Page 138 of More For Me

“Drive carefully,” he insists. I assure him I will then hang up, already pulling a hunter green t-shirt dress from its hanger.

I rush around my bedroom, simultaneously trying to get dressed, pull my hair back, and brush my teeth. Before I leave, I force myself to slow down for a second so I can type out another message to Bodhi.

Me:I get that something is bothering you, but it really freaked me out that you didn’t come home and didn’t tell me where you’d be. Can you at least text me so I know you’re alive?

I hold the phone for a long moment, waiting for the dancing bubbles to appear, to show me that he’s typing out a response. Nothing.

You’ll just have to deal with this later,I tell myself as I scour the kitchen for my car keys. Get the work done with the band this morning then figure out what in the hell is going on with Bodhi after.

* * *

My Uncle Lennonplaces a hand on my arm. “Lele, sweetheart, you’re going to strangle me if you go much tighter than that.”

I blink at him, coming out of the daze I’ve been in, and see that I’ve tied his tie way too tight. “Sorry, Uncle Lennon,” I mutter, loosening it. Then I sigh, and pull the material away entirely. It’s not the right look for him anyhow.

I’m way off my game, today. This is at least the third time someone has had to get my attention because I’m stuck in my head. I don’t even remember what outfits I put the band in for the first set of pictures. I could be mixing stripes and plaid for all I know.

“You okay, sweetheart?” he asks, looking down at me with warm brown eyes. Lennon is the sensitive brother, so I guess it makes sense that if anyone was going to pick up on my mood, it would be him.

“I’m fine,” I say, forcing a smile on my face.

“You sure?” Uncle Cash asks, walking up to join us. “You don’t seem like yourself.”

Jesus, ifUncle Cashcan tell something is wrong, I must really be acting out of it.

“Just didn’t sleep so well.”

Cash grins. “You and Alex have a little too much fun at your fancy party last night?”

My heart twists in my chest. Fun is not the word I would use to describe last night.

“You know me,” I say, trying to force some brightness into my voice. “Put a champagne glass in my hand and I turn into a party animal.”

Uncle Daltrey walks over, holding two paper cups of coffee. He gives me one and takes a sip of his own, watching me over the rim. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with the fight you and Bodhi had last night, would it?”

I shouldn’t be surprised—if Fox had any inkling of what happened at the party I’d expect it to be all over the family right now. Still, I set the coffee cup down in disgust as I scowl at him. “I don’t even want your coffee anymore, Mr. Busybody.”

“What’d you do to Bodhi?” Cash asks, looking between me and Daltrey with a disapproving expression. “Were you mean to him?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Why do you assumeIdid something?”

He shrugs. “I mean, if you guys had a fight it seems logical that, you know...” He gestures at me and I cross my arms.

“Finish that sentence, Uncle Cash. I dare you.”

“Jesus, you look like your mother when you’re pissed off,” he says, shuddering a little. Then he holds up his hands. “Don’t be mad, Lele. I’m just saying, Bodhi is a nice boy, you know? If you were mean—”

“I wasn’t mean!” I shout, too annoyed to care that half the crew is glancing over at us.

“Okay,” he says, his appeasing voice just pissing me off even more. “Sorry I said anything.”

“This is bullshit, you know that?” I ask, looking between the three of them. “If Leo and Rose were arguing, you’d all be at his house with pitchforks.”

The expressions on all three of their faces shift, immediately becoming stony. “What did that punk do to Rosie?” Daltrey asks, and I throw up my arms.

“See? You’re pissed at him about a hypothetical argument. You immediately jump to her defense. But Bodhi and I get in a fight and you’re all on his side?”

“We’re always on your side, Everly,” Lennon says, trying to put an arm around me, but I push him away, too annoyed to be soothed.