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“You won’t hear me complaining. Send me your schedule though and I’ll see what I can make it out to.”
“You got it.”
On my way back to the living room, JD and I talk briefly. He’s thinking about joining the tour for the west coast leg. He wants to jam with us and just hang out, which I have no problem with, and I know the others won’t care.
“You’re welcome whenever,” I tell him.
I make my way into the living room and take the seat next to Eden. She’s my bestie when it comes to surfing. Eden understands me when I say something eloquent about the water calming me or how a gnarly wave can make my day, even if I wipe out. It hits me as I sit down that the person I’m interested in is Eden’s age and I could never imagine her dating someone so much older. Of course, it doesn’t help that I’ve known Eden her entire life.
When I look at Justine, I don’t see a teenager or someone who hasn’t lived a full life yet. I see someone that I want to get to know, spend all my free time with. I’m not even worried about waiting until my heart heals after my breakup because it’s already healed and has been for months.
It’s tight quarters in the living room, but we’re managing. There’s lots of talking, the babies are being passed from one mom, auntie, and grandma to the next. Not a single one ofthe five has let out a peep without receiving copious amount of attention.
Elle has a strict rule: don’t kiss or touch the babies’ mouths. To which our mom added that if you want to hold a baby, you must wash your hands or put that sterilizer crap on them.
I’ll wait until everyone’s gone.
Santa Liam and his two elves, dad and JD, hand out presents for everyone. The stacks in front of Elle and Peyton are ridiculous and even I’m a little jealous. I nudge Paige and lean into her. “Just remember, they’re babies.”
She smiles. “I know.”
When we’re given the okay, we start opening presents. I knew my mom would stock me up on the necessities of life when I showed up with nothing more than a duffel bag. New socks, boxers, shirts, and jeans. What more could a struggling musician need.
“No freaking way,” Paige yells beside me. I look and see a keychain with a key dangling from her finger. “You bought me a car?”
“We bought you a key,” Liam says. “You can go pick out the car you want tomorrow, but there are conditions.”
Without seeing the expression, I know she’s rolling her eyes.
“Of course there is,” she mutters.
I jab her lightly with my elbow. “You’re almost eighteen, suck it up.”
“I know,” she whispers back. “Thank you, Mom & Dad.” She gets up and hugs them.
“Oh, Quinn.” I look at my mom, who has her hand over her mouth. “This is just . . .” All the women stand and go to see what my mom unwrapped.
“I’m sorry it’s not more,” I tell her. “I sort of forgot about Christmas.”
“Quinn, this is perfect,” Peyton adds.
“Open yours,” I tell her. “You too, Elle. Actually, all of you,” I say to the women in the room.
One by the one, they open the gift I was somehow able to have made and overnighted. They’re not much but matte cardboard with each baby’s name, with a spot for their footprint to go above. My mom’s, grandma’s and grandpa’s have all five, while the others are specific to them.
“Quinn, this is a lovely gift,” Josie says. “Thank you for thinking of me.”
“Well shit, I can’t wait to see what I got,” dad says as he digs through his pile of presents. He finally finds the one from me and rips through the packaging. The snort he lets out is proof enough that I choose wisely. Dad holds up a T-shirt that reads: Grandpa Bangs Harder.
“Oh, God. Quinn, why?” My mom asks, covering her face. “What is wrong with my family?”
“You love it when we bang.”
“Ewe, Dad!” The twins yell at the same time.
I’m trying not to cackle, but this shit is funny. My dad finds this hilarious while my mom is mortified.
“I’m afraid to open mine,” Liam says.