Page 38 of More For Me

Everly

“Why are we still in this house?” Bodhi shouts up the stairs. “We should have let five minutes ago.”

“Keep your shirt on,” I call back, hurrying to pull my hair into a ponytail. “Mickey isn’t going anywhere.”

“The lines will get longer,” I hear him grumble, and bite back a laugh. If there is anything in this world Bodhi Lakra takes seriously, it’s his plans at Disneyland.

“They haven’t even opened yet,” I say, as I hop down the last step. He runs a critical gaze over me, taking in my jeans, t-shirt, and wedge heels.

“You need tennis shoes.”

“I’m not wearing tennis shoes. These are cute.”

He scowls. “We’re going to be doing a lot of walking today.”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, Bodhi. I understand that Disney requires a lot of walking. I have been there before you know. I live in LA.”And I’m friends with you, I add in my head. It’s impossible to be friends with this guy and not spend a considerable amount of time in the happiest place on earth.

“Fine,” he sighs dramatically. “But don’t expect me to slow down when you get blisters.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I turn toward the kitchen and he grabs my wrist, stopping me.

“Where are you going?”

“To get coffee.”

He points at the two travel mugs already waiting on the entryway table. “Taken care of.”

“Thank you.” I tug on my arm. “Let me just grab a power bar or something.”

“Everly,” he groans, like I’m physically causing him pain. “They have food at the park. We need to leave.”

“It’s an hour until opening!”

“And we need to pick up the Littles!” he shoots back. “And park. And consider traffic.”

“Oh my God, you’re ridiculous.” I throw out my arms. “Fine. Let’s go.”

“Thank you.”

I insist on driving, since he’s liable to break traffic laws in order to get us to Splash Mountain that much faster. The trip to my parents’ neighborhood doesn’t take too long early in the morning, and I manage to calm him down a little by playing his favorite playlist—oldies and pop and a little bit of country, the kind of thing my dad would complain endlessly about.

Luckily my sister and cousin are waiting outside when we pull up to the house—they have plenty of experience with the crazy man at my side as well.

“Hey, guys,” I say when Vega climbs in, Cecelia right behind her. “Excited?”

“So excited!” CeCe says. “I want to ride Space Mountain at least twelve times.”

“Our record is ten,” Bodhi says, giving her an approving nod in the rearview mirror. “Twelve is a good number to shoot for.”

“Hi!” Vega says excitedly, leaning forward and sticking her head between the front seats to grin at Bodhi.

“Hey Darth Vega.” He ruffles her hair. “You ready for some serious riding today?”

“Absolutely.” She bats her eyelashes at him. “You’re going to buy me a churro, right?”

“Obvs.”

He looks over at Cecelia, who’s buckling her seat belt. “What’s new, Ceece? How are the other Littles?”