Chasing My Forever (Beaumont: Next Generation 3)

“I was just going to say you don’t have to take me to meet your family today. I can sense that you’re uncomfortable by the idea.”

He nods. “Is that what you think?”

I nod.

“I’m not uncomfortable, Nola. I’m mortified that I put you in this spot. Not with my mother or my family, but leaving the door unlocked for anyone to walk in. Believe me, my mother ripped into me. I’m happy you didn’t see her as soon as I walked out. She may have looked calm to you, but I swear I thought she was about to whip my ass for being a moron.”

“Heat of the moment,” I tell him, trying to ease his internal torment.

“Ha, heat of the moment. I was thinking with my…” He stops and doesn’t finish his sentence. We both were thinking with our emotions and not our brains. Quinn pulls me onto his lap. “I’m sorry, Nola.”

“For what?” I ask. I brush my fingers over the beard he’s growing. I’ve never been one for facial hair, but on Quinn, it’s hot, and I really like it. “We both made a mistake. It won’t happen again.”

He pulls his lower lip in between his teeth and adjusts the way I’m sitting. He’s hard and ready, and pushing against the seam of my shorts. “Would you like to come to meet my parents later?” he asks. “Everyone I know, and love will be there. It’ll be crazy, an utter madhouse with a bonfire, booze, and surfing. My sisters will be there. One is sweet as pie and the other is evil. My best friend will also be there. My family is wild, crass and loving, and I’d love it if you came out there with me.”

Cupping his cheek, I lean in for a kiss. He deepens it instantly while his hands rock my hips back and forth over him. The friction is pure torture and very welcomed. Being interrupted is never a good thing and I’d like to finish what we started earlier. First, he needs an answer. It pains me to pull away, but I do.

“I’d love to unless you’re not ready and only asking to appease your mom.”

Quinn laughs. “I’ve never been more ready. There’s something about you, Nola. I can’t put my finger on it, but you drive me crazy with desire and I have this need to show you off, to stake a claim and call you my girlfriend. Can I do that? Can I call you my girlfriend?”

“Yes, yes you can.” Saying those words drives a stake into my heart. Rhett is due to arrive any day to take me back home and right now, I don’t want to leave. Quinn helps me stand and walks over to the door. I use this moment to pull my phone out of my pocket and send a message to my brother. I’ve changed my mind. I’ll be home by the party.

I hit send and shut off my phone. Quinn and I don’t have long, but I’m going to make the best of it starting now. And seek out the right moment to tell him that I have to return home by the Fourth of July.

27

Quinn

I’ve never been so nervous before and driving my bike out to my parents’ place with Nola on the back, probably isn’t the best idea. I’m shaking. The grip I have on the handlebars is tight, and I’m afraid to make any sudden moves out of fear that I’ll crash.

Nola though, she’s pressed up against me and her hands are under my shirt. Every so often, she runs her fingers over the swath of hair on my stomach, teasing me. The jitters I have only get worse when she dips her hand below my waistband. Doesn’t she realize that we’re on a motorcycle, which could turn into a death trap if I’m not careful?

No, I don’t think she does because if she did, she’d give me a bit of space, even though it’s the last thing I want. Right now, I want to pull over along the coast, find a secluded spot and just be with her. Instead, we’re heading to my parents, with my entire family waiting.

To say I’m surprised she’s with me would be an understatement. After this morning, if I were in her shoes, I would’ve run, fast and far. What a clusterfuck of epic fuckery. Who in the hell forgets to lock their door? Me. That’s who. I let lust get the best of me, and as far as I’m concerned, it could’ve cost me everything. I deserve to be flying solo, but Nola, she’s different. I knew this from the start. There’s just something about her that makes her stand out from the rest. What that is, I don’t know. I’m searching, but all I can find or come up with is the fact that I like her, a lot. And, I know that’s why I don’t care that she’s coming home with me. I want my family to meet her, to get to know her because I think she’s going to be around for a long time.

As I slow my bike down, I feel Nola squirm behind me. Is she nervous? I know I am. I expect Peyton to be her bubbly self and Elle… well, I’m not sure what to expect. I wasn’t kidding when I told Nola my sisters are sweet as pie and evil. Growing up, they were the opposite. Peyton kept to herself while Elle was the outgoing loud one. After Peyton’s accident, Elle changed. She’s slowly coming back around, but I think she likes being a bossy witch every now and again.

The line of cars surrounding my parents makes my stomach drop. We’re the last one here and will have no choice but to make a grand entrance. Deep down, I have a feeling my mom told me to be here at the wrong time so that I had to do this. She knows how much I hate being under a microscope, and yet, all eyes will be on Nola and me when we enter the house.

I pull into the garage and set my kickstand down. Nola knows what to do. She takes my offered hand and gets off the bike. I move away from her, so I don’t kick her and send her tumbling into my dad’s, and what looks like Liam and JD’s, bikes. I’m willing to bet they’ve planned a ride for later. Something my mom and aunts absolutely love.

Nola sets her helmet down and reaches for her hair. I grab her hand, stopping her from undoing her braid. “Leave it,” I tell her. The way her hair is falling around her face is perfect, and as much as I love her hair when it’s down, I like this look on her as well.

“It’s messy.”

I shrug. “It’ll be windy on the beach. You’ll want it out of your face. Besides,” I say as I sit on the edge of my bike and pull her between my legs. “When we go surfing later, you won’t want it tangled in knots.”

“How do you know so muc

h about hair?”

“Twin sisters remember.”

“Ah,” she says. “How will I tell them apart?”

“Um…” I pause, trying to think of something distinctive about them. Unfortunately, the only thing I can come up with has to do with Peyton. “My sister, Peyton, she was in a pretty bad accident almost two years ago, she has a scar down her leg.”