Page 48 of Snared

We were working on one of the songs for the new album, and I couldn’t wait to finish recording it when we got back to New York in six weeks. Finish recording, get divorced.

Ugh. I shoved that thought aside. Josh and I had spent the last few days in a stalemate since I got bitchy with him about Molly. No big kisses, just some hand-holding and a peck here and there for the cameras. The media and fans were still all over it, still looking for drama, and I’d taken to silencing my phone for long stretches at a time. I’d pushed off my sister more than once, and I hated it, but then my mother was on me for an explanation. That conversation had been loads of fun.

“Charlotte, how could you? Your manager? And Vegas? What am I going to tell people?”

“I don’t know. That your daughter fell in love?”

“You never should’ve joined that band. Look what’s happened.”

“I’m living my dreams and married to a man I love, Mother. Not seeing the bad,” I said.

“You’re being unreasonable, Charlotte,” she said.

I sighed. Reasoning with my mother was impossible when she got like this.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m happy, so maybe try being happy for me.”

“I only want what’s best for you.”

“And that’s this, Mother. I have to go.”

I’d hung up before she could say anything else. She was going to be livid when I got divorced. The ramifications of what one drunken night had caused were continuing to mount.

“Charlie, thoughts?” Bash asked.

“What? Sorry,” I said, focusing my attention back on the guys.

“The changes,” Bash repeated.

“It’s amazing. As usual.” I grinned.

Jax rolled his eyes hard. “Don’t inflate his ego more than it already is.”

I burst out laughing. “You really want to talk about ego?”

“Mine is perfectly in check, Spidey,” Jax said, and I groaned.

“Can’t we go with Sticks?” I asked.

“Nah, too boring. I am so far beyond boring,” he boasted.

“Which means you’re epically boring,” Tristan pointed out.

“No. I obviously meant that I’m superior to uninspired nicknames. They are beneath me. Everything I say is unique, original, amazing.” He stood on the bench seat at the table, his hand on his chest like some dramatic actor.

“Oh yeah, Jax definitely doesn’t have an overblown ego,” I said.

“No. Absolutely not,” Tristan deadpanned.

“It’s okay, Ellie. Your ego isn’t overinflated,” Bash said.

“I’ll let the Ellie slide since you understand that myconfidenceis justified, Wolfie,” Jax said.

Bash smirked. “Yes, we all know that the only thing overinflated on this bus is that doll you snuggle with at night.” Then he dropped his voice low. “I think he named her Ellie. Should we get him professional help?”

Tristan and I burst out laughing as Jax squawked his outrage.

“Maybe Evie could help,” Tristan said.

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