That’s what everyone’s doing, telling stories about Quinn and everything embarrassing he’s done. Honestly, this is something I’d expect months into dating, not hours, but his family doesn’t seem to care. Quinn, on the other hand, is red in the face and ducking for cover each time someone starts another story. For the most part, they’re harmless. It’s not like he’s broken any laws or went streaking across the campus lawn. Not that I did that either, but my friends did.
There’s definitely tension through. It’s coming off in waves from Elle and Eden. I believe it was JD, who I’ve noticed is called Jimmy by the women and JD by the men, who said his daughter has a crush on Quinn. Jimmy doesn’t seem to mind though and continues to poke fun at Quinn for leading his daughter on.
Now that lunch is over, I’m following Quinn into his parents’ house. I’m in complete awe of the glass wall. To be able to look out over the ocean whenever you want must be the most peaceful, calming thing to do. My house is close to the beach, but still far enough away that we don’t have the sea salt air, can’t hear the waves, and have to jump in the car if we want to spend the day there. After being here, I can see myself living in a place like this, along the coast.
“This is my old room.” He opens the door and flicks on the light. He has the same view as the living room does. I walk over to the glass and almost touch it before I realize that I’d leave fingerprints. There are posters, a few trophies, and some pictures on the wall. His walls are a dark blue and the comforter on his bed is white with pillows that match his wall color. “This is a guest room now or where I stay when I come out here.”
“Do you come here a lot?”
He nods. “The surfing is really good here, plus I’m close to my parents.”
I walk around, looking at the things he’s left behind. “You seem to have a tight-knit family.”
“We are. It’s the band thing,” he says as if I’m supposed to understand what that means.
“Explain, please.”
Quinn sits on the edge of his bed and beckons me over. I go willingly, eager to be close to him. He rests his head on my stomach and his hand around the back of my legs. This feels good, natural. This is where I belong. The feelings I have, the energy and desire to be with him, the serenity and longing, is something I never felt with Roy.
When he looks at me, I want to push him onto his bed and do things that should never happen with his parents outside. “I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. The band is all I’ve ever known. I grew up on the road, living in tour buses and hotels. I rarely went to public school. I had a nanny and a tutor. They would travel with us or sometimes I’d stay with my grandma, but she worked so it was pretty much the same thing, and I wanted to be with my dad.”
“What about your mom?”
He sighs. “My birth mom left me on my dad’s living room floor when I was a few days old. I’ve never met her. Katelyn adopted me when I was nine. My dad adopted the twins at the same time.”
“How long have your parents been married?”
He chuckles. “They’re not, unless you count common-law. Neither of them wants to get married. My mom was married before she met my dad, but Mason, the twins’ father, he died in a car accident.”
“Oh, that’s terrible.”
“It is, but it’s what brought us all to Beaumont. If that hadn’t happened, well I don’t know where my father and I would be right now.”
I sit down next to him and rest my head on his shoulder. “My mom doesn’t work. My dad manages crops. I have a brother named Rhett and a sister named Williemae and she has two kids.”
“Williemae?”
Now I’m the one laughing. “She’s named after my parents. It’s a southern thing.”
“I’d like to meet them,” he says.
I look at him. My mother’s voice runs through my mind, she’s nitpicking everything she doesn’t like about him from his messy hair, the scruff on his face, to what he wears. He is the exact opposite of someone she’d choose for me, and yet, he’s perfect. “I’m sure they’d like that.”
“Come on, let’s get you changed.”
“For what?” I ask.
“Surfing, of course.”
Quinn scoffs when I balk at the idea. He keeps telling me everything will be fine and that he’ll be there with me so when I fall off, he’ll catch me. It’s a nice romantic gesture, but the idea of falling into the ocean doesn’t appeal to me.
And yet, here I am, standing at the edge of the water with the waves washing over my bare feet, in a tight-can-barely-breathe wetsuit, and standing next to me is this sexy man who has yet to zip the rest of his wetsuit up, showing the people around us his well-defined sex lines. My mouth waters from just looking at him. The worst part is I think he’s oblivious to how sexy he is, and right now I want him to either put his suit on or take me home, so I can explore every inch of his body.
“Nola, are you listening?”
I shake away my daydream. “I’m sorry, what?”
Quinn smiles, it’s dazzling. “I was telling you what we’re going to do.”
“Oh,” I say, looking out over the ocean. “What if I just sit and watch first?”
“Quinn, are you coming?” We both turn to find Eden about calf deep in the water with her board resting next to her.
“I think she wants to surf with you.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” he asks.
“Go, I’ll sit here and watch.” I don’t have to tell him twice. Within seconds, he’s in the water, on his board and paddling out, and because I’m still in this wetsuit, I decide to sit where the waves will still reach me.
I haven’t a clue about surfing, but from what I can tell, Quinn and Eden are really good and seem to enjoy themselves. I even find myself laughing when he crashes and closing my eyes when the wave he’s about to tackle seems too big.
“He’s been doing this since he could walk.” Peyton sits down next to me, but her gaze is on the water. Noah’s paddling out to where Quinn and Eden are. “You should go out there, Quinn’s a good teacher. He taught us.”
“I think I’m okay being a spectator,” I tell her. “How come you’re not out there?”
“I thought I’d get to know you a bit. Quinn must think you’re the one if he brought you into our madhouse.”
My heart jumps at her words. He can’t possibly think that after a few days. Heck, not even days, but hours. “We haven’t known each other that long.”
Peyton nods. “My brother doesn’t do things hastily. That’s Elle. She’s the jump first, ask questions later. I’m the planner in the family. I have a plan for everything, except my wedding but that’s another story for another day. Quinn? He’s the one who sits on the sidelines and makes sure everyone’s taken care of, never worrying about himself. It’s nice to see him with his guard down. Like I said, you must be it for him.”
I try to picture the guy she’s describing, and I don’t see it. When we’re together, he’s carefree and outspoken, but being the one isn’t possible. “I’m not sure I believe in love at first sight.”
“I do.” She nods back toward the house. “I’ve been in love with him for as long as I can remember, before I even knew what love was, I knew I was going to marry him.”
“When was that?”
She laughs. “Oh, when I was about five or so.”
“Oh, wow.”
“Yeah, it took us a long time to figure things out, plus there’s an age difference. I’m fairly sure my parents would’ve killed Noah if we started dating when I was fifteen or sixteen.”
My parents are going to kill me when they find out about Quinn or when I call and tell them that I’m not coming home. “How far apart are you?”
“Five years, but when you’re young, age matters.”
“Yeah, I suppose it does. When’s your wedding?”
She shrugs. “We haven’t picked a date. I want a winter wedding, he wants summer because of his schedule so we’re in limbo.”
“That sucks.”
“Sure does.”
“Why not just elope?” I ask.
She pulls her legs up and that’s when I see it, the scar that Quinn mentioned. It’s long and looks deep. “We’ve been through a lot or I have, and I want the fairytale.”
“Quinn said you were in an accident.”
Peyton looks at me, a slow smile creeps across her face. “Yeah, you’re definitely the one. Quinn doesn’t talk about much of anything to people outside of our family so if he told you, he must trust you.”
And there it is, the stab in my heart. I need to sit him down and tell him everything about me, starting with my real name, and Roy. Keeping my situation, regardless of the fact that I broke it off with him, shouldn’t be a secret. Quinn, aside from the people at the Bean Song, are the only ones who call me Nola, and that’s just some name I made up to reinvent myself while I’m here. What have I done? If his sister is right, and I’m the one for him, I’ve started this relationship off with nothing but lies and deceit. I’m such an idiot.
“I don’t know what to say to that.” We sit in silence, with my brain screaming at me for being such a moron. I should’ve told him my name at least before I slept with him, but no, I didn’t. I pray he looks at it as an oversight, but I’ll also have to come clean about being here and how I’m supposed to go home soon, and then there’s Roy. I have to tell him about Roy. My relationship with him and how my parents are insisting on marriage, isn’t something I can just brush under the rug.
“Peyton, do you think I could have a minute with Nola?”
We both look up to find Katelyn standing next to us. I don’t know why, but my heart sinks. This morning, she was gracious and kind. However, something deep in the pit of my stomach tells me mama bear is about to come out. Peyton doesn’t say anything as she gets up, leaving me alone with her mother. Right now, would be an excellent time for Quinn to come ashore, but by the looks of it, the two of them are having a lot of fun out there.
Katelyn hands me a bottle of water. I take it, twist the cap off, and take a drink. I need this because my mouth is parched, and I have a feeling I’m going to have to do a lot of talking.
“This morning was awkward,” she starts. “Never in a million years did I imagine meeting a friend of his like that.”
“I can say the same thing.” I don’t need the reminder that she saw my boobs or the fact she witnessed her son thrusting into me. Good times had by all.
“However, I’ve been thinking all day about it, and while I know my son is a grown man and can do whatever he wants, I’m still his mother...” She pauses and seems to collect herself. “Don’t hurt my son. He’s not your average twenty-something year old who brings women over to his parents’ house. He doesn’t flaunt his life, his social status, who his dad is or anything like that. Quinn’s an old soul, he’s shy and prefers watching life from the outside. I won’t stand for anyone breaking his heart so if this isn’t real for you, then please, leave now before he gets in too deep.”
And there’s the fierce protector in his life.
“Mrs. James, with all due respect, Quinn and I just started dating. We’re young and trying to find our own paths in life. It’s hard to say where this relationship is going.”
She keeps her focus on the ocean, never looking at me. “Quinn’s smitten by you, and if you don’t feel the same, don’t prolong it.” She gets up, leaving me there to sit and think. It takes me a whole five seconds to realize what I’m going to do.
“I’m going to stay,” I say out loud even though no one can hear me.
29
Quinn
“Your sister hates me.” Nola’s head is on my chest and she’s dragging her fingers lazily over my skin. Aside from band practice, we haven’t left each other’s side in days. And I like it. No, I love it and I’m fairly sure I’m in love with her. Over the past few days, I’ve been tempted to say it, thought I had the right moment many times, but have held back. I don’t know why because the words are right there. It’s possibly out of fear, afraid she won’t say them back or feel forced to say something she doesn’t mean.
I roll us over so we’re on our sides and pull the sheet up to cover her breasts. I want to focus on what she said to me, and not the fact that her soft skin is begging to be touched.
“Why do you say that?”
“You didn’t even ask me which sister I’m referring to.”
“I don’t have to. Peyton loves everyone and if she didn’t like you, she’d tell me, and she hasn’t said a word. So now, tell me why you think Elle hates you.” I know Elle’s pissed at me and it’s likely because of Nola. Thing is, I don’t care. The band doesn’t need to practice twelve to thirteen hours a day, especially if we’re just playing small gigs. Although, I know the gigs are going to change soon and we’ll have to start traveling, but until then, until we’re off and running, I’m going to spend as much time with Nola as I can. She needs to know she’s important to me.
She shrugs. “It’s just a feeling I get. When she stopped by last night, she didn’t even say hi.”
“That’s Elle, she didn’t say hi to me either if you remember correctly. She threw some papers at me, told me to sign them and walked out.”
“I just feel…” Nola buries her face into the pillow. “I don’t want to come between the two of you.”
I start to laugh, which does nothing to help the situation. “Listen to me, Elle is fine. It’s just her sunny disposition. It takes her a bit to warm up to people, but I promise you, she doesn’t hate you.”
“If you say so.”
“I do, now stop worrying your pretty little head. You can talk to her tonight at the Bean Song.”
Nola rises onto her elbow, the sheet falling away. I swallow hard and try to keep my eyes steady on hers, but to no avail.
“Eyes up here, mister.”
“Ugh,” I groan. “They’re so perfect,” I tell her as I cup one of her breasts. She bats my hand away and covers up, pulling the sheet up to her neck, and effectively cutting off any visible skin. It’s hard to be serious around her when all I want to do is touch her.
“Are you singing tonight?”
“Of course, I am. It’s how I buy groceries.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m sure you’re not hurting for money.” Nola closes her eyes and shakes her head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it to come out like that.”
“It’s fine. You can ask me anything, ya know.”
“I know, but I don’t feel like it’s any of my business.”
I lean forward and kiss her. As much as I want to deepen it, to make love to her again, we’ve been cooped up in my room since dinner last night and I don’t want her to think she’s here for sex, although I must admit, it’s pretty damn spectacular.
“I have a trust fund. The only thing I use it for is to pay my rent. I use the money from the Bean Song to buy groceries and whatnot. Oh, and I’ve bought my car and motorcycle. That’s it.”
“Thrifty,” she says, giggling.
“No, just smart. Our dad had us invest most of it. I can live off the interest I earn, but if there’s something I want, I buy it. I know not everyone can live this way, so I try not to flaunt it.”
“You definitely don’t come off as a trust fund baby.”
“That’s good.” I can’t resist her for long, no matter how hard I try. I roll over on top of her and settle between her legs. Her fingers dig into my ass, pushing me forward. “We should get up and go out, be human.”
“This is being human,” she says, arching her back.
“So is getting coffee and walking hand in hand through the park. We could get some lunch, do a little shopping.” My finger trails over her collarbone to the hollow of her neck where a nice diamond pendant would look fantastic against her skin.
Nola rocks her hips, clearly indicating that she doesn’t care about shopping or food. However, I do. I want people to see us out together, as a couple, and we’ve yet to
do that. Honestly, I’m surprised she hasn’t said something. Most girls want to be public and not holed up in an apartment all the time.
“Nola,” I say as her hand slips between us. “I’m trying to be serious here and make plans with you. I want to take you out.”
“After.” Her word is soft, and her eyes are closed. She’s rubbing against me, giving us both a bit of much-needed friction. One swift move and I’m buried deep inside of her.
“After this?” I give her what she wants, falling completely under her spell. She arches against me, her nails piercing into my skin as she calls out my name. It’s what we both need, but I want more. I want it all and have absolutely no idea how to get it.
“Move in with me,” I blurt out in between thrusts. She stills, and I slow down. I look into her eyes and spill everything. “I’m falling so fast, so hard, Nola. I’m head over heels in love with you. Move in with me.”
Her hand comes to the back of my head and pulls me down until I’m hovering over her lips. “I love you too,” she whispers and starts moving against me. She doesn’t answer me about moving in, but I figure it’s a done deal. Since the night of Sinful Distraction’s gig at the Roxy, she hasn’t left my side. I can’t imagine spending a night without her.
“How much do you know about her?” Elle’s sitting on the dressing room table, something she’s done since we were kids, swinging her legs back and forth. Like a love-struck puppy, I stayed after dropping Nola off for work, thinking I’d get some lyrics down on paper but found myself staring at my girlfriend and counting the long hours until she finishes her shift.
After dodging Elle’s calls all afternoon, I should’ve known she would show up at the Bean Song. When she sat down across from me, I could see it in her eyes that she wanted to talk, but it wasn’t going to happen here. Thankfully, the makeshift dressing/green room was still empty.
Chasing My Forever Page 19