29. Quinn
quinn
. . .
“ Y our 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.
“What does it matter?”
“It matters because we’re onto something good here with Sinful Distraction, and I don’t need some groupie getting knocked up or worse.”
“She’s not a groupie, Elle. She didn’t even know who I was when she started working here.”
“Not so, big brother. Don’t you remember what she said last weekend at the beach? She thought she knew your imaginary sister, Sofia. So clearly she ‘knows you.’” Elle uses air quotes to emphasize her words. I hate that she’s like this, skeptical all the time. I know it’s because of the things we’ve dealt with growing up. From the overly aggressive paparazzi to our dad’s psycho manager trying to destroy our lives.
I go to her and pull her into a hug. “I love you but trust me.”
“I love you too, but no. You’re thinking with your…” She cocks her eyebrow at me and smirks. “Plus, your heart. You have a really good heart, Quinn, and I don’t want to see it trampled on.”
“Nola said earlier that you don’t like her. I tried to tell her it’s just your sunny disposition, but maybe she’s right.”
Elle hops down off the table and starts to pace. She’s dressed like a business manager tonight, which means she’s probably invited some record label executives to come and listen. Honestly, having them here doesn’t make much sense since I perform solo, unless…
“Did you ask the band to join me tonight?”
She looks at me sheepishly.
I throw my hands up in the air. “This is supposed to be my night.”
“You’re part of something bigger now, Quinn. Embrace it.”
“It’s not about embracing the band, Elle. I’m in. I show up to rehearsal, don’t I?”
“So, what’s the issue?”
“The issue is this is where I can be me. Where I can relax and just play music without any added pressure of whether or not they like the song.”
Elle stands in front of me. She takes hold of my shirt, pulling on the collar. “When will you see that you’re wasting your talent here? Zeke should be paying you thousands a night for sitting on his stage, and yet you let him get away with giving you a hundred plus tips. You’re freaking Harrison James’s son, and you’re busking for dollars.”
“Not exactly, I don’t perform on the street corner or in subway stations.”
She throws her hands up and I laugh. I love goading her. She takes life too seriously sometimes, which I know has a lot to do with Peyton’s accident. In a way, we all changed a little bit after we thought we were going to lose her.
“Listen.” I turn her around so she’s facing me. “You were right about the band. It’s going to be a good thing, but until it takes off, I’d really like to continue my Friday nights here, by myself.”
“You can’t, Quinn.”
“Why not?”
“Because, I can’t book the band for paying gigs when you’re willing to sit and play for free. Zeke doesn’t have a cover charge and he’s not paying you. Venues know that. And you know word spreads like wildfire here. Sinful Distraction has a real chance at being something big and I don’t want to ruin it because you feel like you owe Zeke something.”
I’m growing more frustrated by the minute. “Do you remember when I said I didn’t want to be in your band?”
“Yeah, I remember, but you are, and you know it’s for the best. I wouldn’t ask you, if I didn’t think we were onto something here.”
I don’t want to agree with her, but I’m really left with no choice. She’s right and I hate that she is. I could leave the group; let them forge out on their own. They’d be okay, but I like being a part of it. Even with my petty differences with Ajay, I feel like we’ve bonded. Leaving them would be foolish, especially over some money that I use for groceries.
“Fine, tonight will be my last night.”
She claps her hands. “I’m going to go have a chat with Zeke, but first, Nola.”
“I’m in love with her,” I blurt out.
Elle’s face falls, and I hate that she can’t be happy for me. “Protect yourself, Quinn. That’s all I’m asking.” She turns to walk away, but I grab her hand.
“Please be nice to her.”
She smiles and nods. “I will, but only because you’re in love with her.”
I let go of her hand and watch her walk out of the door. I hear her yell for Zeke before the door shuts, leaving me to my thoughts. I look around, this room is a festering shit hole, but it’s been my Friday night home for as long as I can remember, and it won’t be easy to leave.
It won’t be easy to sit in the crowd while Nola’s working either, but it’s what I’m going to do.