by Anna Brooks
“Sounds good.”
“Later.”
Quinn is lying on the couch, her head in my lap. We’ve been on the road for a little while, and she’s totally relaxed now. Might not be the best time to do this, but I don’t want to waste a minute more of my time on this shit.
She’s facing away from me watching a movie, but turns when I hang up. “Everything okay?”
“Better than okay.” I dial Eva.
“Hey, baby.”
“Now’s a fantastic time to stop this fuckin’ act, Eva, because if you don’t, not only will I spread the evidence I have far and fucking wide, but the friendly doctor who made a fake ultrasound will surely lose her license. And let me tell you, bitch, normally a woman eatin’ pussy is a man’s fantasy, but seeing that shit with my own eyes almost fucking blinded me.”
Both Eva and Quinn gasp. But Eva starts trying to talk her way out of it. “I love you, Wes. I just wanted you to want me. You were never home, and it was like you didn’t even care.”
Quinn tries to get up, but I put a hand on her belly to hold her still. “I stopped caring about you a long time ago, and you know it. The only reason we were on and off again was because you weaved your way into my life, and I was too stupid to crawl out of your web.”
“I’m sorry. God, Wes, please. I’m so sorry.”
“Nothing you can do or say will make me not hate you for what you did. I never want to speak to you again, and if we do happen to run into each other, I won’t even see you because you are dead to me.”
She cries on the other end of the phone, but I leave her with this parting message. “And if you ever, and I mean ever, Eva, contact my nana or my sisters, or anybody in my family, I will be sure that tape gets in the right hands.”
“No, don’t. Nana Rose—”
“Don’t you say her fucking name. I suggest you forget my entire family exists. And I’ll leave you with this; any memory I had with you is already forgotten and being replaced with a woman who actually shows me what love is. Because what we had was not that. I don’t know what the fuck it was, but whatever it was is over.” Then I hang up my phone and toss it on the table.
“Wes—”
I sigh, and Quinn turns a little more and props her head up on her hand. “Are you okay?”
“She wasn’t even pregnant. The stupid bitch hooked up with a doctor and”—I shudder, just picturing what Graham told me he saw on the tape—“she wore a fake belly. Anyway, it was all caught on the hospital’s security tape. Ding dong, the bitch is gone.”
“You wouldn’t really give someone that tape, would you?”
“Yeah, I would.”
Her face hardens, and she sits up. “Don’t.”
Then it dawns on me. “It’s not the same thing, Quinn. Not at all, not even close. You were taken advantage of. She lied to my nana, for one, then to me, and worst of all, she made shit between us bad because of it. I told you, that was it. And I’m a man of my word. I told her I’d spread it, and if she opens her mouth again and my name is anywhere near it, I’ll do it.”
“But—”
“No. Don’t worry about her anymore. I’m not.” And this is all wrapped up at the perfect time because I want to take her to meet my family. Especially my nana. Now’s a great time because she has two days off before her next show. “I want you to come home with me.”
“I don’t know how I feel about what you just said, Wes. Honestly. I know she’s a bitch, and she did horrible things, but as a woman, if something like that got out there, she has to live with that for the rest of her life. What if she does have kids someday, and they see that?”
“She made the choice. She’s not a child who doesn’t understand there are consequences to her actions. She knows me well enough to know what she pulled isn’t something she can just get away with.”
She snaps her gum and looks away from me.
“Okay, so this shit… where she again comes between us, isn’t happening.”
“She’s not. I just—”
“She is because a few minutes ago you were in my lap making my dick hard, and now you’re three feet away making me feel like a dick.”
Her lips tilt up. “You’re not a dick.”
“Tell you what. If she’s stupid enough to do anything else, I’ll… reconsider the way in which I get revenge. That good enough for you?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
I pat my thighs, and she lies back down, her pretty makeup-free face aiming at me. I push her hair off her face and then continue running the tips of my fingers along her jaw. “You’re beautiful, baby. Inside and out. Don’t ever let anyone take that away from you.”
“I won’t.” She blinks back the wetness in her eyes.
I lean down and kiss her, gentle and slow. “Want to come home with me for a couple of days?”
“Why don’t you just go? I’m sure you could use some time off, Wes. I don’t want to be in the way or anything.”
“Why don’t I just go?” I repeat.
She must sense the irritation in my voice. “Not that I don’t want to be with you. God no, I just… your sister thinks—”
I put a stop to that ridiculous argument. “I’ll deal with my sister. And I want you there because you’re in my life, hopefully for a long time, and I want my girl and my family to meet.”
She bites her lip, something she rarely does unless she’s super nervous. I don’t know why she would be now. My family is cool. Aside from my sister acting like a bitch because of what Eva told her, that is.
“Okay.”
“Awesome. We’re almost there.”
“What?”
I smirk. “I already planned on it. Luckily, it worked out that all the other shit is done now.”
“Oh, God. I need to change.” I look down at my leggings and tight tank top with my belly showing. “I can’t meet your parents in this.”
“You’re beautiful. Doesn’t matter what you wear.”
“I’m taking a quick shower. My hair’s all greasy. I’ll be fast, I promise.”
She runs down the small hallway on the bus, and when I hear the water start, I make a phone call I dread. But before I take Quinn home, I have to tell my nana that Eva is lying.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Nana. It’s Wes.”
“Don’t be silly, my favorite grandson doesn’t need to tell me who he is on the phone.”
I laugh. “I’m your only grandson.”
“You’re the last one left to carry on the family name, so you’ll always be my favorite.”
Here’s the opening I need. “Nana, I have to tell you something.”
“Oh dear, what is it? Is the baby okay? Eva?”
“Nana, it’s not my child. Eva was never pregnant. She lied.”
“No… why on earth would she do something like that?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I don’t know, but it was cruel, and I’m so sorry that she lied to you.” She sniffles, and I have to stand, then run my hand through my hair. “I have good news, though.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m coming home for a couple of days.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful.”
“It is. And I’m bringing a woman with me. She’s more than my girlfriend. I really want you to give her a chance. I know this is a lot, Nana, but I’m really excited for you to meet her.”
She takes a moment, and I can see her sitting on her couch, staring off into space while she talks this through in her head. “I can’t wait to meet her too. I’m sure she’s lovely.”
Chapter 15
Quinn
Wes holds his hand out for me as I step down onto the black driveway. He has his bag and a suitcase of mine in the other, and we stand back as the bus drives away. Apparently, it’ll be back tomorrow.
He gives my fingers a squeeze. “Don’t be nervous.”
“I am.”
“I know. Don’t be. They’re going to love you.”
In public, ev
eryone sees an outgoing me. Someone who is confident and comfortable in her skin. And that’s because I’m good at my job. Singing is my passion, but performing is my job. And after the lights go out, I’m really just an insecure girl in my early twenties trying to figure out life.
Walking into the childhood home of a man whose ex has been in his life since they were kids is intimidating. His sisters are probably going to think I’m a homewrecker. His grandma will hate me just because I’m not Eva. His dad will probably like me because he’s a guy, and they don’t really care so much about petty shit like women do. And I hope his mom will just want her son to be happy, even if it’s not with the girl everyone thought he’d marry.
The only thing I know for sure is that his nieces will love me. My audience was always teenage girls, and they’ve kind of grown up with me as my music has matured. However, since I was on the soundtrack for an award-winning animated movie, younger girls have become huge fans for this tour because of one song.
I love that the soundtrack expanded my audience, and that’s why I had such a hard time with being so sexual. I hated these young, impressionable kids looking up at me and wanting to be like me. It’s a blessing and a curse because they make it so fun, but at the same time, I feel like I have to cater to them.
Worse-case scenario, I’ll just hang out with the kids while we’re here.
His family home is situated on acres of land. Trees on either side as far as I can see and a wraparound porch on both the first and second levels of what I think is an old Victorian home painted a light blue. “Wow.”
“Come on.” He tugs my hand, and I follow.
Before we’re all the way up the stairs, the door opens, and his parents come out. “Hey, son.”
“Hi, Dad.” He lets me go and hugs his father while his mom steps back and watches, smiling.
After a firm clap on the back, Wes greets his mother much the same way, minus the manly slapping. Then he tosses his arm around me. “This is Quinn.”
“Hi, I’m Allison. This is my husband, Max.”
“Nice to meet you.”
I’m pulled in for a hug from his mom, and his dad simply smiles at me. He looks a lot like Wesley, or rather, Wes looks a lot like him. His head is bald, but he wears a salt and pepper goatee. His mother is beautiful, and her scrutinizing eyes remind me of whenever Wes watches me like that.
“Well, let’s get you two inside. I’m sure you’re hungry. You’ve been on the road for quite a while, haven’t you?”
His dad grabs our bags, and I follow his mom inside with Wesley’s hand firmly on my hip. “Yeah, we came straight from Portland overnight.”
I try to appear interested in their conversation, but I’m too busy looking around the place where he grew up. Photos everywhere. A basket of baby toys in the hallway so, obviously, his nieces spend a lot of time here. Hardwood floors throughout the entire place, but fancy rugs lead the way to the kitchen.
“I’m just gonna put these downstairs.” His dad opens a door off the kitchen and disappears.
When I step into the kitchen, an elderly woman, plump around the middle with gray hair and pink glasses, looks up from the table. She stops peeling potatoes, and Wes brings me right to her. “Nana.” He bends down and kisses her cheek.
Gray eyes peer up at me through her lenses, and my hand almost slides out of Wesley’s because it’s sweating so bad. How can I perform in front of tens of thousands of people but be this nervous to meet his grandma?
“Nana Rose, this is Quinn. Baby, this is my nana.” I smile at her, and she does the same.
“Hi. It’s really good to meet you. Wes talks about you a lot.”
“Good to meet you, too.”
The awkward silence is horrible, and Wes actually looks nervous. But then the back door swings open, and a little girl runs in screaming, “Is she here? Is she here?”
We turn to see a little blondie tearing through the kitchen followed by a woman who looks just like Allison carrying a baby.
Wes turns to the little girl, and she skids to a halt. Her eyes turn big, and she shrieks. I press my lips together, trying not to laugh at how adorable she is.
“Marie, baby, stop screaming. Hi, I’m Willow.” She adjusts the baby. “This is Lucy.”
“Hi.”
“I’m Marie!”
I hunch down. “I’m Quinn.”
“I knooow. You’re Quinn Valentine!”
Smiling, I reach out and touch her tutu. “I like your outfit. Pink is my favorite color.”
“Me too.”
“Do you do ballet?”
“No. It’s too slow. I do hip-hop. Do you wanna see?”
I lean all the way back and sit on my butt, then cross my legs. “Yes, I want to see.”
She stomps her foot, then puts a hand on her hip and twirls around. I suppress a giggle when she almost falls walking backward. Her little legs fly around, and when she goes to the floor, she spins around on her butt and then kicks one leg in the air and holds her arms up. I clap my hands. “That was great. Maybe you can show me how to do that cool spin you did in the beginning.”
“You don’t know how to do that?”
“No.” I shake my head and rub my chin. “I don’t think so.”
“What are you girls doing on the floor?” His dad walks in the room. “And why hasn’t my granddaughter come and given me a kiss hello?”
Wes puts his hands out for me, and I grab them. He gives me a yank up, and I land against him, but he moves me to his side and rests an arm around my waist, then kisses the top of my head.
Marie jumps up and runs to her grandpa. She wraps herself around his leg and looks up at him. “Grandpa, Quinn Valentine wanted me to show her my dance.”
“She did, did she?”
“Yes, and she said I was good.”
He rubs the top of her head. “That’s because you are.”
“Wesley, why haven’t you gotten your girlfriend a drink yet?”
I look over at his nana, and she has a smile on her face, much different than a few minutes ago. “Sorry, Nana. I’ll get right on that. Why don’t you ladies go into the den, and we’ll bring some drinks? Marie, can you show Quinn where it is?”
“Yes.” She releases her grandpa’s leg and shyly stands in front of me. I take her hand. “Lead the way.”
Her slobbery smile is the most precious thing, and she yanks me out of the room where I have a hard time keeping up with her.
Wesley
“Is she gonna give me more great-grandbabies?” my nana asks as soon as Quinn is out of earshot.
Willow drops the diaper bag and bites her lip. “Have fun with that,” she mumbles as she walks by me.
“Mom, they’re not even engaged. Give the kid a break.” Dad tries to rescue me as he goes to the fridge.
“You’re not getting any younger.”
I bring her walker over to her and help her out of the seat. “I’m not, but we’re still kind of new, so don’t say anything to scare her off.”
“I won’t. I like her. She’s good with kids. That’s the most important thing.” She waddles a bit as she gets her footing. “Take care of these potatoes for me.”
“I’ll get ’em.” My mom grabs the bowl and heads to the sink but pauses halfway there. “I like her.”
“I knew you would.” I take a couple of beers from my dad. “I do, too.”
“I can tell.” She smiles, and I follow my dad and Nana down the hallway.
By the time we make it in the den, they’ve already got on that damn movie, and Quinn is sitting on the corner of the couch with Marie on her lap. Quinn smiles at me, and when I sit next to her, I lean close. “You don’t have to let her sit on your lap.”
“She’s fine.”
I throw my arm over the back of the couch and lean into her. Everyone gathers, and baby Lucy is passed around as we participate in small talk. Nobody treats Quinn like she’s famous, except Marie, and when Willow’s husband, Dan, arrives, Marie doesn’t eve
n move to say hi to her father. He looks down at Quinn and Marie. “I see where I stand,” he jokes. “Dan. Nice to meet you.”
“Quinn. Likewise.”
“Hey, baby.” He lifts Lucy up from the floor where she’s crawled and holds her in the air. “At least you’re happy to see me.”
We sit around, and the adults talk while Marie is glued to the TV. Quinn relaxes as time goes on, and my mom smiles at me a million times. As we’re eating some snacks, Marie hops off Quinn’s lap and disappears.
“She’s cute,” she says to Willow.
“Thanks. She’s a handful.”
Less than thirty seconds later, Marie runs back in with a stuffed animal and stops in front of Quinn. “This is Sugar. My favorite kitty.” She holds out her stuffed cat.
Quinn sets her cup on the side table and gives her all her attention. “Oh, she’s soft.”
“I can’t have a real kitty ’cause I’m allergic.”
She hands the cat back. “That’s a bummer.”
“Do you like kitties?”
“I do.”
“Do you like doggies?”
“Yes, and can I tell you a secret?”
Marie nods and leans in closer.
“I like doggies better than kitties.” Quinn quickly covers her mouth as though she just sold trade secret information.
“You do?”
“Yup. I’ve always wanted one that looks like a teddy bear.”
“What would you name it?”
She taps her chin. “I don’t know. What would you name a little doggie that looks like a teddy bear?”
“Butter!” Marie claps, and everyone in the room laughs.
“I love it. If I ever get a doggie, I’ll name it Butter.”
“Can you sing me a song?” Marie tugs on Quinn’s sleeve.
Quinn giggles. “That was a fast change of subject. But yes, of course. What song do you want me to sing?”
“Boys.” She giggles.
Quinn smiles. “Okay, but only if you sing it with me.”
Marie looks down and over at her mom, nervous. “It’s okay, baby.”
When she nods, Quinn says, “I’ll start, and when you know the words, join in and sing with me, okay?”
