12 Days Of Forever (2 page)

autographs; that’s all Jimmy. Regardless of the fact that he’s married and a dad, he still has girls chasing him, especially on Twitter. He tried to get me hooked on his favorite social media site, but I told him it’s not for me. I have my business page and that’s about it. My business is simple–I help you get in shape and stay in shape.

Dana brings my food along with a glass of water. She knows that’s what I like to

drink while eating. I’m here nearly every day. It’s better than being home alone and eating in front of the television. If I could, I’d have clients until it was time to go to bed, but no one wants to work out past nine at night.

I’m getting to that point in my life where I want to settle down. I want to find

someone to spend my nights with, someone that I can hurry home to at the end of a long day in the gym. I want to walk into my house and feel warmth and comfort. Right now, it’s barren and there’s no life. I’m a bachelor and actually had to stop myself from putting up my psychedelic posters and plugging in my black light. I don’t want to live the dorm life anymore.

I’ve recently realized that I can’t trust a lot of people. The few women I have

dated since I moved to town just wanted to get close to the band. I felt bad, but the guys understood. They said it wasn’t the first time something like that had happened. So now I’m leery. I have to find someone who wants me for me, not for my client list and at whose house I happen to hang out on the weekends. I need to be enough. Whoever I end up with needs to like kids, too. All my friends have them and those kids are the centers of their universes.

I want that in my life.

Chapter 3–Yvie

The thunder of elephants stomping down the hall is what wakes me. The creak of

my door opening and little voices whispering is what gets me to open my eyes and

prepare for the launch of Quinn. This time though he has two counterparts that I’m fully expecting to join in with the torture I’m about to receive. I cross my arms over my chest and close my eyes tightly. The bed moves just a smidge, and it’s Quinn’s voice that tells the girls what to do.

“Like this,” he says before he launches himself onto my bed, falling over the top of me. I play dead. It’s part of the game.

“Quinn, you killed her!” I don’t know which girl is speaking, but she’s spot on.

“She’s not dead, Elle, she’s pretending. Watch,” he says as he sets his hands on

my hips and starts tickling. I can only fight my laughter for a moment before I pull him into my arms and tickle him back.

“You’re supposed to let me sleep in, you little monster.”

“But it’s breakfast time.”

I look over my shoulder to see the twins standing like statues. Elle is dressed in a pink nightgown with her hair in pigtails and holding a doll. Peyton is dressed in shorts and a football t-shirt. Her hair is down, but badly needs to be brushed to smooth the tangles. From what Harrison has told me about them, Elle is more outgoing while Peyton is reserved.

“Do you want to come up here?” I ask them. I want to have the same relationship

with them that I do with Quinn. I know that Katelyn is an only child, and I believe Mason was one as well so that doesn’t leave them a lot of family options. My brother has adopted them, so as far as I’m concerned they’re my nieces.

“Yes,” Elle says as she climbs up, but Peyton just stands there. She’s watching

Elle like a hawk, but quickly turns her gaze to Quinn.

“You can come up, Peyton. Auntie Yvie is really cool.”

I sit up, thinking that maybe she’s afraid to hurt me. Peyton starts biting her lower lip and her fingers pull on the hem of her shirt. Quinn pats the spot next to him, but she starts taking steps backwards. She’s out the door before I can say anything.

“She’s shy,” Quinn says, shaking his head.

“Is she always like that?” I wonder if I’m going to have to tiptoe around her.

“No, only since Daddy Mason went to heaven. He was her bestest friend, but now

she has Uncle Liam and Daddy. They take care of her.”

My eyes become a bit misty as I listen to Elle refer to Harrison as her dad. The

day Quinn came to us, he became a changed man. He had something to live for,

something to prove.

“Mom’s cooked breakfast for you. She says you need to come downstairs.” Quinn

sighs as if breakfast is ruining his day.

“Are you not hungry?” I slide out of bed and wait for them to get off so I can

make it.

“I’ve eaten mine, and I want to spend time with you.”

“Me too,” Elle says, bouncing on her knees.

“We have plenty of time since I’ll be here for week or so. I’m in no rush to go

back to New York.”

“Are you a really real ballerina?” Elle asks.

“I am, wanna see?” she nods as I get off the bed and rise up on my toes and

perform a small routine. She stands on the bed and starts to follow what I’m doing. I watch her from the corner of my eye and think that I could teach dance lessons to someone like her. But that would mean giving up on my dream.

“I want to be a ballerina just like you,” Elle yells as she twirls on my bed. I laugh and Quinn rolls his eyes.

“Next week she’ll want to be something else.”

“Will not,” Elle says as she stands on the bed with her hands on her hips. Quinn

nods, but doesn’t say anything else. “You’re a poopy head, and I’m telling.”

Elle jumps down and doesn’t miss a beat as she storms out the door and starts

yelling for Katelyn. Quinn stands there, looking down at the floor.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, pulling him into my arms and sitting down on the edge of

the bed.

His lips go into a thin line as he rests against me. “Having little sisters sucks.”

I laugh, remembering all the times I would torment Harrison. “I’m sure they’re

not so bad. When I was your age I used to make your dad’s life so miserable. He would whine to Grandma every day about how I was in all of his stuff, but he was also my best friend and I knew I could count on him for anything. He protected me.” Even when he was unable protect himself from the bullies. I don’t add the last part. That’s for Harrison to share with Quinn when the time is right.

“Come on, let’s go eat some food and figure out what we’re going to do today.”

“We have school today,” he says solemnly.

I scrunch my face in detest. “Fine, after school you’re all mine!”

Quinn and I walk downstairs hand in hand and into the kitchen. Their house is

huge, especially compared to the house in which we grew up. Even Harrison’s apartment in California could fit in here. I suppose, though, with a family of five you need a lot of room.

As we step into the kitchen I pause. Harrison is standing in the middle of the room drinking coffee with Peyton hanging off his back. Katelyn is plating up food, and Elle is sitting at the island playing with her doll.

“Morning,” he says, tipping his mug toward me.

Katelyn turns and smiles. “Sorry they woke you up this morning. I told them not

to, but Quinn said it was tradition.”

I look at him and squint. “It’s fine. I should probably be up anyway.” I chance a look at Peyton who hides her face in Harrison’s neck. Quinn wasn’t kidding when he said she was shy.

“Doesn’t your back hurt, holding her like that?”

He cocks his head and winks, but Peyton isn’t looking at him. “I don’t mind.

She’s pretty light, and I’ve been lifting weights.”

“Excuse me, what?” I ask just as Katelyn hands me a cup of coffee.

“What?” Harrison asks as if him lifting weights is an every day occurrence.

“You—in a gym—is something I’d have to see to believe.”

Katelyn laughs and pulls Peyton off his back. She whispers something to her, and

Peyton runs by without saying anything. “Elle and Quinn, go get ready for school, please.” The kids disappear upstairs and just like that the kitchen is quiet. I walk over to the island and sit down.

“You okay?” Katelyn asks, and I nod.

“Just . . . I don’t know. I needed a break. The show went on hiatus because The

Nutcracker will be showing at our theater, and I just couldn’t stay there. I missed Quinn, and I want to get to know the twins.”

“They’d like that,” Harrison tells me.

I shake my head. “Elle, maybe, but not Peyton.”

“Give her time. She’s leery of people because she thinks they’re all going to leave her. She’s pretty amazing once she opens up.”

I nod and take a sip of my coffee. I add some of the eggs, bacon and toast to one of the empty plates and start to eat.

“What else is going on?” Harrison asks. I swallow and look at my brother. He’s

leaning on the counter with Katelyn glued to his side. She’s looking at him with a pensive expression. I get the feeling that they discussed me last night. Honestly, I expected it. I know I would if someone showed up to my house late at night and then ran straight to bed without explanation.

“I broke up with Oliver, and I’m not sure if I’m on the right path.”

Harrison starts to smile until Katelyn elbows him. I roll my eyes. I know he, Liam and Jimmy don’t like Oliver–Jimmy made that very clear when they were on tour last time.

“What?” he asks Katelyn.

“Be nice.”

“Why? I don’t like the guy. I’m not going to pretend that the news doesn’t excite me.”

I roll my eyes. “Anyway, we’re over, and I don’t think I’ll take him back.”

“What’d he do?” Katelyn asks, and I shrug.

“It’s me. I’m just not into him.”

Before they can grill me for more information, the kids come down ready for

school. There’s a honk outside, and they start rushing around. They hug Harrison before dragging Katelyn to the door.

Harrison steps toward me and leans forward. “What’s going on?”

I shrug and fight the tears from forming. “I’m not sure dancing is my dream

anymore.”

My brother smiles and says, “The funny thing about dreams is that they change.

You just close your eyes and a new one can play out like an old movie reel with you as its star.”

“What are you guys talking about?”

Harrison straightens and Katelyn walks right to his side. His face lights up like it’s the first time he’s seeing her. I want that. I want to see the love someone has for me shining in their eyes.

“Brother and sister stuff,” he says, not needing to respect my privacy, but I’m

thankful that he’s changing the subject.

“Well, I’m going to call rank and take Yvie to them gym. I have a training session with Xander.”

“Who’s Xander?” I ask, as I stand and carry my dishes over to the sink.

“Only the hottest single guy in town.”

“Hey,” Harrison says as he looks at both of us. “I’m hot and single.”

Katelyn and I both start to laugh, and he quickly joins in.

“I know, it was just something funny to say.” Harrison says as he kisses Katelyn

before taking the few steps to me. He pulls me into his arms and holds me. “You can stay here as long as it takes for you to see your movie play out.” He kisses me of the top of my head and walks out of the room.

“I think you’ll like Xander. He’s extremely hot.”

I smile. “Aren’t you madly in love with my brother?”

Katelyn shrugs, but never stops smiling. “Doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a fine

looking man and neither will you.”

Chapter 4–Xander

The gym is bustling with patrons when I walk in at eight. The music is loud, but

not uncomfortably so. We open at five-thirty to give those who travel out of Beaumont a chance to get in a workout before leaving for work. The clank of the weights coupled with the whir of the treadmills being run on is music to my ears. I look around and feel a bit nostalgic. I hate thinking that if it weren’t for JD getting shot, Liam would’ve never have put the word out that he was looking for someone to help JD get back on track. I’m just the lucky bastard that happened to be in the right place at the right time and in the right frame of mind when I found out about the opportunity. I needed a change in my life and Liam, unbeknownst to him, opened up a whole realm of possibilities for me.

I shake the mouse to bring the computer alive. My schedule is flexible today,

allowing me time to hit the floor for a workout in the hope of gaining more clients. Most people are interested in personal training, but too gun-shy to actually ask about it. They think it’s too expensive, and it can be, but I strive to keep my fees comparable to the bigger city gyms. I’d rather keep my locals happy and in my gym then to lose them to the conglomerate chains that keep popping up. Sure they have newer equipment, but I offer individualized training and three of my staff members are working on getting their degrees in personal training.

My first client of the day is Katelyn, and the computer is showing a plus one next to her name. I rack my brain trying to remember if she said she was bringing in someone, but I can’t recall anything.

“Hey, Becky, can you tell me why Katelyn James has a plus one next to her

name?” Becky was my first hire and manages the gym for me. She’s in charge of setting up appointments, memberships, most of the hiring and firing and is my all-around right-hand person.

“I’m not sure. She called this morning and said she’s bringing someone with her

and asked if that was a problem. I didn’t think it would be.”

“No, no, it’s okay just curious.” Before I can put anymore thought into who’d be

with her, the door opens and in she walks, followed by Harrison’s sister. I know it’s her because she’s a smaller version of him, just much prettier, although the photos I’ve seen of her didn’t do her any justice. I can’t take my eyes off of her, and I follow her every step until she’s disappeared behind the door to the locker-room. The fact that I’m staring like a crazed stalker bothers me. I’ve seen beautiful women before, and even without knowing her, I’m certain she’ll end up being like family.

As soon as the girls come out of the locker room changed and ready to go, they