Page 15 of Fight For Me

“Um…” Everly shrinks back a little. “For a few months.”

“A fewmonths?” He looks aghast.

Aunt Paige is looking way more concerned than I expected. I thought she’d jump at the chance for me and Everly to do this. Santana’s love of reality TV comes directly from her mom. “When do they want to start filming?” she asks.

“Uh…” I look to Fox and Everly, who both wear grim expressions. Resigned, I turn back to the family. “They want to move things along pretty quickly. Our deadline to sign the contract is Friday. They want to start filming two weeks after that.”

“Less than three weeks?” my dad explodes, sounding almost as angry as Reed now. “And you’re just telling us now?”

“We were nervous,” Fox snaps. “I can’t imagine why.”

“This isn’t happening,” Reed says.

Uncle Cash shakes his head. “Sorry, guys, I’m with Reed. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“It’sterribleidea.” Will has his arms crossed over his chest, his expression grim. I shouldn’t be surprised—he hates paparazzi and being talked about on gossip blogs. He’s had way more attention from the media than he ever wanted, first as Cash Ransome’s son and then when he started dating Eva—who happens to be a famous pop star. Still, I’d been hoping for a little more support from one of my best friends.

“Again,” Fox says, his face now red with anger. “Not anyone else’s decision.”

The room pretty much explodes into argument after that. Most of the family seem to be on the parents’ side, but a few of the kids are arguing just as fiercely that we should be able to do what we want. The noise is too much. Everly is clearly trying not to cry, Fox is basically screaming at his father, and I just want to get far away from here.

Once again, I find my eyes drawn to Wyatt, hovering behind the fray. I still can’t read his expression—but then some kind of determination settles over his features and he gives me a small smile. I realize what he’s about to do right before he opens his mouth.

“Hey,” he calls loudly and every head spins in his direction. “What’s with all the yelling? Is this how you welcome long-lost family home? I thought there’d be balloons, maybe a cake.”

Just as expected, there’s a general outcry as everyone jumps up to crowd around him. I breathe out, relief flooding through me, as the family mobs him.

He did that on purpose. He deflected the attention off of us, eased all the tension in the room in a split second. Like a knight in shining armor, swooping in to save the day.

As if my poor, stupid heart needed another reason to swoon over Wyatt Warner.

Alex

“Well, you guys really screwed the pooch on that,” River says, handing me a beer.

“We should have listened to Everly,” Fox says grimly. He’s draped over half the couch in River, Rose, and Will’s apartment and he looks exhausted. “Should have just pulled our own parents aside and left the rest of the family out of it.”

“That wouldn’t have helpedmemuch,” Everly says tightly. Like Fox, she looks tired and frustrated after our disastrous afternoon. Before we left the house, her dad had pulled her into his office for a good twenty minutes. I could hear them arguing from two rooms away. “My dad still would have been a dick.”

“He’s just worried,” Leo says, grabbing a beer from River before sitting next to me on the couch and pulling Rose into his lap.

Everly glares at him. “Don’t you defend him.”

Leo holds up his hands. “I’m still an outsider here,” he says. “But even I can see why he would be concerned.”

“You’re not an outsider,” Rose chides, nestling her face into his neck. They started dating about six months ago but they’re still in that so-cute-it-kind-of-makes-my-stomach-hurt phase. I’m starting to think it might not be a phase at all—maybe they really are that crazy about each other.

I push the stab of jealousy aside as the door to their apartment bangs open, revealing Leo’s best friend, Bodhi. “I came as soon as I heard,” he cries dramatically, dashing into the living room to rain junk food down on the coffee table. “This should help.”

“It should help rot our teeth,” Leo mutters, looking at the sea of skittles, candy bars, and cookie packages. “Seriously dude—how old are you?”

Bodhi doesn’t look at all abashed, which is one of the best things about him. The guy is impossible to offend. “My Lele was upset,” he says, falling onto the floor where she’s sitting and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Sugar is the best cure.”

Everly leans her head against him. “It wasawful.”

He nods sagely. “You knew going in that your dad wasn’t going to like the idea of you on TV.”

“Hang on.” Rose sits up a little straighter, narrowing her eyes at them. “You told Bodhi about the show? Before you told me?”