Page 5 of The Road to Forever (Beaumont: Next Generation #7)

FOUR

W atching my sister and brother-in-law walk down the aisle, with their linked hands raised in the air, gives me so much joy. Beau follows them, meeting Mack at the end of the aisle. Peyton and Noah walk next, and just looking at the two of them makes me realize I want this kind of love.

I thought I had it with Nola, but as of late, I’m not so sure. We’re disconnected, and I’m not sure how to fix it.

My parents walk after Peyton and Noah, followed by Liam, Josie, Betty Paige, and then Nick. One by one, everyone makes their way toward the vineyard, and then we’ll go into the winery for dinner, some dancing, and a party I’m sure will be as epic as Elle wants it to be.

I glance over and see Nola sitting in her seat. We make eye contact; she smiles and stands. We don’t hold hands as we bring up the rear of the line, and it makes me wonder why.

“What did you think of the ceremony?”

She lifts one shoulder. “It was okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, it was pretty simple.”

I close my eyes and pray she doesn’t say this to Elle because I think it’s rather insulting. I might be biased, but I feel like the ceremony was elegant and perfect for my sister and Ben.

“The dog thing is weird.”

“Beau is their baby.”

“He’s a dog. Not a baby.”

Yep, this isn’t going to go over very well. “People who have pets consider them their babies. It’s perfectly normal,” I tell her, slightly aggravated with her attitude. “Peyton and Noah consider Stevie Nicks their baby as well.”

Nola stops before we get inside the vineyard and crosses her arms over her chest.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, it’s just . . .” She looks all around but never at me. “You side with them on everything.”

“I’m not taking sides, Eleanora.” I don’t know why I felt the need to call her by her given name, but I do. Maybe it’s because she’s being picky about something that’s very important to my sister, and therefore, important to me. She side-eyes me.

“Look, it’s a wedding. We’re going to go in there and have a nice dinner and do some dancing. And this gives us a chance to decide what we want for our wedding.”

Her phone vibrates in her hand, and she looks at the screen instead of acknowledging my wedding comment.

“Who keeps calling you?”

“Excuse me?” Finally, her very angry eyes meet mine.

I take her by the elbow and pull her around the side of the building where no one lingers. “Did you even see any of the wedding?”

She pulls her arm from my grip. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was sitting in the front, wasn’t I?”

“You were, but every time I looked at you, you were on your phone. Who is so damn important that you couldn’t put your phone down during my sister’s wedding?”

We stare at each other, and I swear I can see venom in her eyes. I have no idea what she sees when she looks at me, but this is not the woman I fell in love with.

She’s changed.

I think it’s fair to say I have as well, but I thought I was changing with her, for our future.

“Who was on the damn phone?”

“I think you’re being a bit too possessive right now, Quinn.”

Her words knock me back a bit. Is that what she really thinks about me?

Our relationship? I look down at the ground and let her words sink in.

Maybe I am, but I pay for everything for her.

While I told her I don’t mind doing so, I absolutely do when whoever keeps texting her during my sister’s ceremony is somehow more important to her.

My head rises to look at her. She stands there; her posture seems dismissive. No, I’m not in the wrong here.

“That’s unfair, Nola.”

“Gah, whatever. It was my mom,” she says, throwing her hands in the air.

Her mom? Does she actually expect me to believe it was her mom?

“Seriously?”

“Yes, why would I lie?”

“I don’t know why,” I tell her. “Every day there seems to be some river I need to cross to meet you, and it’s getting exhausting, Nola.

This morning, things were fine, and then we get here and you’re on your phone through the entire event.

Not to mention you were sitting next to my parents.

Do you think they didn’t notice? I’m sorry, but it was incredibly rude. ”

Nola crosses her arms and huffs. She turns, walking a couple of steps away. I give her space because I need it to. She comes back with tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “I miss my mom and am very homesick.”

“I get that,” I tell her. I don’t know what she wants me to say here. It’s not like I keep her hostage or tell her she can’t go home.

“Our families are so different. Your sisters are . . .” she takes a deep breath. “Well, sometimes they’re a lot to take.”

I bite my tongue to keep my comments to myself. Elle, yes, but not Peyton.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you want me to say. They’re my sisters, and we’re close.”

“Well, I was close to my sister too.”

“Did you forget that you moved away from your family? You left and moved to Idaho to get away from your ex, and then came here for vacation and stayed. To me, you wanted a different life. In fact, you introduced yourself as Nola because you were trying to be someone new.” I run my hand through my hair, which will likely piss my mom off because she wants family photos.

“I feel like I need to remind you that I’ve never ever told you that you can’t go home to see your family. I’m not this possessive person you’re making me out to be right now.”

“Our lives are about your music.”

I nod and kick a pebble on the walkway. “Do you need another reminder? Because I’m pretty sure when we met, I was a musician. It’s never been a secret.”

“I thought life would be different.”

“Like what? A struggle? Me going to perform at coffee clubs at eleven because that’s the only spot open?”

Nola shrugs. “Well, yes. That’s what it was like when we met, and then your sister snapped her fingers and now you’re in a band.”

“Band or not, I’d be in the same spot I am now, and Elle would be my manager. It’s what she’s wanted to do for as long as I can remember.”

“Quinn?” a voice calls out behind us.

Fuck.

I turn and see my mom coming toward us.

“Hey, Mom.”

She smiles at me and Nola. My mom places her hand on my forearm. There isn’t a doubt in my mind my mom has heard us arguing and this is her way of showing me that she’s here for me. “It’s time to get started, and Elle doesn’t want you to miss anything.”

I nod. “We’ll be right in.”

As soon as my mom is out of earshot, Nola fires daggers at me. “I’m not done talking.”

Holy shit, she’s giving me whiplash. All these days she’s avoided conversation with me, and now, at my sister’s wedding, she wants to talk?

“So, we’re going to do what Elle wants, like we always do?”

Is she for real right now? I step forward, towering over her. “It’s her wedding reception. So, yes, we are,” I seethe. I start to walk toward the reception, not really caring if Nola’s following me or not.

The clack of her heels tells me otherwise. I wait for her at the door, so my parents won’t suspect anything other than Nola and me having a private conversation.

As soon as we step in, Elle rushes to me, wrapping me in her arms. “Quinny, thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome,” I say into the top of her head. Elle releases me and pulls Nola into her arms. They do the giddy girl squeal. But now I know it’s all fake when Nola does it.

Ben and I shake hands and then end up in a hug. I love this dude and am so damn happy my sister figured her shit out before it was too late.

“Okay, now we can start,” Elle says.

“You didn’t have to wait for us,” I tell her.

She holds my hand. “Of course, we did.” Elle kisses my cheek and then runs off with Ben. I guide Nola to the table where my mom and Josie sit with Peyton and Noah.

“Where’s Dad and Liam?” I ask as I pull Nola’s chair out for her. It doesn’t escape my notice that Peyton moves closer to my girlfriend, and they start chatting right away. That shit Nola said outside was nothing more than a deflection from whatever our issues are.

My mom points to the stage, where my dad sits behind a drum kit. Liam sits on a stool, and Justine from Plum sitting next to him.

“What’s going on?”

“Elle asked my dad to sing their wedding song,” Noah says.

“No shit?”

My mom smacks my hand, and Josie laughs.

“What?”

“Don’t what me,” she says.

“Oliver isn’t here, Mom.”

She rolls her eyes, and I do the same. I sit down next to Noah and tell the waiter what kind of beer I want. Shoutout to my parents for paying for an open bar. Something tells me I’m going to need it tonight.

The DJ—because why use any of your own bands or your father’s band to play at your wedding—welcomes Elle and Ben to the dance floor.

“Introducing for not the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Miller.”

Everyone laughs. It would’ve been better if he introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin James, since we all know Elle wears the pants in the family.

My dad starts with a low melodic rhythm on the cymbals before moving to the snare, and then Liam strums his acoustic while Justine holds the microphone in her hand. She keeps her eyes on Liam, watching for her cue. I’ve been working with her extensively on duets for our upcoming tour.

As soon as Justine starts singing, I know exactly what song this is. Our parents used to dance to it in the living room. “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw with Faith Hill.

I wait for my mom to recognize it, and when she does, her mouth drops open and tears well in her eyes. I wish I could take her out on the dance floor, but this is Elle and Ben’s moment.

Justine sings the first two verses, and then Liam comes in on the chorus. His voice is gritty and low, and everyone loves it. He gets so many requests for duets, but rarely does any. It was his idea to sing on Plum’s album, hoping to catapult them into stardom.

By the time they finish, there isn’t a dry eye in the house. Elle and Ben hug and thank my dad, Liam, and Justine, and the DJ starts playing music.

I’m not shocked to see Mack and Betty Paige out there first, doing the latest fad dance. Elle and Ben stay out there, and everyone starts to follow.

I stay in my seat because, honestly, I’m not sure where Nola and I stand. But because my family is here and they see everything, I move to the seat next to her.

It’s not unusual for my parents to see me sitting out of things. I’m not as outgoing as Elle, and Noah brings it out of Peyton. Sometimes I feel like I’m the outlier.

The song shifts and my voice comes through the speakers. It’s a new one, and one I recorded with Justine. I know Elle’s done this on purpose, to test the audience.

I wait to see if Nola notices, but she doesn’t because, once again, she’s on her phone, and not even paying attention to the action around her.

Across the dance floor, I see Justine. She’s dancing to our song.

She looks over and waves excitedly. I tip my bottle of beer toward her and take a long swig, emptying the contents, and signal the waiter for another.

It's going to be a long night and an even longer ride home. I’m tempted to tell Nola to go on without me since this isn’t where she wants to be. She doesn’t need to stay here on my behalf or even my sisters'. There’s always the excuse of having to study, so I’m not sure why she doesn’t use it now.

My next beer comes, and I immediately order another. I sit back and watch everyone dance to a song I wrote and am singing on. I’m pretty damn proud of what Justine and I created.

“Are you planning to get drunk?”

I don’t bother to look at her. “Yep.”

“Lovely.”

Elle comes to the table, grabs my hand, and forces me to stand. “It’s your song, Quinny! Everyone loves it.”

I glance at Nola, and it’s like another kick in the gut when I see the realization all over her face. She was so engrossed in her phone she didn’t even realize her fiancé’s song was playing.