Now That I've Found You - Kristina Forest Page 0,61
all that I can say.
“I’m already trying my best to do damage control and get these pictures down from other sites. And I just had a lengthy phone call with your parents, assuring them that everything was fine.” Kerri sighs deeply. “Evie, didn’t we agree on no public appearances? And a James Jenkins party, no less! I know you’re tired of being cooped up, but you’re really not doing us any favors here.”
She sighs again, deeper this time, if that’s even possible. “What does your grandmother think about all this?”
“Nothing! She’s not upset.” She doesn’t know I was there, so at least I can assume this is true.
“And what’s the deal with this musician? How long has this been going on? And when, exactly, did you plan on telling me?”
“There’s nothing going on, Kerri. He’s just a friend.” I wince. A friend?
“Well, he’d better be a squeaky-clean little Boy Scout,” Kerri advises. “We don’t have time for playboys or partyers who can’t seem to keep themselves out of jail or rehab.”
“He’s not like that,” I say, more defensive than I mean to be. I think back to last night and how long Milo and I talked at the diner. How I opened up to him in a way that I haven’t opened up to anybody in a long time, and I’m not even sure why I did so. Maybe it’s because all he wanted to do was listen. “He’s decent, I think.”
“Decent,” Kerri repeats. “Hmph. And I’ve never even heard of his band. I watched that YouTube video, though. ‘Leather Pants.’ Cute. Who represents them?”
“No one yet.”
There’s a knock on my bedroom door, and then Milo pops his head inside. He holds up his phone, showing the Us Weekly article. Eyes wide, he asks, “Have you seen this?”
“Who is that?” Kerri asks, alert. “Is that boy with you right now?”
“Um, yes,” I say as Milo walks farther into the room until he’s standing at the foot of my bed. He’s dressed for work. He glances up at the canopy draping and smiles.
I pull my knees up to my chest, suddenly feeling embarrassed for him to see me wearing pajamas with my hair wrapped. But he’s already seen me this way, and I didn’t care before. Why do I care now?
“I thought you were staying at your grandmother’s house,” Kerri says. “Is that where you are?”
I hesitate. “Yes…”
“I don’t like the sound of this, Evie! Do I need to fly out there tonight?”
“That’s really not necessary,” I say quickly. The last thing I need is for Kerri to come to New York and discover that Gigi is nowhere to be found. I still have a chance at handling this on my own before everything blows up. I just need to find a way to get in touch with James Jenkins. “Sunday morning still works. I’m fine. Everything is fine.”
“We had an agreement, Evie. Please, no more traipsing around the city, okay?” She sounds frustrated. “I know these past few months haven’t been the best, but things are going to change for you soon. You are an intelligent young woman. I trust you to make intelligent young woman decisions.”
“I will. I’m sorry.” I turn away from Milo so that he won’t see the guilt on my face. I hate disappointing people in general, but I particularly hate disappointing Kerri because she always goes to bat for me. My stomach sinks.
“No need to be sorry; just remember what I said.” She pauses again. “Are you sure you don’t need me to fly out today? Because I will be on the next flight if you need me.”
“I’m okay,” I say, hoping that it sounds true.
After a long beat: “All right. I’ll see you tomorrow. Call me if you change your mind.”
When we hang up, the notifications I missed early this morning start rolling in. Four missed calls from my dad, seven from my mom. Great. Kerri said she talked to them, but I know they’re expecting an explanation from me as well. I turn my phone over, and Milo sits quietly at the edge of my bed.
“Are you in trouble?” he asks.
“Kind of.” I scoot a little closer to him, then wonder why I’m scooting closer. I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet! But if I scoot back, it will look weird, so I freeze where I am, not too close but not too far away either.
If Milo notices my weird behavior, he doesn’t mention it.