24
Xander
South America
We head back out on tour while Evie and the twins go back to Devon. Marshall, however, is still in Ireland, at his family's home and distillery, with Jonno. What the hell are they still doing there? I decide to ring Marshall to have a chat to see if he’s alright.
“Barclay, is everything ok with midarlin’?” are the first words out of his mouth.
“All good, Marshall, just checking in that you’re okay. She’s gone to Devon to see you, but you’re still there. Are you going to be a while? We want her to come out on tour with us again. Until June." I'm explaining our plan in a bit of a rush, the words tumbling out on top of each other.
“Yeah, I’ll be another month at least, I think. My brother Seamus is not well, and he runs things here. His daughter is running our American operation, so I’m helping my nephew out. Jonno’s upgrading all the security and sorting some of the systems out, and generally getting on everyone’s nerves.” I hear the grin in his voice at that.
“That sounds like the norm. I’ll ring him to annoy him then.” We both laugh.
“Russell phoned me as well, so yes, I think it’s best if she comes out to you. James and Bucky out there?” He’s so practical, so calm. I know why Evie loves him so much.
“Yes, some of the time. We should be back with them in May and then right through til June.”
“Has she got rid of that nanny yet?” he asks me, his concern obvious in his tone.
“I think she’s going to. Why? Has she said something to you?” Christ, how long has she been worried? My brain is working over time. I won’t have Kitten upset, the nanny’s got to go.
“She did very early doors before Christmas, but she didn’t want to make a decision as she thought she may be making it for the wrong reasons,” he explains patiently.
“Well, she wasn’t wrong, the nanny needs to go. If Evie comes on tour, she can get rid, citing that.” I take a breath. I need to tell him about us all. “Marshall, I need to tell you?—”
“No, Xander, you don’t. Kellen and Evie have both been on the phone. I know what the situation is. I wondered how things might go.” He pauses as I let the fact that he knows sink in. “I’m pleased for you all. She was miserable without you. I think if I’d not taken her phone at Christmas, she would have harassed you to death.” His calm voice soothes me down the phone. “Evie wants you all to live with me in Devon. Can you cope with that?”
“Yes, definitely, I can, we can. You’re not upset? I understand it’s not the norm, but I love her, I love him. I will protect them all. You, the kids, even Jonno and the gang.” I’m rushing on, intent on making sure he knows it isn’t just a fling.
“Xander, if midarlin’ is happy, I am. It’s as simple as that. I will do anything for that girl. Just make sure she’s happy, that's all I ask of you both.”
I’m practically in tears. “I, we will, Marshall,” I assure him before I hang up.
Fucking hell. She’s told Marshall. She’s serious, full throttle. It only goes to Marshall when it’s real.
Evie arrives in Mexico at the end of March. She arrives without the nanny, but with Tommy, intending to get a Mexican helper, and basing herself in Mexico city. Coming out to shows that fit and not to others. It’s a compromise—as the time differences and flight times are really long in this part of the world—but there’s a lot going on in and around the city, the weather is fine and dry, we make the most of the days we have and it works well.
The house we’ve rented is in a trendy part of the city, the tree-lined streets offering lots of cafés and restaurants within easy walking distance. The house is an old refurbished Spanish style mansion. Large gates at the front lead to an ornate fa?ade with freshly painted white frontage, and black wrought iron fencing encloses the house and garden from the street. And fortunately it’s got five floors to accommodate everyone.
It needs to be large as Gabe has brought his American ladies out again, and Texas is one of the entourage. I see Evie raise her eyes to the heavens, but to our surprise, and even Evie’s, the woman makes a bee-line for us all the instant she spots Evie.
I move to stand in front of Kitten—not a fucking chance she’s upsetting her. I’ll evict her before that happens. But Texas’s face falters from the confident and determined aura she’s pumping out to one that is self-doubting and insecure. Clearly the confidence was a front, and I see it shatter completely when she looks at my face, my combative stance, and my intentional move to protect Evie.
Her walk stutters, and her clearly well rehearsed words fall over themselves. “I’d like to say a few things to y’all if I can. I want to apologise to you Evie, for the things I said over the summer. I won’t blame anyone else, as I went along with it, but to be honest, I thought it was a half-baked plan. I could see what y’all were into, but got railroaded.” I’m not sure if she’s apologising or trying to blame someone else, but she goes on. “I want to bury the hatchet and get on. Y’all won’t get any trouble from me.” She points to herself for good measure, a tentative smile on her face.
I drop my guard a bit and smile. I suppose I have to hand it to her. She’s upfront enough to come out with it.
Evie steps around me to address Texas. Her face relaxed, the personification of calm. Her stance is confident, and for a moment I wonder why I actually stepped in front of her. She’s always been able to deal with things herself, never has been afraid of confrontation. If they’re prepared to bring it, be prepared to take it. It was a saying I’d forgotten from when we were young. They all lived by it, and that hasn’t changed. Amazing how things from your childhood follow you into adulthood. The fact I get to witness this, her like this—it’s a fantasy come true.
“It’s fine, Texas, apology accepted. But just to note, you can’t keep going on about my dress sense, that has to stop. We like different things. I don't criticise you, so I don’t expect to hear comments about me,” Evie says seriously. I’m surprised that’s the only thing she cites. But then, she surprises me alot.
Texas nods and smiles. “Well, Evie, you are a bit eccentric, but I thought it was because you were English. But I’ve met other English girls, and they were not like you. So it’s just you, but I can live with that.”
They shake hands, and I grin at Kitten, who looks a bit relieved.
“Wonders will never cease,” she says to me, and I pull her in for a kiss. In front of everyone.
“You are a bit crazy, but my favourite sort,” I tell her and kiss her passionately on the lips.
When I release her, I see the other girls checking out the scene with disbelief, passing looks between themselves. I think I need to have a chat with Gabe.
Valentina, the Mexican mama Evie hires, comes in smiling and chatting to the boys in Spanish, and they’re loving it. They’ll be bilingual in no time. Evie can say a few words in Spanish and is working on it with Valentina. They seem very happy, the difference in Evie pronounced. I’m already sure Evie will want to take her home with us.
I don’t get a chance to speak to Gabe until we’re out at a gig. I collar him backstage in our dressing room, so it’s just the four of us. “Have all those girls signed an NDA?” I question him.
“Why? What’ve you done now?” he laughs out.
I ignore the jibe. “I kissed Evie in front of them, and they were all staring. I don’t expect to have to explain anything to anyone, but I want to know that no pictures or gossip is turning up about our home life. Of us at home.”
“Fucking hell, Xan, what’s the issue? People will know you’re all together eventually. Are you ashamed or something?”
I step forwards to punch him, murder in my eyes.
Marcus grabs me before I can get at him. “Whoa, stop. Fuck, Gabe. If it gets out, we’ll deal with it, but if we don’t have to, I’d prefer that. It’s for Evie and the kids. I don’t give a shit, and neither does Xan, but it’s her and the twins we want to protect. Even James and Bucky can fend for themselves.” Marcus is acting as peacemaker. It’s a new phenomenon.
“Yes of course they all have,” he grumbles at me. “But you really need to grow a pair. It’s coming out, we all know it. You better be ready, and so had Evie.”
I turn away because I’ll deck him. He’s being a dick, and he knows it.
“Cool it, Xan. We’ll sort it,” Marcus tells me. “We’ve got separate floors in the house. Gabe’s moving the two girls to his floor, so is Levi.” He rests his hand on my shoulder, and I can see Gabe checking out every gesture now. Probably wondering how he missed the signs.
“I’m not fucking hiding, but I’d rather not have to deal with it yet. I’m worried she’ll get pissed about it, go back to England, and we need her here.” I throw my hands in the air in exasperation at Gabe.
“I know, Xan. We’ll do our best. You know it, she knows it. And the new Abuela is working well, though. Evie loves her and the kids adore her. She gabbles in Spanish to them, and they understand her, I’m sure.” Marcus is still placating everyone.
“I’m not surprised, they’re genius babies,” I tell him, punching his arm and grinning, his distraction technique working like a charm.
He blows on his fingers and rubs his shoulder, like he’s the shit.
“All Evie,” I tell him.
He laughs. “I fucking know it.”
The following week, James arrives. It causes a serious stir in the house. All of the girls are fangirling him, and Gabe is fucking fuming.
“Don’t pick women so young then. They’re more his age than yours,” I tell him, laughing at his face, he looks so sour.
“Fuck off, Xan. No one’s ever bothered before,” he tries to rationalise.
“Yeah well, one, it’s James, and we’re all old, and he’s not,” I state matter of factly. Gabe needs to wake up and smell the coffee. We’re not young twenty-somethings, he’s pushing forty.
Evie’s so happy James is here. He’s come alone, the rest of the band going to the coast. Bucky said he needed the beach break, so he’s gone to ground at some villa just south of Cancun. Alone.
“Do you think I should go get him?” Evie asks me and Kellen at dinner. “I’m worried he’s getting out of control again. James said he isn't, he's a lot better. I’ve FaceTimed him, and he looks ok, but still.” She’s so worried about them all, always considering others.
I squeeze her arm, letting her know I understand. Sure, I want to reassure her, but I also can’t seem to stop putting my hands on her. I’m a man with an addiction. Her.
“We’ll see how he looks in a day or two, and if you’re still worried we could go. We have a few days off now,” I remind her. But to be fair, if she needed to go, I’d make it happen.
She nods and smiles at me lovingly. “We’ve been invited to Valentina’s home for a Mexican family meal. Do you both want to come, or should I go alone with the twins?”
Kell and I look at each other, the potential onslaught of Valentina’s family is overwhelming, the sheer numbers making my head swim. And my waistline can’t handle the copious amounts of food.
She starts to laugh. “I’ll go alone this time, but if she invites us all again, you’re going.”
James tags along instead. He comes back talking about Valentina’s granddaughter, who’s studying law, and by all accounts gave James a hard time on women’s rights and the treatment of women in the music industry.
“I know Mum is hot on this stuff, but God, she was on it,” he tells Marcus. “We really need to up our game. Or you two do, with the label. You need to recruit her. She was amazing.”
Marcus is grinning at him. “I’ll get on it. Make sure we’re leading lights. Otherwise how can I look my wife in the eye?”
“I tried to convince her we—well, you—were good with this type of thing, but she had an answer and a reason why not for everything.” He looks a bit dejected. “I’m going to bed to consider my interactions with women in the industry.” He grins at us all and kisses his mother. “Do you still love me, Mum?”
“I do, Sunshine. And you’re fine. I’d tell you all if you weren’t.” He saunters off to bed.
“He’s never met anyone he can’t charm,” says Evie, nodding towards his retreating back. “It was an eye opener for him.”
“Well neither had we until we met you, so…” says Kell, laughing at Evie’s face.
“I’m nice to you both,” she says, prodding at Kell. “I only tell you off when you deserve it.” She grins at us, kissing Kell and then coming over and kissing me on the lips. My heart is thumping away. How can these simple exchanges make my heart explode? How can it all feel so amazing? This family, being a part of a family, being in love as a family, being at the centre of it. I can hardly believe how lucky I am.
The days are fine and dry and getting warmer, the twins have started on food, so on this particular morning they are fed and having a mid-morning nap when I hear some shouting, and a lot of banging, coming from downstairs.
Gabe comes huffing and puffing upstairs into the kitchen where I’m alone, sorting drinks out. “Just lost one of the girls. She tried to get in bed with James. He’s gone loco, kicked off and stationed Zak at the door. Not sure what his problem is. I would’ve been happy if she’d have climbed into my bed unannounced.” He seems more annoyed about James’s reaction to the whole thing than the actual intrusion James experienced.
“I’m not surprised, Gabe. What the fuck? Did you not tell them he was not to be bothered? This is home for him. And I told you those girls were too young for you. They’re middle twenties, you’re a thirty-seven-year old man.”
He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind on so many levels. “Xander, you’re not his dad, so stop fucking acting like it.”
Wonderful. He’s starting in on me straight away. Trying to push my buttons. Fucking hell, he’s such an idiot.
“I am his fucking dad. I’m with his mother, so he’s mine. And keep them away from him, otherwise you’re all out. I’m honestly surprised he hasn’t asked you to go. Because make no bones about it, he would not give a shit to do it.”
“it’s not up to you, it’s up to Marcus and Evie, his fucking parents.” He’s picking at me, and enjoying it. I can see the glee on his face.
I’m fuming, and bite straight away, steam coming out of my ears. “Fuck you, Gabe. He fucking is mine, and I protect what’s mine.” I move to grab Gabe by the throat, miss as he feints to the right, but waste no time getting up in his face, mine a picture of anger. He’s still full of snark.
“Hey, Papa, you gonna kill him for me?” A grinning James comes up the stairs, and he massages my shoulder to try to stop me trying again. I feel like a pressure cooker, steam firing up into the sky.
“Gabe, leave him alone.” He pats Gabe on the back. “He’s my dad as much as my other dad, so yes, he can speak for me and on my behalf. JS.” He cocks his head at us both. “It’s fine, Papa. Leave him, he’s just winding you up.” He holds onto my arm and kisses my cheek. “Come have a coffee with me. Now I’m up, may as well go out.”
Levi’s come up behind James, grinning like a loon at the entertainment on show. He pats me on the back. “Hey Papa bear, can you protect me like that? It got me hard.”
“Fuck you both.” I’m bristling with anger. They don’t take it, me, seriously. Well they better start. “Gabe, you better keep them away from him, otherwise I’ll send ‘em all packing.”
We all move away from one another to different sections of the kitchen, like boxers in a ring on the time out.
But of course Gabe’s not done. He huffs out, “You’ve fucking lost it, Xan. I liked you better when you were whipping people.”
I lunge to grab him, and Levi and James jump in between us.
Gabe is grinning like a lunatic. “JS,” he mocks, wobbling his head at me from behind the safety of his human shields.
“What the fuck is going on?” Marcus walks into the melee, grinning at me before going over to greet and kiss James.
“Papa”—Gabe points sarcastically at me—“is going to kill me cos one of the women I had with me went into James’s room uninvited. She’s left by the way,” he adds quickly as Marcus’s face turns from laughing to fury in a second.
“Exactly,” I say to Gabe, wafting my hand towards Marcus’s reaction, feeling vindicated.
“Gabe, sort it out. We told you they need to know the score or they don’t stay here. If you want them with you, you’ll have to find another house to live in.”
Marcus and I have our hands on our hips, facing off with Gabe, but we all turn to look at Levi, who’s crying with laughter.
“Never thought I’d see the day when you two are having a go about women climbing into bed.”
“Not if it’s uninvited, Levi.” I’m exasperated with the entire situation, but I can’t help grinning at him. He may be right, but things are different now, totally different.
“I’ve told them all James is off limits,” huffs out Gabe. “And obviously Shelly has just gone, so…”
I turn around as Evie comes into the room and stops dead, raising her eyebrow at us all standing around looking very guilty.
Gabe rushes over to her to explain, taking her hands in his, clearly in case she tries to throttle him. “We had an issue with one of the girls, but she’s gone now. Seems James is more irresistible than his dad ever was. I’ll let James and these two tell you.”
He drops her hands, kisses her cheek, and edges out of the room. Maybe he’s not so daft. He doesn’t want to deal with Evie on the rampage.
Before he’s completely out of sight, he leans back in the doorway and tells her, “Oh and Texas has asked if she can go out with you and the twins again. I think she likes them more than she likes me.” He grins back at Evie and starts to walk quickly for the stairs.
“Not much competition for the twins,” says James and punches Gabe as he sprints past, scrubbing his hair.
Evie is looking from one to the next, and slants her eyes at Marcus.
I grin. “Coffee was it, James? We’re off for coffee,” I tell them all and we move towards the stairs, following the fleeing Gabe.
As Marcus starts to get the grilling, Levi follows us down the stairs. “He’s legally married to her, let him deal,” says Levi laughing, going into the lounge on his floor.
Texas is standing at the bottom of the stairs. ”Did Evie say I can go?” she asks Gabe hopefully as we arrive at the doors.
“She never said, but, to be honest, Tex, I never gave her a chance. Give it a minute, then go up and see. I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Gabe replies.
I stand and look intently at the tall beautiful brunette, trying to gauge her intentions.
“Oh, God,” says Gabe, looking at my face. “Xander, calm the fuck down, man. She just wants to spend time with the twins and Evie.”
“Really?” I draw out the word. “Because you couldn’t stand Evie not so long ago. Tried to get her thrown off the tour.” I know she apologised, but Becky used to apologise all the time, and she was a liar. I won’t have anyone near my wife and kids who doesn’t have their best interest at heart. And the jury is still out on Texas in my mind.
“I talked it over with Evie, and she’s been fine with me,” she insists. “I’ve met her out and about with Valentina and joined them.” Her body language is all over the place, her nervous twitching winning out. “I’ve enjoyed it, Xander. I know I wasn’t that nice, but that was before the twins and everything really. I know I was wrong. If Evie can forgive me, can’t you?” She’s hopping from foot to foot, worried about my reaction.
“You tried to hook up with Marcus in Devon when you knew he was married, and again when he came back to LA in a state,” I snap out.
James spins around and stares at her, his face a mask of contempt. She looks really uncomfortable.
“I know. I told Evie about that as well. I don’t want him or you, I’m here with Gabe. I went through everything that happened before with her. I promise, I’m just here for Gabe. Spending time with her and the twins is a bonus.” She smiles tentatively at me, at James. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her like this before. She looks more casual, more dressed down, stripped bare.
“What’s up, Xan?” Evie comes down the stairs and smiles at us all, spreading calm. She’s getting more like Marshall everyday. “Are you coming with us for the day, Texas? We’re going to the park with the lake, near the zoo. It’s a bit of a walk, but it should be nice today. Valentina’s relations are there, so we’re joining them.”
She turns to me and holds my hand, threading her fingers through mine. She’s grinning at me, completely keyed in to my annoyance. “I wondered when they’d see this Xander?” Kissing me gently, she reassures me, “We’ll be fine. I’m taking Tommy and Darryl, you go for coffee. James, sort him out.” She pushes into me and I hold her, breathing in her scent. Rose and summer rain.
“I worry.” I close my eyes and pull her close. I can’t get enough of her.
“I know, but don’t. We’re fine. You’re all at the radio station in a few hours, go have fun. We’ll see you back here for dinner. James, are you coming to the park?”
“Yes. I’ll take Papa out, caffeine him up, and join you in a bit.”
She nods at him, smiling all the while. I brush her hair from her face.
“Go,” she says gently, pushing at me.
I can’t stop kissing her, pecking at her lips, and all the while she’s laughing at me.
“God damn, woman, I’m going, I’m going.” I laugh and turn to leave, catching Texas staring at me like I’m an alien. Well I probably am to her. She’s never seen me with Evie, no one has. Only Kellen.
Evie turns and starts up the steps, talking to Texas about the food the boys have eaten.
Gabe is standing like a statue, staring at me, with a weird expression on his face. James is watching him, clearly trying to decipher his look. “Do you want to join us, Gabe?” He’s so fucking polite, no way would I have asked him.
He’s still staring at me. “No, thanks James. I think your Papa needs you more than me.” He smirks, finally breaking the stare. There’s no malice in his comment. He knocks my shoulder and I’m sure he says, “Lucky bastard,” but it’s so quiet I can’t catch it for sure.