Page 32 of Fight For Me

“They just needed to get all of our angles,” Everly says, plopping down next to Alex.

“And what’s that shit about them recording us moving in?” Fox asks. “If they wanted to record us moving in, why didn’t they just come over when we actually moved in?”

“They need to be able to control the environment,” Bodhi explains. “If they recorded you the day you moved in you’d be all sweaty and disheveled and the apartment would be a mess.”

Alex chews on her lip. “This is how it’s going to be the whole time? Re-enacting things that already happened and pretending to argue about paint samples?”

Everly looks exasperated. “Why are you both complaining? Scott knows what he’s doing. He’s produced some of the most successful reality shows of the last ten years.”

Fox holds up his hands. “It just feels different than I thought it would, that’s all.”

“Give it some time,” Bodhi advises. “You don’t really have much to do yet. Things will probably feel different once you’re actually getting the shop set up.”

There’s a knock on the glass door and Everly jumps up. “That will be everyone!”

Everyoneconsists of Will, Eva, River, Rose, and Leo, who come in carrying boxes of pizza, a cooler, and an armful of blankets. Leo sees that Bodhi is already here and rolls his eyes.

“Hey,” my brother says, slapping me on the back. “I didn’t know you would be here.”

I shrug. “I wanted to see the place.”

He studies me and I shift, uncomfortable, wondering if my feelings are written all over my face. “That asshole producer?” he asks in an undertone, and I nod, my anger returning when I remember the way he’d looked at Alex and the sight of his hand on her lower back.

Will gives me a grim nod. “Good job. I’m glad you’re in that condo with them.” He holds up the pizza box in his hands. “You gonna stick around? We figured we’d throw them a little first day party. There’s plenty of pizza and beer.”

“Uh…” I shouldn’t. Now that Scott is gone, there’s not really a reason for me to be here. Alex is in no danger—in fact, she looks happier than I’ve seen her all day now that her friends are here. She clearly doesn’t need me to keep an eye on things.

And if I stay, I’ll only end up staring at her for the next hour.

As if reading my mind, Alex looks up and locks eyes with me. “You have to stay—you drove with us.”

“I can get a ride share.”

She frowns. “Why would you do that? You don’t like pizza all of a sudden?”

“I think we’re too immature for him,” River says, shoving half a piece of pizza in his mouth. “Wyatt is sophisticated.”

“And you’re disgusting,” Rose says, pushing her younger brother. “Close your mouth when there’s food in it. I don’t want to eat with you either.”

“Is that the problem?” Will asks, smirking. “We too young and wild for you, old man?”

My stomach sinks at the reminder of the age difference. But there are too many sets of eyes on me and I can’t think of any excuse as to why I can’t stay. “Pizza sounds good,” I finally manage. “Even if the company leaves something to be desired.”

“Boo!” Fox shouts, tossing a balled-up napkin in my direction.

I sit on the floor with the rest of them. Everly tells the others every detail of their first shoot while I concentrate on my pizza—and do my best to keep my eyes off the girl directly across from me in the little circle. It’s next to impossible, with the way her legs are stretched out in front of her, the hem of her silky shorts riding high on her thigh.This is going to be fucking torture,I think.

A pointy-toed shoe pokes me on the ankle and I look up to see Alex peering at me. “You okay?”

“Sure,” I mumble, since I obviously can’t tell her the view of her long, tanned legs is about to give me a heart attack.

She tilts her head, not buying it. “Then why’d you just sigh like a moody teenager? You sound like my little brother, buddy.”

“Are you nervous about the surgery?” Everly asks, her eyes filled with concern.

“Nah,” I say, even as my stomach dips at the mention of it. I’m scheduled for the procedure in three days and the mere thought of it has the pizza I just ate feel like a leaden weight in my belly. “It’s just outpatient.”

“What time’s the surgery?” Will asks. “I have Quinn covering the shop but—”