About you

Chapter 12

Melody Venus Stone

We decided on a Mexican restaurant. My mom was complaining that my father was fattening her up and that she wouldn't be able to fit in the wedding gown tomorrow. She was already on her second margarita. After she stopped whining, she started drilling me with questions.

"How's that book going?" My mother says as she tries to get Marigold to get a sip of her margarita and she refused.

"Stop." My dad whispers.

"I think it's going good so far." I pick at my food knowing it's going to start going downhill.

"Elliot you know she became famous off her first book that was about me. How horribly, bad, and obnoxious of a mother I am." She smiles. "If I'm such a terrible mother then-

"Mom it was not calling you out as a terrible mother. Only a tiny section of the whole book was about you." I glare. "Not everything is about you."

"Sure, I wonder what the next book will be about. Probably lying, she's good at that." She says and dad gets the check.

"So what happened again with Colt?" My mom asks and I keep my head down.

Why would she do this to me, she knew how I felt about the situation.

"You know she doesn't like talking about him, mom." Marigold shakes her head.

"Elliot you might not wanna be in a relationship with this one. She likes to falsely accuse her boyfriends of sexual assault and abuse." She says and I freeze.

She still didn't believe me.

I scoot out of my chair and leave to outside. I need air because it felt like my lungs were collapsing. My breaths were irregular as tears fall down my face. I feel arms surround me. I look back to see Elliot. I face him and hug him.

"Let's get our stuff, we can stay at the hotel." He wipes away my tears and we head to the truck.

I call ahead to try and get our rooms back but they inform that they are booked out. Elliot says we can stay at his local friends house.

We beat them home and get our belongings before I have to face my mother. We arrive at a house not too far from mine. He knocks on the door and it reveals a dark red haired woman. I was not expecting his friend to be a woman. Why not? Men and women can be friends without benefits, even if they were it doesn't matter. We are not actually together.

"Ellie pie!" She hugs him tightly.

He squeezes her as he picks her up and sits her back down.

Jealousy.

"You sure you don't mind?" He asks as we walk inside.

"Nonsense, you know you're always welcome." She looks behind him at me. "I'm sorry I didn't get your name."

"Hi I'm Melody."

"Pretty name babe, I'm Natalee." She smiles. "Two e's."

"So are you two-

"Yes-" I say.

"No." Elliot says.

The embarrassment that flusters over me.

"Oh, well Elliot do you guys want a bedroom or the couch or what?" She leads us to the guest bedroom.

"The bedroom is fine, thank you." He says as we set our stuff down. "I'll be out in a bit to chat."

He closes the door. I grab my night clothes and change. Elliot had changed as well. He was wearing black sweatpants with a black sleeveless shirt.

"Are you okay?" He stands in front of me as I pull out my laptop.