Page 39 of Good For Me

“Because I didn’t want bar food,” Everly says. “I wanted pancakes. Duh.”

“Yeah, duh,” Bodhi agrees.

“We could hit that IHOP on Sunset,” Wyatt suggests. “They’re open late, aren’t they?”

“No!” Everly cries, looking scandalized. “I don’t want franchise pancakes.”

“What the hell are you talking about now?” Fox asks, rubbing his forehead like he’s too tired to deal with her tonight.You and me both, buddy.

“I don’t want to eat at a chain restaurant,” she says, as if that’s the most obvious thing in the world. “We needrealpancakes!”

“Does IHOP serve imaginary pancakes?” Rose asks, looking amused.

Everly scoffs. “They’recorporatepancakes. We want local pancakes.Authenticpancakes.”

“And that’s officially enough madness for me,” I mutter. “I’m heading out.”

“You’re not coming with us?” my sister asks, sounding surprised. “When have you ever said no to food?”

“I’m beat, Rosie.”

“River!” Everly sounds distraught. “You can’t leave us. Weneedyou.”

I pat her shoulder. “You enjoy your non-corporate pancakes, babe. I’ll see you at the house.”

“But you can’t drive,” Fox says, looking concerned.

“We’re not dropping you off,” Everly says, going from distraught to defiant in two seconds flat. “Our limo is going straight to pancakes, so I guess you’re going to have to come with us.”

“Ride shares are a thing,” I point out.

Everly looks crestfallen. “But what about the pancakes? You have to eat pancakes. They’re like, the best thing ever to eat when you’re hungover. Or drunk. Or hungry. Or pretty much anytime. I’m pretty sure they actually cure minor illnesses, that’s how good they are.”

“Jesus, I don’t want fucking pancakes, Everly,” I snap, and the group goes silent around me.

Shit. That was a lot louder than I intended. And a lot sharper. And now Everly is blinking at me rapidly, like maybe she’s trying not to cry, and I could kick myself. There’s something particularly shitty about upsetting Everly.

I didn’t think Bodhi was actually capable of getting mad, but I was wrong. He’s looking at me like he’s considering throwing a punch. Great. Everyone else looks caught off guard. I’m supposed to be the fun guy in the group—it’s not like me to be a dick to my cousin.

“Sorry,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck. “I have a headache and I’m tired.” I squeeze her shoulder. “Didn’t mean to snap, Lele.”

Her watery eyes light up, all her hurt apparently forgotten. “If you’re not feeling well, youdefinitelyneed some pancakes.”

See? This is why snapping at her was an asshole thing to do. Because Everly is the kind of person who genuinely wants everyone around her to be happy and well. Even jerky cousins who are mean to her for no reason.

“You’re right,” I say, even as a wave of fresh tiredness crashes over me. “Pancakes would be good.”

She beams so brightly that I feel even worse for being rude. So I follow my siblings and my cousins out to the cars and go to get some fucking pancakes.