Page 32 of Loved By The Bad Boy

“Yes.” She swipes, and I frown at the picture of a grinning Calum. From his pose, I can tell he took it yesterday. I deliberately didn’t take any pictures of him. “That’s Gracie’s new boyfriend.”

“Did you two get a chance to talk?” I want Mom to say something about him. I want her to lend her support the same way she did when I mentioned coming here to find Gracie. Josef thought it childish. She didn’t. Mom pats my knee. “You should talk to her, Benny. You never know.”

I know. She’s happier without me. “What’s the point? She has already moved on.”

“Maybe. Talk to her. She loved you very much.” Her use of past tense puts a dent in my fragile confidence. Gracie and I are not done. We promised each other always and forever. What if she has that with Calum? He won’t break her heart. “I don’t think it’s anything serious with him.”

“How do you know?”

“A woman’s instinct, I guess.” I should ask Mira or Imani then. Those three have grown close in such a short time. I like that for Gracie. I hope Mom is right because I don’t know how I’ll get through the rest of the school year if that’s not the case. “Cheer up, Benny. You got into SAS.”

That brings a tiny smile to my lips. Amid the chaos, there’s calm, a small light in the tunnel.

“Where are you staying?”

“At a hotel.” Mom’s forehead wrinkles, and she throws her hands up. She looks younger without the makeup. “I can’t remember the name anymore, but Josef booked it. We will be there all weekend. Want to come? You can share a room with Asher. He has been moody since you left.”

“I’ll come.”

Josef, Asher, and Bart enter the living room before she replies. Asher drops between us. Being the cute brat he is, he places his feet on my lap and smiles at Mom. “Food is ready, Mommy.”

I missed breakfast. I needed to make my sickness believable. Matt’s mom prepared a weird soup for me last night. It’s supposed to be medicinal, but it’s bitter as fuck. So, I stayed inside.

Asher opens the bowl before we can say the prayer before meal, and Josef fixes him a stern glare. That’s all my younger brother needs to lower the lid and offer Josef an apologetic smile.

“Sorry,” Asher murmurs.

Josef winks, and my brother grins. Their interaction causes a fluttering in my chest. Mom kicks my feet under the table when she notices me staring at Asher. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but I smile. Asher is lucky. He got a chance with two great fathers. Though Daddy was only in Asher’s life for a few months, he was a good father to him. I think Josef is too. He might have a horrible daughter, but he’s not to be blamed for her behavior.

“Ben, do you want to lead the prayers?” Bart asks. I nod. “Go ahead then.”

We join our hands together to say the grace. Mom takes my left hand, and Asher takes the right. When everyone starts on their meal, I ask God to make Gracie forgive me. I miss my girlfriend.

Fourteen

The group chat is silent.No new messages since Ben informed us he had uploaded the video to the page, so we could all repost on our stories. We both covered the event, but he already edited and posted his version. Doesn’t he sleep? Is he trying to make me look bad? I exit the group chat and open mine with Calum. He hasn’t replied. I sent him a meme to diffuse the tension. Maybe I shouldn’t have sent it. I don’t know if texting him is a good idea. I don’t know where we stand.

Scrolling through the posts on the band page, I pause at a picture of Ben in his customized shirt. There are more pictures of him and Sam, Lucas, and Calum. I’m surprised those two could take a picture without one of them trying to knock the other out. Not like they have had any fracas since Mira threatened to kick Calum out of the band. The next picture is one of Ben, Mira, and Imani.

How come there are no pictures of Ben and me? I’m also part of the band.

Before that thought fully takes form, I toss my phone on the bed. What do I care about a picture with Ben? I change into a more comfortable outfit and step out of my room with a shoulder bag and a metal flask. I knock on the door to my parent’s room once and wait for them to answer.

Mom opens the door with a grin that disappears as soon as she takes in my bold choice of outfit. A long flowing flower-patterned kimono over a pair of shorts stopping at my mid-thighs and a crop top. My vitiligo is on display, but I haven’t cared much about it since I left San Francisco. I wonder what the band will think of it if I show up to school or rehearsal in a crop top. Maybe it will get Sam to say more than one word to me. Lucas might make a joke out of it. That’s his style.

I take a swig from my bottle to busy myself. Mom is still staring. “I’m going for a swim.”

Not really. I’m going to sit at the pool and pretend my life is in perfect control. Mom lights up. I wish I could share her excitement. This is my first attempt at using any of the hotel’s facilities.

Mom pecks me. “Have fun, Tessa.”

Sure. Fun is all I have these days. I am Queen Fun.

The elevator is on the left, so I turn to the right, to the staircase. Jogging down the stairs, I reach the last floor in no time. I haven’t had time to explore the hotel. Maybe I can change that today.

I spot the Carter clan by the reception desk. Ben. Asher. Even Josef and Maddie. My heart does a silly flip at the sight of Ben. He is the most relaxed I have ever seen him around both parents.

Josef has an arm around Maddie’s waist while talking to the receptionist. Ben is having fun annoying his younger brother. They look like a regular family on vacation. Josef says something that makes the entire family laugh. I back up the stairs slowly, but fate is not on my side.

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