Page 34 of The Road to Forever (Beaumont: Next Generation #7)

“Uncle JD is here, babies,” he says as he claps his hands and comes into the dining room to greet everyone. The polite thing for me to do is put my empty plate down, but I’m starving, and I know JD well enough to know he’ll take my place in line.

“Where are the babies?” Jenna asks.

“Right here.” Elle’s voice rings out and then my mother squeals. I’m assuming no one expected Elle and Ben to be here today, let alone with the boys. Now with everyone clamoring around Elle, I get to make my plate of food in peace.

“Hey,” Eden says as she gets behind me. “How’s the tour?”

“Great. How’s the surfing?”

She lifts one shoulder. “I graduate in the spring and mum’s on my ass about going to college, but I want to surf and I’m afraid if I go to school, I won’t be good enough for the Olympic team.”

“Dude, they’d be dumb to pass on your talent. What’s your ranking right now?”

“Two,” she said with a grimace. “Holding steady in the top three though.”

I give her a high-five. I never thought when I started teaching her how to surf, she’d become this beast in the water. She’s far better than I am.

“Where’s your boyfriend?”

“At home, with his parents and then he’s got a competition in Utah.”

“Oh yeah, you going?” I hold up a scoop of homemade mac-n-cheese, but she shakes her head no. That’s okay, more for me.

Or her dad.

“Yeah, dad’s going with me.”

“That’s good. It’ll be fun. Too cold for me though.”

“The high-performance gear is pretty awesome at keeping us warm while we watch the events. But yeah, give me sun, sand and waves, and I’m happy.” We fist bump in agreement.

“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 of the 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.

“I’m not,” JD adds and then looks at me. “I have one, right?”

I nod.

“Oh, God,” Jenna says.

“You can call me God later, sweet lips.”

“Again, why is this my family?” Mom asks as she throws her arms up in the air.

Liam and JD race to see who can open their gift first.

“Yes!” Liam fist pumps and turns his T-shirt around for everyone to see. “Sexy Rock Gramps. I love it, Quinn. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

JD holds his up. “Tweeting Uncle,” he says and then frowns. “It’s called X now and because I don’t pay for the stupid check mark no one pays attention to me.”

“That’s okay, Daddy. Everyone is on TikTok now.”

“I’ll get on there,” he says as if resigned. We get it. No one wants another social media app.

“These presents are great,” Noah says as he looks at the matte border. “I’ll do their footprints when we get home.”

I clear my throat, so all eyes are on me.

“I know everyone’s wondering about Nola’s absence and I want to thank you for not peppering me with questions about her whereabouts.

” I pause and gather myself. “We broke up and it’s permanent.

I ask that if she reaches out to you, you ignore her.

She’s made some choices that I’m not happy with, but it’s her life. ”

“Oh, Quinn,” my mom says softly.

I hold my hand up. “I’m okay. Believe me, everything is fine.”

Elle eyes me. “About time.”

“Wh-what?”

“I’ve never liked her. I thought she was a stage five clinger and only with you for the benefits. I know you paid for her schooling, put her name on the house, and bought her a car, so I’ll have our attorney reach out about a separation agreement.”

“Elle!” Mom is surprised by her outburst.

“I’m looking out for my brother, his investment, and his band,” Elle says matter-of-factly. “He’s my priority. Not Nola’s feelings.”

“Thanks,” I say, hoping to assuage the situation. “The tuition was a gift, but I want her off the house for sure. I plan to sell it, and she won’t get any of the proceeds.”

“I’m on it,” Elle says.

“Great, now that the drama is over, let’s get back to the pressies!” JD exclaims.

And just like that, my family knows I’m single.

There isn’t a doubt in my mind that once everyone leaves and we’re sitting by the fire, my parents will ask me more questions. I’ll tell them what she did, how I found out, and what I did with her ring. I start preparing myself for my mom’s inevitable reaction of “Oh, Quinn!” when she finds out.