Chapter Thirty-Eight
Juno
“Where’s Bode?” I askEli. We’re all sitting in the living room of the White House residence. All of the funerals have ended, but it doesn’t feel right to move on yet.
He’s scrolling on his phone. Without looking up, he says, “He went back home.”
My heart thuds in my chest. He left? Without saying goodbye to me?
“California?”
Eli shrugs. “Yeah. I think he felt like a fifth wheel around here.”
I can’t believe he didn’t say goodbye. I know things were crazy. I know there was a lot going on, but he should have said goodbye. I bet he was afraid everyone would figure it out. Fuck him. So what if they figure it out?
I stand up. “I have something I need to talk with everyone about.”
Everyone stops talking and looks at me. I’m pissed off at Bode right now, but he was right about one thing. I need to talk to my family.
James sits down in one of the plush chairs across from me and says, “Okay, what’s up?”
“You are smothering me,” I say. I’m trying to sound as confident as possible. I’m not sure I’m succeeding.
His eyebrow twitches. I pull my eyes away from him and look to the whole group. “All of you.”
I notice Eli’s jaw tighten.
“I’m an adult, and all of you treat me like I’m a child. It is not fair.”
No one says anything so I continue. “I need to be able to live my life.”
I turn to Brooklyn and say, “I know you understand this.”
She nods. “I do.”
Will says gently. “Juno, Elizabeth and James were almost killed last week. I know it’s frustrating, but there are real threats. We still don’t know who was behind that last attack.”
I stare at him, unflinching. “I know. I know the Secret Service agents are non-negotiable right now, but I need some privacy and autonomy.”
I turn and look at Eli. “I need to be free to make my own decisions.”
“She’s right,” Zadie says. “We can’t keep her locked away from the world.”
Olivia nods.