Forever Strong (Book 7 in Nemi Forever Series)

Chapter 13

Nick

I was actually pretty pumped we were having another boy, even though I'd never admit it to Demi. I mean, I would have been tickled to be having a girl, but I wanted my boys to have a few brothers like I had growing up. My brothers & I had so much fun together, I wanted my boys to experience the same thing. Now they would. I felt bad for Demi, though. Her & Mercy. I remember how frazzled my mom got while I was growing up. Having boys took a lot out of ya.

The kids had spring break the first week of March, right before the band's album was dropping. During spring break, we were all going to L.A. since we had promotions to do & Demi wouldn't be able to fly after that. She'd be in her third trimester shortly after we got back. The week before spring break, I was getting ready to go to a preseason exhibition Rangers game with Joe & our boys one afternoon. Demi came in the room, looking excited about something.

I was tying my shoe as I sat on the couch. "Hey, babe. You look excited. What's up?"

"I am excited. When we go to L.A. next week Mercy & I are gonna shoot a few scenes for a tv series we're gonna do this summer. They wanted me & I don't even have to audition & they want Mercy to play my daughter."

I stared at her like she was speaking another language. "I'm sorry.... what?" I think I needed to get my hearing checked.

"Oh, don't worry. It won't interfere with school. They'll shoot this summer."

I stood up, shaking my head. "The hell they will. Mercy is not doing a tv show."

Demi's face fell. "Why not? It will be fun."

"Fun? Are you joking? I remember you telling me how miserable you were doing Barney & how the kids at school made fun of you because you were on tv. Isn't that when the eating disorder started?"

"That was different. I had a lot of other things I had to deal with. I had fun on Barney & I met my very best friend on that set." Demi was near tears. God, that was the worst part of her being pregnant. The waterworks.

"She's not doing it. And I can't believe you would sign her up for something like this & not even discuss it with me." My voice was raised right now.

"Like you've never made a decision without talking to me first." Demi rolled her eyes.

"Not something this huge!" I yelled, making Demi jump.

"Calm down. The kids are gonna hear you."

I took a few deep breaths & I heard a door shut, then Joe's voice, talking to Joel. "I'm her father in case you forgot." I said in a lower voice, hands on my hips.

"You really think I forgot." Demi gave me a dirty look, rolling her eyes again.

"Well you forgot to discuss this with me. What the hell, Demi? I don't want her doing this. And when were you gonna shoot it, anyway?"

"In July." She crossed her arms, defiantly.

I heard Joe come in the room & since he sensed the tension he sent Joel upstairs. "So you were gonna shoot a tv show a few weeks after giving birth? You're gonna leave our son at a few weeks old to shoot a stupid show?"

"I would have him on set with me."

"I don't want any of my kids hanging around a tv set. That's not the life I want for my kids."

"Mercy will love it. She loves acting & playing dress up." Demi was glaring at me.

"And she has friends here. She would miss her friends. Like Karleigh." My voice was getting loud again.