Chasing My Forever Read online

  “Have you figured out what you’re going to do yet, Eleanora?” Debbie asks. She’s going to be a nurse, working in labor and delivery. One time I volunteered with her, holding newborn babies for hours. If that doesn’t get your motherly instincts moving, I don’t know what will.

  “I don’t know. Go home, I guess. Start teaching kindergarten.”

  “You should come with me,” Kellie blurts out. “I’m heading back to California. My parents own an apartment building so they’re giving me discounted rent. You can room with me until you figure life out.”

  “My parents would kill me,” I say, just as all my roommates nod.

  “You should do it, El. My brother lives there,” Sofia adds. Her brother, right. For the past two years, she’s told me about her brother. In fact, she tells anyone who will listen. He’s famous or is going to be, yet refuses to tell us his name, but talks about him an awful lot. He goes by Q, according to her. It’s some artist name or whatever. The thing is, when you’ve lived with someone for two years, you meet their family. Granted, this is the first time she’s met my parents, but my brother and sister have come to visit, and she’s had the dubious honor of meeting Roy. The only person in Sofia’s family that we’ve met is her mom, Alicia. Never the brother, which is a shame because anytime him and Sofia are together in pictures, he looks super-hot, and way out of my league. Not that I’m looking. I have Roy waiting for me.

  “I’ve never been to California.” That’s about the stupidest thing I could say. I close my eyes and clear my thoughts.

  “Well, think about it. You can ride with me. Road trip,” Kellie yells while putting her arm up in the air. Before I can respond, there’s a knock at the door. I’m secretly hoping it’s Sofia’s brother because meeting him would absolutely change my mind about heading west. But, it’s my parents.

  My father walks in, with a grin so wide it looks fake. He comes over to me and quasi-pulls me into his arms. We don’t hug, at least not like normal people. He grips my forearms and pulls me to within eight inches of his body. That’s it, that’s enough for Willard Boone.

  “We’re so proud of you, sugar pie.”

  “Thanks, Daddy.”

  “Lookie here, I bought you a present.” He directs me over to the window and points down below. In the courtyard, surrounded by not only security guards but other people as well, is a convertible bug.

  “Is that for me?” I feel stupid asking, but with my parents, you never know.

  My mom places her hand on my shoulder. “Of course, it is, darling. Why you’d never catch me in something like… well, a car like that.”

  “It’s your graduation present,” Dad tells me.

  “How am I supposed to get it home?”

  “We can road trip, El,” Sofia says. She’s standing next to me. “We talked about me coming out to your house and well, I don’t have to be anywhere for another two months, so why not.”

  I look at her, wondering what she’s up to. I know for a fact she starts her job at the news station next week and that she’s flying home to Arizona tonight.

  “A road trip sounds dangerous, Willard. Surely, there’s an alternative,” Mom adds.

  “I’d love to bring Sofia home,” I tell my parents. I look at both of them before turning my full gaze onto my father, giving him the puppy dog eyes. I’m the youngest, and while he’s strict, I can usually bend him at will.

  “Annamae, we bought her a car. How else do you expect us to get it home? A road trip sounds fun. I’ll wire you some money,” he says. “Right now, though I think you need to go move your car before it gets towed.” Dad hands me the key fob. I make a fist, clutching it tightly. He doesn’t know, but this is the best thing he’s ever given me. And, I don’t mean the car. I mean freedom.

  “Yeah, I think I better. Sofia, come with me.” I don’t give her a chance to refuse my request by pulling her behind me. Once we’re outside and in the car, I close my eyes and let the mid-afternoon sun bask over me. “I owe you.”

  “No, you don’t. You’re my best friend, El. I just wish I could come with you.”

  “To see your brother?”

  She shrugs. “To see California. I’ve never actually been there. I want to dip my toes into the Pacific. Go to Disneyland. I don’t know, anything but heading home to my mom.”

  “But y’all get along so well.”

  “We do, but it feels like the last four years have flown by and I haven’t accomplished anything.”

  “Are you serious?” I ask her. “You had multiple job offers. You could’ve gone anywhere. If you don’t want to go home, why go back?”

  She looks over and smiles. “Family. Responsibility. The same reason you’ll go back to the plantation and marry Roy, which I better be your maid of honor for.”

  I turn away, hating to admit that she’s right. I’ll marry him because it’ll make my daddy happy. “You know my sister Williemae married her husband the same way. My granddaddy introduced Kelton to her. She hated him at first, but he wore her down. We all like him. He fits with our family. They’re going to have a baby this fall, a little boy.”

  “That’s wonderful, you’re going to be an auntie.”

  I nod. “Yep, and someone’s fiancée.” My left hand sits on my steering wheel. I lift my finger and imagine what kind of ring Roy will put there. It’ll be big, gaudy and flashy. He’ll want to show his colleagues and golf buddies that he means business when it comes to marrying a Boone, because marrying into the Boone family is worth it. My great granddaddy’s great granddaddy built an empire and the generations behind him haven’t let it falter.

  My wedding will be at home, on the plantation. There’s no doubt about that. My mother will insist and even if I fight her on it, the invitations will go out her way. My sister didn’t mind, but I do. I want to be married on the beach, at sunset and barefoot. I don’t want anything fancy or over the top, and I want to know all my guests. Most of all, I want to marry someone I’m deeply, madly and truly in love with and that isn’t Roy.

  “What do you think you’ll do?”

  “I think I’m going to take Kellie up on her offer and check out California. I figure I have a week to eight days or so before my parents start to panic. That gives me enough time to think of a good excuse as to why I’m not home.” I turn in my seat and look at my best friend. “Come with us? You’ll be able to see your brother. Never know, maybe he’ll hook you up with some fancy job in Los Angeles.”

  Sofia shakes her head and looks out toward the courtyard. “Maybe next time.”

  3

  Quinn

  After spending a week in Chicago, I’m happy to be home, although, my apartment still feels too lonely. I’ve thought about getting a fish, but let’s be honest, they don’t talk, interact, or do anything amazing that would necessarily keep my attention. Cats are out, mostly out of fear I’d be dubbed the next catman of our complex. We already have two of them living here and everyone seems to avoid walking by those apartments. I’ve seen it happen and it’s not pretty, and the last thing I want is for people, especially women, to avoid me. Dogs seem like the safest bet, except dogs aren’t allowed here. So that leaves me with the fish unless I move.

  Moving’s always an option. I’ve thought about buying a place but can’t figure out where I want to live. I spend most of my time downtown and at the beach. Teleporting would be nice because then I don’t have to deal with traffic, but again that’s not going to happen, which brings me back to the fact that my apartment is too quiet, it feels empty and I’m lonely.

  When my sister moved in with her boyfriend, Ben, I was relieved. It’s not that I didn’t like living with her, it meant I could bring someone home without my sister being up in my business. Having said that, I haven’t met anyone worth even a one-night stand, which honestly, is sad. Women are skittish, and men are hesitant to make any moves, lest we be accused of doing something inappropriate. Dating, talking, or trying to get to know someone is like taking your life into your o
wn hands right now. No one wants to deal with the aftermath. So, I stay single. It’s just easier that way. It also probably doesn’t help that I’m shy.

  I do find some entertainment in Fortnite. Noah, Ben, and I have become addicted, which doesn’t make my sisters happy. When it comes to Peyton, I understand. She likes to kick our asses at Madden and isn’t very good at Fortnite. For Elle, she doesn’t understand the infatuation. If we turned on Rock Band, she’d probably join in.

  Before I start to unpack, I turn on the air conditioner and open my windows to let my apartment air out. I know I’m not supposed to do this, but there’s no other way.

  Downstairs, laughter from the pool rings out. I figured after Elle moved out, the partying would stop, but it’s only intensified. Night after night, the co-eds are doing something in the common area of the complex. It doesn’t bother me, except I don’t have the courage to go down and introduce myself to my neighbors. If Elle were here, it’d be a different story. The revolving door that our place used to be, is no longer.

  Being on the yacht for the past week has really shown me that I need to get out there and find someone. Watching Peyton with Noah and Elle with Ben, showed me just how much I’m a fifth wheel or third when one of the couples isn’t around. I’m the tagalong they take because they feel sorry for me. Even when I’m with my parents, it’s them and me. I never have anyone with me. I know part of it is because I’m afraid of what the women in my life would do to the person I brought home. I have a hard enough time putting myself out there, let alone, introducing someone to my mom.

  I give up on unpacking my clothes and head into the living room after a quick detour to the kitchen for a beer and stopping to grab the PlayStation remote. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I look at the time. Ben could be home by now, but Noah isn’t. He and Peyton are headed to Portland until she starts her job. The pile of companies that want her is ridiculous and Noah tells her to take whatever job she wants because he’ll commute to her. It’s crazy how much he loves her.

  Once my game loads, I’m battling, tearing through houses, destroying anything in my way as I head to the circle. Luck’s on my side this round because I have a sniper rifle and have perched myself high to look for my enemy. I spot one off in the distance. I’m not sure if they see me, but I zone in, tracking their every move. As soon as I pull the trigger, they’re jumping, trying to build a shelter so they don’t die, but I’m quicker and knock their fort down and hit them three or four times with bullets. Kill one in the books.

  With my position now known, I jump down and head deeper into the circle, checking my map for the storm. It’s closing in, but I’m not in any danger of falling victim to it. I keep running until I can find higher ground or something to hide my location. As soon as I spot another enemy, I get into position and prepare to fire, just as my sister walks in.

  She walks slowly by the TV, causing me to have to move side to side to see what’s going on with my game. Ben sits down next to me and starts giving me game strategy, which I don’t need. What I need is for my sister to move out of the way.

  Gunfire starts and it’s not coming from me. “Elle, come on,” I say. She brushes me off and continues her phone call. After I die, I throw a magazine at her. She has the gall to give me a dirty look like I’ve done something wrong.

  Ben laughs. “She does the same thing at home. I think she has some weird sixth sense about the game.”

  “No, she’s a brat. We all thought after she pulled her head out of her ass and finally told you how she felt, she’d change, but nope!” I yell the last part, so she can hear me, but nothing fazes her. “Why are you guys here?” I hand him the controller, so he can play a round.

  “We got home, and she started working. Next thing I know she’s telling me that we’re heading here. I think we were home maybe thirty minutes.”

  “You should just move back. I think your apartment is still empty. Want a beer?”

  “Sure,” he says, keeping his eyes focused on the TV. Ben’s the type of player who really gets into the game. He moves with the player, bites his lips, makes odd sounds and yells at his player when he makes them do something stupid.

  I pull Elle’s ponytail as I pass her. She says something about music, band, and gigs. I should be interested, but I’m not. I still haven’t signed a representation deal with her, which is causing a bit of a family rift. My parents and Elle don’t understand why, probably because I haven’t told them what’s holding me back. Believe it or not, I’m content doing my coffee shop gigs. There’s no pressure to perform, I don’t have to go to rehearsals and if I want to jam, I call my dad and ask him when the band will be together next. This simple life is perfect for me.

  Ben’s player is dead by the time I get back into the living room. “Didn’t take you long.”

  “Picked the wrong village to pilfer.” He takes the bottle from me and twists the top off.

  “I hate that.” I start the game, drawing the badass female avatar.

  “Quinny,” Elle calls out. I ignore her. This nickname thing has started recently and can end anytime soon. I continue to play, even when she sits down between Ben and I. “Quinny,” she sings my name and starts pulling on my ear.

  “I’ll beat your ass,” I tell her. It’s only a threat. I’ve never hit her or Peyton, although there have been times when I wanted to pummel both of them in a rousing game of sibling rivalry. This time she pulls my hair and I bat her hand away. “Imma break your fingers if you don’t stop.”

  “We need to talk.”

  “You pregnant? Want me to kick Ben’s ass for not using protection?”

  “What? No,” she scoffs.

  “Which is it? Not pregnant or you don’t want me to beat up your boyfriend?”

  “Both and you know you wouldn’t do anything to Ben, let alone me. I, on the other hand, just love to torment you.”

  “No kidding.” I die, finishing in second. Not too shabby. I hand the remote to Ben, who has decided to move to the footstool, instead of taking his girlfriend’s torture.

  “Seriously, Quinn. We need to talk.” This time her tone is serious, and it has my heart in my throat. If something were wrong with our parents or Peyton, she would’ve told me already.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong, but I want to talk to you about something.”

  “Shoot,” I yell at Ben who’s in a heated battle with another player. “Yeah!” Ben knocks down and eliminates the other player.

  “You guys and this game, it’s ridiculous.”

  I shrug. “It’s fun and it’s free.”

  “Free? Quinn, you could probably afford to pay someone to play for you.”

  “What’s the fun in that? And no, I couldn’t.”

  “Are you having money problems?”

  “What? No. Just because I like playing a free game doesn’t mean I’m having money problems.”

  “Well, that’s what I want to talk to you about.”

  “Money? You have your own.”

  “No, not just money, but work.”

  I shake my head and reach for the controller, but Elle grabs it first and sticks it down her shirt. I look at Ben, who shrugs. I flip him off.

  “I don’t want to work. I want to be a recluse who adopts cats, blacks out my windows and orders take-out every night.”

  “Quinn James, you’re halfway there. Now listen to me. I was approached by Dana Cantu.”

  “Don’t know her.”

  “Not the point. The point is, she’s a killer lead and wants to start a band.” I’m already shaking my head. Elle smacks me in my arm. “You’d be perfect. You and Dana can take turns on lyrics, she has an amazing voice and I think you’ll like her once you meet her.”

  “Except I’m not meeting her.”

  “Ajay says he’s in.”

  This gives me pause. Aside from my dad, Ajay is one of the best drummers I know. The summer before Peyton’s accident, my dad hosted a battle of the drummers. Thousan
ds turned out for the twenty-five-grand prize. The event was off the hook. I thought about entering, but my skills are nowhere near my father’s, so I became a spectator, watching men and women battle it out with sticks. Ajay won by a landslide, and after, he and my father gave the people a show. It was amazing.

  “So, with Ajay, you’re in?”

  I look at my sister. She’s eager to make a name for herself in the music business, but I’m not. Someone like Ajay isn’t going to sign on to just any band, so whatever my sister has up her sleeve is probably legit. It’s just not for me.

  “No can do.”

  “Come on, Quinn. We need you.”

  “Look, I don’t know this Dana and I’m not comfortable sharing my songs or singing alongside someone I don’t know.”

  “You can meet her, spend some time together.”

  “Are you trying to hook me up with her?”

  Elle waves me off. “No, she has some twisted relationship going on with her ex, Hendrix.”

  “Still no.” There’s a knock at the door and Elle’s face goes pale. “What did you do?” I ask, knowing that deep down, I don’t want to know.

  “You’ll love her. I promise.” Elle is off the couch faster than I can move. She has the door open and her arms around a woman with platinum blonde hair. I can’t help but check her out with her knee-high combat boots, knee-length floral skirt, and skin-tight tank top to go with her bright red lips. I can’t tell if she’s trying to be emo but had to go to church today or what. Either way, she’s smoking hot, and walking toward me.

  4