First and Always: The Forever Duet

by Brooke, Rebecca

  I gestured at the tattoos on my arm and the piercing in my eyebrow. It wasn’t likely they would notice my tongue piercing unless I drew attention to it. “While I’d love to say that people aren’t judgmental, I know better. I don’t want your parents to give you a hard time ’cause I don’t look like the boy next door.”

  “My parents aren’t like that. Sure, they’ll judge you, but it’ll all be based on how you treat me. And for that, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” She winked. “Now, eat your dinner, I’m ready to get out of here and get to bed.”

  “You’re too much sometimes. At least you’re taking my advice.”

  She lifted her fork to her mouth. “This time I am. I may not always.”

  I shook my head with a laugh and went back to my burger. Christine finished her meal quickly, probably from eating nothing but shit for the last few days. A huge yawn slipped passed her lips as I popped the last bit of burger into my mouth.

  I waved the waitress over and gave her my card for the bill. Christine tried to argue with me, only to yawn again and have to cover her lips. Once the waitress returned with the slip I signed it and climbed out of the booth, holding my hand out to Christine.

  “Let’s get you home.”

  She put her hand in mine and let me lead her out of the restaurant to the car. I made the drive back to her house quickly, her head resting on my shoulder for most of it.

  I opened the car door. “Come on, time for bed.”

  I followed her up the stairs, to make sure she didn’t trip. We made it to her room and, thankfully, I’d cleaned off her bed before we left. In a daze, she stripped her pants and shirt off, tugging on a long T-shirt before climbing into bed.

  “Thanks for taking care of me today,” she said, her eyes already closed.

  I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. “Always. Get some sleep and I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  She nodded sleepily. Her breathing became steady and even as I closed the door behind me.

  Gina was in her room when I left. Stress wasn’t good for Christine. At least I could be there to pull her out of the hole she’d put herself. My heart expanded as I thought about the smile on her face as exhaustion pulled her under.

  I’d fallen hard and fast for Christine from the first moment I met her. Now I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else.

  11

  “Sure you’re ready for this?” Christine glanced over at me from the passenger side of the car.

  “I’m sure. I told you, I want to meet your parents.”

  “Just remember you said that when we get there and my mom decides to act all crazy over you.”

  I slowed to a stop at a red light. “As long as she doesn’t mind the tattoos and piercings”—I gestured to the ink covering my forearms—“I think we’ll be fine.”

  “Okay.” She held out the last syllable and pointed to a street on the right side. “Make a right here.”

  I flicked on the blinker and made the turn. There were houses on both sides of the road with manicured lawns and flowers in the beds outside. Most of the houses were two stories, except every few there were a couple ranch level ones.

  I followed the winding path until Christine gestured to a tall colonial house on the right. “That’s the one.”

  I parked by the curb, taking in the pristine state of the house and yard. Similar to the others around it, but the contrast of the flowers to the color of the house drew your eye to the details of the place.

  Christine placed her hand on the handle and sighed. “Here goes nothing.”

  She pushed open the door and stepped out onto the curb. With a chuckle, I followed behind. As nervous as she had been to ask me, she sure seemed like she didn’t want to be there now.

  I climbed out of my side of the car and met her on the grass. “Things are going to be fine.”

  Although, I had to admit, my confidence was starting to slip a little. She lived in your typical suburban neighborhood and one look at me would make you think I really didn’t belong here. At least for anyone who preferred to judge a book by its cover. To look at me, you’d never know I grew up with money. Not the private jet to fly me to an island whenever I want kind of money, but enough that we lived comfortably. My parents had a second house in the mountains for skiing in the winters.

  I linked my fingers with hers as we walked up the front porch steps.

  She sucked in a deep breath and pushed open the door. “Mom?”

  I stepped inside the foyer. A staircase that led to the second floor stood directly in front of me. Muted voices reached my ears, then footsteps sounded on the stairs until a small woman with short blond hair appeared.

  She walked forward with open arms. “Christine, I’m so glad you came.” Christine let go of my hand to step forward into her mom’s arms.

  Her mom hugged her tightly, rocking her back and forth like she hadn’t seen her for a while. When she stepped back, she glance over Christine’s shoulder at me.

  “You must be Aiden,” she said with a smile.

  Christine moved to stand next to her mother, and the same smile tugged at the corner of her own lips. “That’s him.” She reached forward to take my hand. “Mom, this is my boyfriend, Aiden. Aiden, this is my mom, Carla.”

  I reached out my hand toward her. She took it and pulled me into a hug of my own. Not a second guess or questioning look at the rocker style. “It’s so nice to meet you. Christine has always avoided bringing her boyfriends home to meet the family, which means you must be something really special.”

  I glanced at Christine out of the corner of my eye. She was glaring daggers at her mother until she moved her gaze to mine. “I’d like to think so ’cause she’s someone really special to me.”

  Christine sucked in a breath and I watched a million emotions play out over her face in a span of seconds. Excitement, fear, nerves, and love. Something that felt right from the moment the words slipped past my lips.

  Mrs. Davis stepped back and clasped her hands together in front of her. “Jim’s finishing up lunch in the kitchen. Let’s head in. I know he’s dying to meet you.”

  Christine took my hand and led us down the hall behind her mom. She’d talked about her stepdad often. He seemed to have walked into his role of being her father without regrets, even if I gathered it hadn’t been easy in the beginning, eventually adopting both her and Kyle when their father relinquished custody.

  We reached the end of the hall, only to have it open up into a large open floor plan. Through the living room I could see the dining room table set and ready for a meal. To the right was a doorway, revealing a glimpse of a refrigerator, so it didn’t surprise me when we turned in that direction.

  A man about my height was standing at the counter tossing a salad.

  “Hey, Dad.” She walked over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Looks good.”

  He set the utensils down and turned to her. “Thanks. Good to see you home. Where’s this guy we’ve heard so much about.”

  She smacked him lightly on the arm. “Dad…” It was hard to miss the light flush to her cheeks.

  “What?” He put his hands up, but I could see the smirk lingering at the corner of his lips. Just like her mom, his eyes moved over Christine’s shoulder to where I stood a few steps behind her. His gaze was a bit more cautious than his wife’s.

  Christine walked over to me. “Dad, this Aiden.”

  Her dad reached a hand out to me. “Jim.”

  If there was one thing my dad made sure I learned, it was how to shake hands properly. Not too soft, where you seemed weak, and not too strong that made you seem like an asshole.

  I reached out and took Mr. Davis’s hand. He glanced at our hands, then back up at me. “Nice to meet you, Aiden.”

  Christine looped her arm through mine, a smile lighting her face. It didn’t escape my notice that he eyed me once before going back to the counter to finish lunch.

  “This should be ready in a few minutes if you both wa
nt to get something to drink before heading to the dining room.”

  Christine’s mom appeared from the door on the other side of the room. “I have wine glasses on the table already.” She glanced over at me. “Is that okay or would you like something else?”

  “A glass of wine sounds perfect.” I didn’t think it would win me any points to ask for a shot of tequila.

  Now that Christine had settled down, my own nerves had decided to make an appearance. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed her watching me.

  “Come on,” Christine said, making her way to the other door. “Let sit and relax before we eat.”

  “I’m going to help your dad get everything else ready. We’ll be in in a minute.”

  Christine gave her mom a slight nod and passed through the doorway. We stepped into the dining room. I hadn’t noticed a glass door leading to a deck attached to the back of the house. Christine went right to the door and unlocked it. Sliding it open, she gestured for me to follow her outside.

  Where are we going? I stepped onto the deck and took in the fresh spring air. I heard the door close and turned to face Christine.

  “What are we doing out here?”

  She shrugged. “I thought you could use a break. You didn’t seem nervous the whole ride here, but suddenly you started looking a little pale.”

  I sighed. “I guess I spent so much time trying to keep you from being nervous that I forgot to be freaked out myself. It’s not every day you meet your girlfriends’ parents.”

  “No, but other people seem to survive it.” She winked.

  I wrapped my arm around her waist and tugged her closer. “All right, smart-ass, you have a point.”

  “That and I made you smile.”

  “You always make me smile.” I bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

  “Which is why neither of us has anything to be nervous about. You make me happy and that’s all my parents care about.”

  I ran my fingers over her cheekbone. “You’re right, there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll always do anything I can to make you happy.”

  The sound of the door opening drew both of our attention. Mrs. Davis stood there with a smile on her face. “Food is ready.”

  “We’ll be right in, Mom.”

  She clasped her hands in front of her and nodded. “Take your time.”

  When the door shut again, Christine looked back at me. “Think you’re ready to go eat?”

  “Very ready. I’m starving.”

  When we walked back inside, the table had been covered in platters, trays, and bowls. All filled with enough food to feed a small army.

  “Oh my God, how many people do you think are having lunch with us?” Christine’s eyes were wide.

  Mrs. Davis shrugged. “We weren’t sure what Aiden liked.”

  I reached for the chair in front of Christine and pulled it out. “I’m pretty easy to please.”

  “I hope you’re hungry too.”

  “Always.”

  Mr. Davis stepped into the room with one last platter of food. He set it down in the center and pulled out his wife’s chair as I took my own next to Christine.

  Mrs. Davis poured wine into Christine’s glass, then held it over mine but stopped before she finished pouring. “Is red okay?”

  I picked up my glass. “It’s perfect.” I had no doubt I looked like the beer only kind of guy.

  She tipped the bottle farther, filling it. When she finished she moved onto her own and her husband’s glasses. I lifted mine, swirling it and taking a sip, exactly as my parents had taught me. Mr. Davis nodded in approval.

  Everyone had taken their seats and food was passed around. Once our plates were full and I’d taken my first bite, the first of what I assumed would be many questions was asked.

  Mr. Davis cut into his chicken. “So, Aiden, Christine tells us you’re the lead singer in a band.”

  I swallowed the piece in my mouth and took a quick sip to really wash it down. “I am; it’s called Violet Obsession. It’s where I met Christine.” I reached a hand under the table and laid it on her thigh.

  “You’re majoring in music then?”

  I couldn’t blame him for the questions about my career choices. He wanted to protect his daughter. A career in music wasn’t the safest choice. If you didn’t make it, you had nothing but small gigs and barely scraping by to look forward to. Time to put his mind at ease.

  “Not exactly. I have a minor in music. I got my degree in finance.”

  “Finance?” He set his fork down and wrapped his fingers around the stem of the wine glass. “I have to be honest, you don’t look like someone who would major in finance.”

  “Jim,” Mrs. Davis said at the time Christine exclaimed, “Dad.” Her eyes practically bugged out of her head. “That’s not—”

  I squeezed her thigh, letting her know I’d explain. I chuckled. “I’m very aware of that. My dad likes to remind of that all the time.” I sat up straighter in the chair. “My dad owns a financial advising firm in California. The finance degree is if I can’t make it in the music industry. I didn’t want to not have anything to fall back on if I needed it.”

  He lifted his hand to the bowl of the glass and nodded approvingly. “Very smart.”

  “Thank you.”

  He lifted the glass to his lips, but stopped partway and raised it toward me before bringing it to his mouth to take a sip. If that wasn’t a sign of approval, I didn’t know what would count.

  After that the rest of lunch went smoothly. Mr. Davis had more questions about Violet Obsession and our plans for the future.

  At some point we moved onto my family, then to Christine’s last two finals. We stayed for a while after lunch was finished, moving back out to the patio.

  Christine began to fidget in her chair and I knew looking at her that thoughts of studying were weighing on her. Her parents must have noticed it as well. Mrs. Davis stood and began collecting glasses.

  “Ready to get rid of us?” Christine sat up straighter in her chair.

  Mrs. Davis laid her hand on Christine’s shoulder as she passed by on her way to the glass door. “Not at all, but you’re ready to go.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Mr. Davis chuckled. “You didn’t have to. You haven’t been able to sit still for the last fifteen minutes.”

  Christine buried her head in her hands. “Is it that obvious?”

  Mr. Davis stood and walked over to Christine. He held out a hand and when she placed hers in his, he helped her up from the chair. He placed a kiss on her forehead. “Let Aiden take you home so you can study some more before finals tomorrow.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. “Thanks, Dad.”

  I stood and held my own hand out to Mr. Davis. “Thank you for having me for lunch today.”

  “You’re welcome anytime. Now, take my girl home before she really starts to twitch in her chair.”

  “That I can do.”

  Christine and I said our goodbyes and climbed in my car to travel back to campus. When we made it to the highway, Christine leaned her head against the headrest with her eyes closed.

  “Doing okay over there?”

  She opened her eyes and lifted her head. “Doing better than ever. My parents really like you.”

  “That’s good to know.”

  “It is, because I don’t plan to let you go.”

  “I don’t plan to let you go either.”

  Christine moved as close as she could with the center console, and rested her head on my shoulder. I moved my free hand to her thigh. We drove home the whole way without moving. Being close to her was more important to me than anything else.

  12

  One Year Later

  I flipped on the TV, scrolling through all the channels before opening the streaming service and scrolling through practically every genre available. Nothing appealed to me. Didn’t stop me from looking.

  Eventually, a small hand cove
red mine.

  “You need to breathe at some point.”

  Green eyes filled my vision.

  “When did you get home?”

  “A few minutes ago, but it was enough to see that you aren’t handling the stress of waiting well.”

  I ran a hand through my hair. “It’s been three days since we went into the studio to play for them.”

  “Have you talked to Jackson? How long did it take for his studio to get back to him?”

  I moved my gaze and flipped the remote around in my hand. “I didn’t.”

  Christine rolled her eyes. “Well, there’s the first problem. This could be completely normal, but you don’t have any idea because you won’t call the one resource you have.”

  “I’m afraid he’ll tell me it’s not, or that it’s a bad sign.”

  Christine moved to slide one leg over my lap to straddle me. “I know.” She reached up and ran her fingers across my brow. “So stressed. You need to relax.”

  “Easier said than done. I seem to remember a time when someone else I know would get stressed out and binge eat junk food and soda without sleeping.” I lifted a brow at her.

  She giggled as her gaze slid away for a moment before coming back to mine. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Sure you don’t. I always had to wonder about a therapist that binged on shit to get through her exams.”

  She pressed her hand to her chest in faux offense. “I can’t imagine you mean me.”

  “No…why would I mean you?” I curled the corner of my lip up in a smirk.

  She leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine, her tongue sliding across the seam of my lips until I parted them and let her slip inside. The taste of her was intoxicating the same as it had been since our very first kiss.

  I slid my hands over her things, running them up her back until I could sink one of them into the air at the base of her neck. A shiver raced through her as I tilted her head to gain better access to her mouth.

  My ringtone filled the room, startling us both. My eyes darted to the phone where it lay on the coffee table.