Destiny Disrupted (There's Always Tomorrow Book 1) (22 page)

“No, he's been keeping a low profile, but I have my best team working on it around the clock,” Vance says.

“Good, how's Tripp's memory?” she asks.

“It's good. He’s been remembering a lot now that Anna's back in his life,” Vance says with a small smile.

Maggie smiles wide. “Oh, I’ve always liked Anna. She’s so good for him.”

Vance nods and glances at Xander. He’s sitting in the recliner biting his nails and bouncing his knee. Vance then glances at his dad, who is watching Xander curiously, probably noticing the obvious nervous behavior.

“Xander?” Val asks.

Xander startles and looks over at his dad. “Huh?”

“You alright, son?” Val asks.

“I...uh, yeah, fine,” Xander stutters.

“You seem a bit nervous. Is something going on?” Val asks and raises his eyebrows at Xander.

Xander looks at Vance, panic etched all over his face. “Mom, Dad…Xander has something he wants to tell you,” Vance prompts, looking at his brother.

“Oh, yeah? What is it honey?” Maggie asks curiously, as she sips her water.

Xander's eyes dart to his mother's. Maggie frowns. “Jesus, Xander. What's wrong?” she asks, setting her water on the coffee table. “Are you sick? Are you in some kind of trouble?” she asks worriedly, moving forward to sit on the edge of the couch.

“No, it's nothing like that, Mom,” Vance assures her. “Come on, Xander. You can do it, everything is gonna be fine.”

Ryder reaches over and squeezes Xander's shoulder. “It's okay,” he says quietly.

Xander nods quickly and runs a shaky hand through his hair. “Mom, Dad...I...I'm...”

“Spit it out, Xander.” Val chuckles.

“I'm gay,” Xander mumbles.

Vance watches his parents' reactions. Neither of them looks surprised. An amused smile curls his dad's mouth. And his mother lets out a gleeful laugh and claps her hands together over her chest. Vance smiles.

Xander stares at them, dumbfounded. “Mom, why are you laughing?”

“I'm sorry, honey. I'm just so happy that you finally told us,” Maggie says, controlling her laughter.

“Huh? You knew?” Xander asks, brows furrowed.

“Of course, my baby boy. A mother knows everything.” She smiles brightly.

“Come on, Mom.  Seriously, how did you know?” Xander asks, frustration consuming his tone, both knees now bouncing around.

“Xan, I had a feeling when you were younger that you might be gay, but it wasn't until you were about thirteen when I knew for sure. You had no interest in girls whatsoever, and that's an age where young men start to notice things about women that they didn't really notice before. But you never spared a glance in a girl’s direction,” Maggie explains.

“Yeah, and we have Vance to compare you to. When he was thirteen, he got suspended from school because he brought a
Playboy
in to show his friends. Any young woman with big breasts that walked by him got stared at and drooled over.” Val chortles.

Melina and Ryder laugh.

Vance rolls his eyes and says, “Whatever.”

Xander looks back and forth between his parents. “So, you're okay with this?” he asks.

“Oh, Xander. We couldn’t care less. You’re our son, and we love you no matter what.” Maggie smiles lovingly.

Xander sags in the chair, so visibly relieved. Vance's smile is stuck to his face. He is so pleased by his parents' reactions. He knew they'd be okay with Xander being gay. His parents love him, his brother, and his sister to death, unconditionally.

“So...” his mother starts excitedly, “...do you have a boyfriend?” she asks, wagging her eyebrows.

Xander blushes then looks at Ryder. “Uh, yeah.”

Vance watches his mother's mouth drop open when she realizes why Xander looked at Ryder and why he’s here for the big announcement. His dad also appears shocked. Now it’s Ryder's turn to be nervous. He gives Vance's parents a tight smile.

“Ryder, you're gay? But I've seen you with women,” Val says, stunned.

“I’m bi, but I haven't been with a woman in long time.  That's not who I am anymore,” Ryder explains.

“So how long have you two been together?” Maggie asks.

“It's only been like a week,” Xander says with a small smile as he glances at Ryder. “It seems longer, though, because we've known each other forever.”

Vance's parents nod then his mother turns to him. “How long have you known about Xander?”

“A few months,” Vance says.

Maggie nods taking it all in. “Okay, then. Well, Ryder, I would say welcome to the family, but you already are family, so...”

Everyone chuckles and that’s the end of that conversation. Vance's mother turns again to him and Melina. “How are you two doing?”

“We're fine,” Vance says, “Why?”

“No reason. Just wondering when the wedding’s gonna be so I can have more grandkids. I have two beautiful girls, but I need a boy.”

Vance and Melina laugh. He leans over and kisses Melina on the cheek. “Don't get ahead of yourself, mom. We love each other and all, but we haven't even spoken a word of marriage,” Vance says.

“Well, why not? It's obvious you two are made for each other.”

“Mom, shit's a little crazy right now. It’s not the time to talk about things like that,” Vance says, all humor gone from his tone.

Maggie frowns. “Alright,” she says, dejectedly, knowing the subject is closed…for now.

Their conversation switches gears into something lighter. Vance, however, is caught up in his thoughts. He loves Melina. He knows that…and she knows that. But is he ready to get married? He doesn’t know. Should he really tie Melina down to his crazy life? He doesn't think so. At least not until they aren't in danger anymore.

Chapter 17

**Dayne**

Dayne is roaming the ice cream aisle of the frozen food section of the supermarket. He is so tired of having to drink his food…really fucking tired of it. He has already grabbed some frozen fruit and yogurt for his smoothies. Now he just needs to grab the ice cream. He finds his favorite brand of vanilla bean and grabs it. Just as he puts it in his basket, a familiar female voice says his name.

“Dayne?”

Dayne feels his heart leap in his chest. He looks over his shoulder to see Harper, looking gorgeous as ever. Her long blonde hair is down, flowing around her shoulders. She has on very little makeup, showing her natural beauty. She’s in a white strapless summer dress with high wedge sandals. She looks so sexy.

“Harper,” he says through his forced clenched teeth.

Harper immediately frowns. “Are you alright?” she asks.

Dayne nods. “Just a broken jaw. I'm fine,” he says blandly.

“What? How did you break your jaw?” Harper asks, her expression one of concern.

“Melina didn’t tell you?” he asks, surprised.

“No.” She shakes her head, sadness suddenly filling her eyes.

“It's a long story; you don't need to hear it,” Dayne mutters.

Surprisingly, Harper doesn't push it; instead, she reaches up and lightly runs her fingers down his jaw. Dayne flinches and turns his face away from her hand. “Oh, Dayne. I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?” she asks and drops her hand.

“It's still a little tender,” Dayne lies. It really doesn't hurt at all. It’s just that when she touches him, he wants to grab her, pull her little body against his, and kiss her senseless.

“Sorry.” Harper winces, biting that luscious bottom lip of hers.

“It's okay,” Dayne mumbles. It’s torture for him to be in front of her, wanting her so badly - not solely in a sexual way - and being unable to have her.

“Other than your jaw, how are you?” Harper asks softly.

“Miserable,” Dayne blurts before he can stop himself.

Harper's expression turns sad. “Why?”

Dayne turns his gaze to the ice cream case. “Because my life fucking sucks. I don't even know why I get out of bed in the morning,” he says quietly, drawing circles with his finger in the frost on the door. 

“Dayne,” Harper breathes, “Please don't say that,” she pleads.

Dayne shakes his head.  “It's true, but it's nothing for you to worry about. I'll see you around, Harper.” Dayne has to get away from her before he does something stupid like ask her out…or throw her up against the ice cream freezer and take her in the middle of the supermarket.

Dayne steps around her and starts walking away. He prays that she just lets him go, just forgets about him. He isn't good enough for her. She deserves much better than him. He will just hurt her. But no such luck.

She grabs his hand and spins him around. Damn her! “Seriously? You're gonna make me worry about you like that then just walk away?”

Dayne sighs heavily and rakes a hand through his hair. “I wasn't trying to make you worry,” he says dryly.

“Well, you did. You sound really depressed, and you've lost a hell of a lot of weight,” Harper says, brows furrowed. “Are you getting help?”

“No, but I’ve got my buddies if I want to talk. Hey, if you have any friends lookin’ for a quick weight loss tip, tell them to get their jaw broken. A forced liquid diet does wonders.” Dayne mutters sarcastically.

Harper bites back a smile, which makes Dayne smirk a little. Making her smile is the highlight of his day. “Dayne, can't we see each other again?” Harper says softly, lacing her fingers in his.

“Dammit, Harper. Do you want me to hurt you? Because I'm really trying hard to stay away from you so that it doesn't happen, and this is not helping,” Dayne says, pulling his hand free of hers and backing up a few steps.

“And men think women are stubborn...Dayne, can't you just try to let your past go? I'm not asking you to fall in love with me. I just want to see you again. I keep thinking about you and it's driving me insane.”

“No. No, Harper. You need to forget about me. I can't give you what you want, and you deserve much better than me. So, just please forget me, forget we even met,” Dayne begs, a familiar ache in his chest forming.

“I can't, Dayne. I've tried and I can't. The connection I feel to you is nothing I've ever felt with anyone else, and it won't go away,” she says, closing the distance between them. “Tell me you don’t feel it, too?” She’s so close to him now that she has to tilt her head back to look him in the eye.

Harper reaches out and tucks his hair behind one ear. Dayne closes his eyes. “Don't, Harper. Don’t do this to me,” he whispers.

Harper doesn't reply. But seconds later, her silky lips meet his. Dayne groans and drops the basket that’s in his hand. His arms engulf her and he crushes her to his body. Harper's arms wrap around his neck and her hands tangle through his hair. He can't kiss her as deeply as he wants to because of the damn wires, but it’s still explosive.

“Fuck, Harper...you're making a huge mistake,” Dayne breathes against her lips.

“That's my decision, not yours,” Harper murmurs and kisses him again.

Dayne turns Harper and presses her against the door of the ice cream case. “I don't want to hurt you, Harper,” he whispers, smoothing a hand over her hip.

“You won't. I won't let you,” Harper murmurs.

Dayne pulls back far enough so that he can see her eyes. She’s dead serious and she isn't going to take no for an answer. She’s going to fight to be with him and fight to keep him. He's never met a woman who’s so determined or so sure.

Dayne drops his forehead to hers. “I'm scared.” He swallows hard.

“It's okay to be scared, Dayne,” Harper soothes, her light blue eyes boring into his.

Dayne nods then kisses her again.

“I'm such a pussy,” Dayne mutters and rakes a hand down his face.

Vance, Tripp, and Ryder chuckle. He and his three best friends are in the extra room of their rented house messing around on their instruments. Dayne plucks away on his guitar quietly as he rehashes what happened earlier in the supermarket with Harper to his friends. After Dayne and Harper finished kissing in the ice cream aisle, Harper said that she was going to take her food home then come over so they could talk some more. So while he waits for her, he and the guys decide to have a jam session, something they haven't done in a long time.

“It's about damn time is all I gotta say,” says Ryder as he looks over the words to some songs that they are thinking about learning.

“I don't know why you want to fight it. You obviously like her a lot,” Tripp says.

“Man, I swore to myself that I would never let another woman screw me over again. The only way to do that is to never have a girlfriend. If you don't take the time to care about them, they can't hurt you,” Dayne says.

“Yeah, but not every woman is going to screw you over, and you don't want to be alone forever,” Vance points out.

“How about this Cure one,
Lovesong
? We haven't really done a ballad yet,” Ryder says and hands the music to Dayne, who spreads it out on the table in front of him.

Dayne looks it over then smirks. He glances at Ryder. “You just want to be all romantic and shit and sing this to Xander.”

They all laugh when Ryder blushes and tells them all to shut up. Watching Ryder and Xander together is so weird. They are so lovey dovey, touchy feely. They don't do too much kissing - besides the peck on the lips - in front of everyone, but they are usually touching in some way if they’re in the same room together. But that's how Vance and Melina and Tripp and Anna are also. Dayne is jealous. He wants someone that he can do that with. He’s getting tired of being alone.

Dayne starts playing the music to the song on his guitar. It’s a really nice song and Vance just makes up his own beat to back Dayne up. It’s starting to sound really good. Tripp, who’s luckily retained his memory for playing the piano, is also skilled enough to add the keyboard without any sheet music to follow.

Ryder starts singing and Dayne smiles. He loves when Ryder sings, loves his voice. He also feels like they are back to when they were all single, and it’s just the four of them chillin’ and playing music. God, what is it going to be like when one of them marries and moves out?

They finish the song and Dayne looks around at his friends. “Alright, ladies, that was really sappy. We need something raunchy now. Vance…Motley Crue…
Girls Girls Girls
…hit me!” Dayne says then stands with his electric guitar.

Vance smiles wide and gives a three count. Ryder laughs and stands, too. Tripp grins from where he stands behind his keyboard. Vance and Dayne start at the same time. Ryder starts singing the lyrics as he faces Dayne. Vance bobs to the music as he drums. Dayne rocks out with his guitar, his hair falling forward to cover his eyes.

As soon as the song ends, Dayne sticks his guitar pick between his lips and shoves his hair back away from his face. He catches a flash of blonde hair out of the corner of his eye. He looks toward the door and sees Harper leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed over her chest. Her smile is sweet and warm as she looks at him.

“Are you guys finished?” Harper asks.

“We are now,” Vance says, fighting not to smile. Vance gets up and moves out from behind his drum set. “Melina let you in?”

Harper smiles and nods.

Tripp, Ryder, and Vance leave the room as Harper walks in and shuts the door behind her. Dayne moves back to the folding chair that he had been sitting in. He slips his guitar off and sets it on its stand before sitting down. Harper sits on his lap sideways.

“You’re really good,” Harper says with a small smile.

“Thanks.”

“It’s really sexy watching you play.” Harper licks her lips.

Dayne’s eyes zero in on her full, luscious lips. “Thanks, again.” He chuckles, still staring at her mouth.

“You’re welcome,” she murmurs as she studies his face. She tucks his hair behind his ear. “I'm not your ex-wife, Dayne,” she says softly.

Dayne cups her face and runs his thumb across her bottom lip. “I know, Harper,” he rasps as he watches his finger slide along her lip.

“I won't let you push me away,” Harper whispers.

Dayne's eyes lift to meet hers. “And I guarantee that there will be times when I try to,” he says sadly.

Harper nods. “I know, and I'm ready.”

Dayne smiles and shakes his head. “I think you've lost your mind.”

Harper simpers then shrugs. “Maybe,” she murmurs then leans down and kisses him on the lips. “That doesn’t hurt, does it?” she whispers against his lips.

Dayne answers by shaking his head no. He then skims his hand up her bare thigh, her silky smooth skin making him hard at the reminder of how she feels when her naked body is against his. He watches as her eyes fill with desire and lust. Dayne slips his hand under her dress to curve around her hip and down her rear end. She has on a thong, so he is able to give her bare cheek a squeeze and a little smack. Harper’s breath hitches.

Harper snakes her arms around Dayne's neck and kisses him. He lifts her up and turns her so she is now straddling his lap. Their kiss continues and gets heated and needy, even if tongues can't be involved. Dayne has Harper's dress hiked up past her hips so that he can cup her ass, and then grinds himself against her.

“I need to be inside you,” Dayne breathes against her lips as he struggles to undo his jeans and push them down his legs.

Once Dayne is able to free himself, he moves Harper's thong to the side and enters her. They both moan as Harper starts working her hips with Dayne's help. She laces her fingers into his hair and holds his forehead against hers, her mouth hovering over his as they pant.

“Harper,” Dayne moans. “God, you feel so good.”

Harper bends her head down and starts kissing Dayne's neck. He tilts his head back to give her better access. He curses when she licks a line up his neck to his ear, where she nibbles on his earlobe, sending a shock wave through his body.

Dayne slips a hand down between their bodies where his thumb finds her clit. Harper cries out. He shoves his hand into Harper's hair, grabs the back of her head, and pulls her into a hard kiss. They both come together seconds later. Harper sags against Dayne, her forehead on his shoulder. No more words are spoken. As soon as they recover and clean up, they head downstairs to join everyone in the living room to watch a movie, as if what just happened upstairs was just an everyday, natural occurrence.