12 Days of Forever(4)

I want that in my life.





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.