12 Days Of Forever Read Free Page A

today.”
    “We have school today,” he says solemnly.
    I scrunch my face in detest. “Fine, after school you’re all mine!”
    Quinn and I walk downstairs hand in hand and into the kitchen. Their house is
    huge, especially compared to the house in which we grew up. Even Harrison’s apartment in California could fit in here. I suppose, though, with a family of five you need a lot of room.
    As we step into the kitchen I pause. Harrison is standing in the middle of the room drinking coffee with Peyton hanging off his back. Katelyn is plating up food, and Elle is sitting at the island playing with her doll.
    “Morning,” he says, tipping his mug toward me.
    Katelyn turns and smiles. “Sorry they woke you up this morning. I told them not
    to, but Quinn said it was tradition.”
    I look at him and squint. “It’s fine. I should probably be up anyway.” I chance a look at Peyton who hides her face in Harrison’s neck. Quinn wasn’t kidding when he said she was shy.
    “Doesn’t your back hurt, holding her like that?”
    He cocks his head and winks, but Peyton isn’t looking at him. “I don’t mind.
    She’s pretty light, and I’ve been lifting weights.”
    “Excuse me, what?” I ask just as Katelyn hands me a cup of coffee.
    “What?” Harrison asks as if him lifting weights is an every day occurrence.
    “You—in a gym—is something I’d have to see to believe.”
    Katelyn laughs and pulls Peyton off his back. She whispers something to her, and
    Peyton runs by without saying anything. “Elle and Quinn, go get ready for school, please.” The kids disappear upstairs and just like that the kitchen is quiet. I walk over to the island and sit down.
    “You okay?” Katelyn asks, and I nod.
    “Just . . . I don’t know. I needed a break. The show went on hiatus because The
    Nutcracker will be showing at our theater, and I just couldn’t stay there. I missed Quinn, and I want to get to know the twins.”
    “They’d like that,” Harrison tells me.
    I shake my head. “Elle, maybe, but not Peyton.”
    “Give her time. She’s leery of people because she thinks they’re all going to leave her. She’s pretty amazing once she opens up.”
    I nod and take a sip of my coffee. I add some of the eggs, bacon and toast to one of the empty plates and start to eat.
    “What else is going on?” Harrison asks. I swallow and look at my brother. He’s
    leaning on the counter with Katelyn glued to his side. She’s looking at him with a pensive expression. I get the feeling that they discussed me last night. Honestly, I expected it. I know I would if someone showed up to my house late at night and then ran straight to bed without explanation.
    “I broke up with Oliver, and I’m not sure if I’m on the right path.”
    Harrison starts to smile until Katelyn elbows him. I roll my eyes. I know he, Liam and Jimmy don’t like Oliver–Jimmy made that very clear when they were on tour last time.
    “What?” he asks Katelyn.
    “Be nice.”
    “Why? I don’t like the guy. I’m not going to pretend that the news doesn’t excite me.”
    I roll my eyes. “Anyway, we’re over, and I don’t think I’ll take him back.”
    “What’d he do?” Katelyn asks, and I shrug.
    “It’s me. I’m just not into him.”
    Before they can grill me for more information, the kids come down ready for
    school. There’s a honk outside, and they start rushing around. They hug Harrison before dragging Katelyn to the door.
    Harrison steps toward me and leans forward. “What’s going on?”
    I shrug and fight the tears from forming. “I’m not sure dancing is my dream
    anymore.”
    My brother smiles and says, “The funny thing about dreams is that they change.
    You just close your eyes and a new one can play out like an old movie reel with you as its star.”
    “What are you guys talking about?”
    Harrison straightens and Katelyn walks right to his side. His face lights up like it’s the first time he’s seeing her. I want that. I