. I just want him to be happy.

  I walk along the back of the room to the exit. I take one last look at the life I’m leaving behind. Katelyn is talking to Liam. Josie is dancing with my son, and the two girls that I wanted to call my own are dancing with Noah. I feel a pang of jealousy that everyone is so happy and content when I could’ve been that way, if it wasn’t for the actions of someone else.

  The night air is cold. There is a light snow falling, just enough to leave footprints on the ground when you walk. I don’t wait for my car to heat up. After the snow is cleared, I pull out of the parking lot and head for home. The lights from the reception shine in my rear view mirror. Half of me wants to stay, but the other half wants to get the hell out dodge before my heart shatters beyond repair.