Page 29 of While You Were Trending

Camera crews and equipment will start arriving this week, but he’s made a name for himself with raw phone footage, so he’ll likely be filming this way often as long as he’s here.

Which is at least several weeks.

“That gonna be a problem?” Ten asks me quietly.

I shake my head, then grab it again.

The camerasarea problem.

I hate cameras.

My mother made me do six seasons ofOn the Rhodes, our reality show about growing up in a travel trailer and being homeschooled while traveling the country. Her mommy influencer website and videos landed us a real show on the Family Adventures channel.

From when I was twelve until I turned eighteen.

I finished my high school curriculum when I was sixteen and a half, but I had to keep doing homework for the cameras, since I was the youngest Rhodes kid left and the show would’ve had to—and did—end when my mom no longer had kids living with her.

Caro and Ten are three years older than me. They both left the minute they were legal adults—Caro to go to college, Ten to try his luck in Hollywood.

So it was just me and Mom and whoever she convinced to play various parts in our “reality” for half the seasons.

My second least favorite memories of my life.

Right behind the reason I would’ve been drunk the entire wedding yesterday if I hadn’t had to keep tabs on my mother.

Not that I did a good job.

Should’ve seen the joint coming.

Should’ve known she’d make a scene.

If she’s not the center of attention, she’s not happy.

And it made her mad thatIwas the center of attention for having had my flaming dress ripped off by my ex’s best friend, whenshewas the one whoalmost diedbecauseGinny stole my joint and lit my hat on fire.

And that’s why I’m still hungover.

Because no matter what I do or don’t do, I’m always the villain in my mother’s stories.

Thank the stars Declan found that fire extinguisher after Ten pulled me out of the barn.

Firefighters said he saved the whole building.

Figureshe’dbe the one who saved it.

But I could’ve done without him defending me to my mother.

I get enough of the mind games from her.

I don’t need them from him too.

But it’s exactly what I’m getting while he’s filming here.

“I can stay,” Ten adds, even softer. “Won’t even get into the barrels in the cellar this time.”

“It’s fine,” I say.

“What’s that? He’s swine?” my brother says.