“Nick’s back and we’re having dinner tonight with him and his new wife.”
Liam doesn’t wait for my reaction. He starts packing up the photos. He leaves a few of the ones of Alicia and me on the table. I don’t know whether I should thank him or not, but I suppose it will be nice when Quinn asks about her. I can at least show him a picture of the both of us before the night turned into a haze.
“Anyway, he’s back and Josie wants to be friendly. I want to hate the guy, but can’t because my son likes him, and bitched all throughout football on how bad it sucked that Nick wasn’t his coach.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to go to dinner and play nice in the sandbox.”
“Lucky you,” I say, ducking before Liam can hit me with the box of photos.
I arrive at Liam and Josie’s with my hand wrapped in a nice black cast. Liam is going to love it. I’ll have to find a way to either play with one hand or figure out how to hold my drumstick. Somehow I think taking a break isn’t an option.
Quinn jumps into my arms as soon as I’m through the door. He holds me tight. His head is pushing into the crook of my neck. I’ve never done this to him. He’s always known where I am and when I’ll be home.
“I’m sorry, Quinn. I should’ve called.”
“It’s okay, dad, I was scared though.”
“I know, buddy. I won’t do it again. I promise.”
He looks at me, his eyes puffy. I can tell he’s been crying. He may look tough on the outside with his black eye, but deep down, he’s still just a little boy. He leans in and whispers, “Peyton is downstairs waiting for you.”
“Do you mind if I go down there?”
He shakes his head. I set him down and ruffle his hair.
“What happened?” he asks as he looks at my cast.
“Very stupid adult stuff,” I say with a shrug. He’ll see the damage at home and ask why. I won’t lie to him, but there’s not much to tell. It’s not like he knew Katelyn and I were together. I never got the chance to tell him. “I’ll be back in a bit, or just come downstairs when you’re ready.”
I walk into the studio and find Peyton banging on my drums. She’s wearing headphones that are too big for her, but she’s having fun. She smiles at me. I have to paste on a smile because it’s killing me that I’m not going to be a part of her life anymore.
“Whatcha doin’?” I ask, pulling up a stool next to her.
“I’m practicing.”
“Well, you sound wonderful.” I’m rewarded with yet another smile, something I’ve rarely seen from her.
“Harrison?” I look up to find Noah and Quinn standing in the doorway.
“What’s up?”
“We have an idea and we need your help.”
Noah and Quinn step into the studio and shut the door. Noah tells me their idea and I ask Quinn and Peyton if the both of them, as well as Elle are all in on this. They nod. I can’t help but smile at how enthusiastic they are and agree to help them.
"You’ve come back early, why?” Mr. Powell hands me a cup of coffee. I was only in Los Angeles for a few days, but the temperature difference is enough that I’m cold, even though I love Beaumont in the winter.
“I missed the girls.” That is what I’m going with. He doesn’t need to know the sordid details of what happened with Harrison and me. Truth is, I’m not sure how to explain it. All I know is my heart is breaking all over again, but I have vowed to myself that I’m not going to let it affect me. I need to be strong for the girls. This bump… or whatever you want to call it, will pass.
“They missed you, especially Elle.”
“Not Peyton?”
Mr. Powell leans forward and sets his cup on the table. “Peyton is hurting, Katie, and she’ll do whatever she can to make you suffer for it. She spent most of her time in Mason’s room and when I’d check on her, she’d ask me to tell her a story. I spent a glorious day remembering my son with his daughter.”
I wipe at my face. Listening to Mr. Powell talk about Mason and Peyton makes me ache to see Mason just one more time. To tell him how I feel and how much we love him.
“Elle talks about Harrison a lot,” he adds.
My heart stops at the sound of his name. It’s been two days and he hasn’t called. I half expected him to show up this morning to mow my lawn, but I guess I severed that relationship when I told him to leave.
“Does that bother you?”
Mr. Powell shakes his head. “I thought it would, but she speaks so highly of him that I’m proud you’ve found someone to help fill the void that Mason has left.”
I’m left silenced. I don’t know how to respond. I sip my coffee, thinking about how I can change the subject. I can’t tell him that I’ve ended things with Harrison. I just can’t.
“I think you and the girls should move in here.”